If World # 1, 2, 3 and 4 are going to reach the semis, why do we need an elaborate World Cup tournament? (I am just kidding!). Yes, Australia, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany are all in Semis and are ranked in the same order.
The theme of this tournament should have been “They-Should-Have-Won-It” tournament. Another game and another team (probably the fourth or fifth time) lost a two-goal advantage. England was ahead until five minutes remaining in the game and they not only conceded 2 goals, but also the penalty shootout to Germany. Compared to any other previous comebacks of various teams in this world cup, Germany was playing the worst game. They barely reached the penalty circle in the first quarter. There was absolutely zero creativity by them in the circle in finding spaces, finding other team players, doing one’s own dribbling. There was nothing! But Germany “knows” how to fight back. In just less than five minutes remaining in the game, they got two penalty strokes. They converted one. The England player was suspended for 2 minutes. Germany removed their goalie and introduced another player. And suddenly boom, Germany had a two-player advantage, which they exploited to equalize.
Germany probably knew England’s goalie’s weak defense on his left-hand side. All shootouts by Germany went to the goalie’s right side with a quick 180 turn around and shoot to the left side. All of them went in.
The Indian women hockey team has that fire in the belly to comeback probably due to their modest upbringing. Even men had incredible comebacks in the Tokyo Olympics. Can that fire in the belly be taught? Even with a mental conditioning coach and training? I suspect not. Who knows? (I am just a fan and a blogger!)
It is funny and sad simultaneously that few of us in the stadium keep talking about how India could have easily won this game and how they would have attacked in that game blah blah blah. It is sad that we are not in the semis! And that sadness will not go away for a while.
I have now watched 18 matches within a short span of time. I have probably developed some ability to spot the strategies, certain culture on the field and certain weaknesses. I have mentioned some of them in my blogs. But I have refrained from going into some specific details. I will try to be a little more specific for semis and Finals. But then if we expect the They-Should-Have-Won-It theme to continue in semis and finals, my plans and analysis will be tossed to the trash cans. Such has been this world cup!
Ps: Photo credit to FIH
