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Hockey World Cup

WooHoo!

India won!! The Pakistanis were completely outplayed.

India vs. Pakistan is always exciting... be cricket or hockey. :)
 
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Mon 01 Mar 2010

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NEW DELHI: India outplayed arch-rivals Pakistan 4-1 in the men’s field hockey World Cup on Sunday as England stunned hot favourites Australia 3-2 on a dramatic opening day.

Sandeep Singh banged in two penalty corners to help India record their first win in the last four matches against Pakistan before some 19,000 delirious home fans at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

Shivendra Singh and Prabjot Singh chipped in with a goal each as India wiped off memories of a 1-7 humiliation at Pakistan’s hands in the Asian Games final at the same venue in New Delhi in 1982.

India led 4-0 before Sohail Abbas, the world’s only player to score more than 300 international goals, narrowed the margin for Pakistan by converting just one of his six penalty corners.

“We must not fly high and keep our feet on the ground because the next match is against Australia on Tuesday,” said India’s Spanish coach Jose Brasa.

“We dominated the first half, but were lucky to score two more goals in the second session. I think we did not allow the Pakistanis to settle.”

Pakistan’s coach Shahid Ali Khan conceded India were the better side.

“It was difficult to come back after being down 3-0,” he said. “The Indians played really well. The players are obviously very disappointed, but we must not lose heart.

“We can still do well in the tournament. It’s not all over yet.”

England’s win in another group B match, highlighted by two goals from James Tindall, was their first over Australia in a World Cup match since the 3-1 scoreline in the 1975 edition in Malaysia.

Australian captain Jamie Dwyer scored twice, including a penalty stroke, but Jason Lee’s European champions played outstanding hockey to rattle their fancied opponents.

Dwyer’s stroke in the 23rd minute put Australia ahead, but England drew level two minutes later through a penalty corner by Ashley Jackson.

Tindall then scored on either side of the break as England led 3-1 till four minutes before the final whistle when Dwyer narrowed the margin with a field goal.

Australia’s Glenn Turner wasted two good chances near the end, while England’s protest against a penalty corner being awarded to the Kookaburras in the last minute was upheld by the video umpire.

Australia paid dearly for converting just one of their 13 penalty corners in the match.

“Records are meant to be broken, so doing it after 35 years was pleasing, but not any different because we are also one of the top sides in the game,” said England captain Barry Middleton.

“We are looking to reach the semi-finals, and this win will definitely help. But we gave Australia a lot of chances today and must avoid that in future.”

Australian coach Ric Charlesworth said he was disappointed to lose the first match in the tournament.

“We had enough chances, I think we had at least 28 shots at the goal and if we did not take them, the blame is on us,” he said.

“England defended well. We have been in such situations before and come out of it. We just need to play better.”

In the day’s first match, Olympic silver-medallists Spain came back from a 0-1 deficit to defeat a fighting South Africa 4-2.

All six teams that featured on the opening day are drawn in group B from where the top two advance to the semi-finals.

Group A comprises defending champions Germany, the Netherlands, Argentina, Canada, South Korea and New Zealand.

The 12-nation tournament began amid heavy security in the Indian capital, with some 19,000 security personnel and 200 commandos on guard inside and outside the venue.
 
congratz to India....better luck for Pakistan
 
Its bad luck game 2 attempts on Pole. ITs bad luck not bad game. Fact last half 5 plenty corners and more thn 25 attacks from PAkistan side. 3 attacks 99% chances of goals. Very pathetic performance by overall team. Very bad passing. When attack by Indian side 7 players in our D and when we attack on indian side only 2 players in indian D. Very bad formation by Pakistani players.

Good work India.
 
Really loved to see the crowd gathering to watch the game..hope its continue to grow..seems like advt like phir dil de hockey ko is finally payed off :)

And wonderful game..Chakde India !!!!!
 
It is just another win, says India's hockey coach Brasa

New Delhi, Mar 1 (IANS):

India hockey coach Jose Brasa Sunday asked his boys to keep their feet on the ground and not get carried away by their emphatic 4-1 win over arch rivals Pakistan in their group opener at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here.


"We have to see this win as just another win from which we got three points. My boys have to keep their feet on ground and celebrate tonight. But from tomorrow we have to think about the next match and move ahead," said the Spaniard.
The win in front of a packed stadium was a great moment for Brasa since he suffered a heartbreak in Salta (Argentina), where India were thrashed 3-6 by Pakistan in the semi-final of the Champions Challenge.

After Sunday's match, Brasa was particularly happy about the fact that the Indians kept their emotions under check and played cleverly to outsmart the Pakistanis, who had won the last three encounters.

"Players were calm and not emotional. We were clever in the mid-field, cutting their passes. We had complete control of the game and am happy that we ended on a winning note," he said.
Asked why he replaced Adria D'Souza, regarded as India's No.1 goalkeeper, with Sreejesh Raveendran, Brasa said: "It was not a tactical move. We have two good goalkeepers. We will rotate the goalkeepers and Adrian will be back against Australia."
Skipper Rajpal Singh said that the gameplan was to create more short corners.
"We had an aim to create more penalty corners and give Sandeep Singh more opportunities," he said.

Pakistan coach Shahid Ali Khan admitted that his team was outplayed by India.
"We committed too many mistakes in the first half. But in the second half we came back well," he said.

Asked if his team can come back in the meet, he said: "This is not the last match of the tournament. We can surely come back."
 
Simple and same BS of our Coach like Cricket coach.
 

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