5 min learnMumbaiUp to date: Aug 23, 2026 09:09 AM IST
Harmanpreet Singh flung a low, highly effective flick to beat the Dutch goalkeeper, halve India’s deficit, and lift the crew’s hopes. He then sprinted again to the dugout, lay down and acquired a therapeutic massage on his aching again. Simply as he returned a few minutes later, his teammates misplaced the ball within the center, the Netherlands launched a blistering counter, and Thijs van Dam restored the two-goal cushion.
One other comeback wasn’t to be. India misplaced 3-1 to the Olympic champions. However Argentina handed them a semifinal lifeline after they beat England 3-1. This implies if India beat Argentina on Monday, and England lose to the Netherlands, they’ll nonetheless qualify for the semifinals if they’ll keep the next purpose distinction.
Craig Fulton & Co., nevertheless, will look again at Saturday’s sport with melancholy.
There was at all times one thing holding India again at this World Cup. That they had the bursts, the quick begins, the spells once they regarded able to taking over anybody. However they by no means fairly acquired the handbrake off.
A glance again on the Indian Males’s Group’s Spherical 2 conflict in opposition to the Netherlands on the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026. 🏑🏆
The outcome went the opposite method, however the battle continues. We regroup and prepare for Argentina on Monday. 🇮🇳💪#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame… pic.twitter.com/t2vPXuVUKe
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 22, 2026
In opposition to the Netherlands, that was uncovered extra starkly than it had been all event.
India had extra of the ball – 61.6 % possession. Had extra circle entries – 20 to the Netherlands’ 16. Received extra penalty corners – 7 to 4. However none of it mattered a lot.
The Netherlands regarded in management even once they have been with out it, comfy sufficient to let India flow into possession in areas that didn’t actually damage them and assured that the openings would finally come. It was a lesson within the distinction between possession and management.
“Three quarters we performed very properly,” Harmanpreet informed the broadcasters after the match. “We managed the ball and defence-wise, we did good issues. However we now have to remain centered and constant for 60 minutes. Final quarter, we made the identical errors. They scored from our errors solely.”
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Harmanpreet had a degree. India have been aggressive for lengthy durations. Manpreet Singh, as he has completed all through this World Cup, put his physique on the road as the primary line of defence, dashing out to shut down the Dutch drag-flicks and disrupting their routines. Shilanand Lakra did properly to run behind the defence and create passing channels. There have been spells when India moved the ball properly and regarded able to stretching the Netherlands.
Satan within the particulars
However too a lot of their most influential gamers by no means managed to impose themselves on the sport, as has been the case by the marketing campaign.
Harmanpreet, nursing again ache, was sparingly used and, though he scored India’s solely purpose of the match, struggled to go away his imprint. Hardik Singh, whose capacity to hold India by midfield can change the rhythm of a sport, was equally unable to ascertain himself. Abhishek Nain, considered one of India’s most harmful attacking shops, was successfully marked out of the competition.
India have had their moments – typically excellent ones. However they’ve not often been in a position to maintain them. (Hockey India)
The Netherlands by no means regarded notably flustered.
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That was probably the most revealing a part of the night. India may have the ball, however the Dutch determined the place India may have it. They may enable possession with out surrendering management. They have been affected person, organised and sufficiently comfy to attend for the moments when India misplaced their construction.
And when the primary purpose got here, within the forty first minute from Duco Telgenkamp, it felt much less like a sucker punch than the eventual reward for a crew that had steadily taken possession of the sport.
That’s maybe probably the most uncomfortable takeaway from a 3-1 defeat. India is probably not miles away from the very best groups on the earth. They’ll play with them. They’ll make them defend. They’ll even have extra of the ball. However they’re nonetheless a long way from making these groups play on India’s phrases.
That has been the story of this World Cup in some ways.
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India have had their moments – typically excellent ones. However they’ve not often been in a position to maintain them. In opposition to Pakistan, the chaos labored of their favour. In opposition to the Netherlands, there was no chaos to use. The Dutch merely saved their form, absorbed the stress and waited.
The handbrake by no means fairly got here off.
And that’s what the Netherlands have proven India: the hole between being aggressive in opposition to the large nations and truly controlling a sport in opposition to them stays a major one.
India can damage the very best groups. They’ll match them for stretches. However at this World Cup, they’ve not often made the very best groups uncomfortable for a whole 60 minutes.
In opposition to the Netherlands, that they had extra possession however much less management. And maybe no statistic higher captures the place Indian hockey stands right now.
