HOCKEY PAKISTAN Vs SPAIN WORLD CUP 2010

Wounded Pakistan need to win against Spain

         New Delhi: They are hurt and bruised. Spain, beware of a Pakistan backlash. Their pride dented following the loss against arch-rivals India, a wounded Pkistan were seeking nothing but a win against Spain on Tuesday to keep them on track in the Hero Honda hockey world Cup.

         But, Zeeshan ashraf's men would be aware that it was not going to be easy against a team which overcome a shaky beginning to win their first match against South Africa on Sunday. Both the coach and the captain admitted that theyhave to put the failure against India behind and look ahead to stay alive in the tournament.

          "We have still four matches to go, " said coach Shahid Ali Khan. "I have trust on my boys, and we will bounce back. " The games against India on Sunday exposed the chinks in Pakistan's Armour like their inability to rotate the players effectively,Waseem Ahmed's struggle to match up to the much inexperienced Indian midfielders and Sohail Abbas' failure to eonvert most of the penalty corners that came thier way.

        But despite the shortcomings, the side had the ability to lift up their level to match the best in the business,especially after a defeat like the one they suffered against the hosts. "The best thing about this team is that it knows how to bounce back, " said captain Ashraf, suggesting that how important it was for his team to win to stay alive in the competition.

        Spain, on the other hand, would be weary about conceding early goals which put them under some pressure in the game against South Africa. They appeared a disjointed lot in the initial stage of the match, but reorganised to take home full points. But against a team like Pakistan, any early mistakes could prove costly.

Read more...

HOCKEY AUSTRALIA and ENGLAND - WORLD CUP 2010

Brit grit stuns mighty Aussies

     New Delhi: after 14 penalty corners and innumerable video referrals, favourites Australia lay beaten by a determined England 3-2 in a major upset in the second game of the Hockey World Cup her on Sunday.

          It was memorable day for England hockey as they posted their fifth-ever victory against australia. In fact, the last time they beat their archrivals was 25 yers ago in a friendly in Melbourne.

         James Tindall scored a brace in the 33rd and 45th minutes after England replied superbly to Australia's 23rd minute goal with a thundering penalty corner conversion by Ashley Jackson. skipper Jamie Dwyer put his ream ahead with a penalty stroke before returning in the second half to find the other off a penalty corner.

                It was a story of missed chances for the Australians. Up against a determined England that had jam packed its defense, they were clueless.England were too resolute,pushing and prodding but getting their reflexes and edges right.

           The first rew minuted did provide the foretaste but the pendulum swung inexorably towards Australia. There were penalty corners that were close and there were others which brought the best out of goalkeeper James Fair. However, a stick check on Edward Ockenden saw England fall back in arrears when Dwyer converted the penalty stroke.

           Then came the Jackson stunner. Dragging the ball with all his might, he relayed it home in a mighty heave, leaving the kookaburras gasping and the Englishman celebrating. In the 33rd minute, an indirect conversion of a penalty corner by Tindall had them sense victory for the first time as they went into the break.

            The reasons for the optimism were plenty. for one, Australia were hopelessly off target. for another, they were musteriously tense in the striking circle, either letting go of chances or making a hash of penalty corners.

        The trend was pretty much the same in the second half. England pushed their luck with referrals too, winning a new of them and quite naturally breaking the Aussie rhythm. 

Read more...

HOCK - EYE HOCKEY COMES HOME

FOUR NATIONAL PRIDE

Sandeep Singh Strikes Twice As India Trounce Pakistan 4-1 To Make Rocking Start To WC

   New Delhi: Who says Indian hockey is dead ? If you were inside the Major Dhayan Chand National stadium on Sunday night and heard the countdown roar as a band of fighting, swinging, diving, rocking Indians in Blue  raced to victory over big rivals Pakistan, you would have wowed to return again.And to learn to love the forgotten boys of Indian sport once again.

        It was a night of rede4mption for the Blue Shirts. India had been buried quietly by Pakistan 7-1 inside this very stadium in 1982 during the Asian Games. They never recovered from there, losing the fans' interest and slipping into oblivion. The 4-1 win in their opening match of the World Cup on Sunday washed away the bitterness of that humiliation. Yes,it was goosebumps night, a match to svour and herish and one to take home with you, to stay with you foreover.

         The signs were all there in the evening. Fans were trooping in, draped in the Tricolour, restless to see magic on the turf. The crowd of 16,000 was mesmerized and went home more than satiated. Holi will certainly acquire a new flavour on Monday.

         A lot of credit for this win goes to the Indian coaching team. It was a great tacical move to rest first goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza and play PR Sreejesh. The idea was to surprise Pakistan's main weapon Sohail Abbas, the drag flick king of the world. Abbas was floored completely and walked away with a lost look in his eyes. Pakistan earned six penalty corners and Abbas could convert only one. That settled it, nice and proper.

        Beyond that , there were too many heroes in the Indian camp. The defenders and midfielders were simply awesome as they kept the ball in possession in the first half,which helped India dictate terms. And when the time to drive the point home came, Sandeep Singh showed why he is feared by mostgoalkeepers in the world. He slammed home two penalty corners. his scorching flicks giving Pakistan goalkeeper Salman Akbar no chance. Butbefore that he set the tempo when India earned their second penalty corner. Sandeep's flick crashed into Akbar's pads and Shivendra Siingh did the rest, slotting the rebound home with glee.

          What struck most was the manner in which Indians went for the ball. They were relentless in their bid to keep the Pakistanis away from the ball, They dived, they lunged, they endlessly, tirelessly.It was fascinating to watch India play possession hockey. No wonder, they were2-0 up at the end of the first half as Pakistan hardly got a good look at India's goal.

         The second half began with a bang as Prabhjot singh scored in a counterattack. It was simply too big a task for Pakistan from there. They did wake up and tried to attack but were foiled well by Srejesh and the Indian defenders. Sandeep's second and India's fouth goal in the 55th minute left nobody with any doubts.

        The fans became noisier, the pace of the game picked yup nd Pakistan slipped into desperation mode. It did yield them a goal but that was that.

           A word for India's Spanish coach Jose Brasa. His use of the rotational substitution was terrific. Rarely has one seen players come in and go out with such frequency. This also speaks for India's bench strength. All 16 are good enough to battle with the best.

         As for the players, there was no lack of effort on any count. Sardara Singh, captain Rajpal soingh, Shivendra Singh were all very good. Midfielder Bharat had a great game.

        It is still early days in the tournament jbut it is not the time to look ahead now, it's a time to celebrate. Bring out the colours!          

Read more...