So it’s all over. India lost its title here on Friday after a patchy performance in the semi-final of the Hockey Junior World Cup. Two-nil up at half time against the sleeveless Australians, but still the boys in blue managed to give it away in the second half: 2-3. Why? Because they can not ‘kill’ or ‘freeze’ the game, just as I suspected. They are all brave and gifted youngsters, who – first and foremost – play hockey with their heart. I like that, but that type of play won’t put India back at the throne. Not at junior level, and surely not on senior level. Against a smaller opponent such a naïeve gameplan might work, against a couple of swashbucklers from Down Under it simply doesn’t. Then you also have to play with your head.

Instead of finding it the Indians lost theirs in the last 35 minutes, and the far from impressive Aussies snatched victory, which will line them up here on Sunday against the treacherous Argentinians. India can only seek revenge in the bronze medal game against the Spaniards, who defeated the titleholders here last Sunday in their pool match with a disgraceful margin of four goals: 4-0.

The most fascinating question of course is this one: what did the juniors have learned from their experiences here in Rotterdam? That a hockeymatch lasts not about 35 minutes or so, but that the real playing is still 70 minutes? One would hope so, because that might just be the problem for Indian hockey.

May I recall the match against Holland at the 2003 Champions Trophy over here in Amstelveen? India lead by a comfortable margin of three goals (0-3) with just five minutes on the clock. Still Holland won: 4-3. Not convinced? Well, take the Holland-India match at the 2002 Champions Trophy in Cologne, with the Indians leading 2-3 up to the 68th minute. Still the Dutch managed to score the equaliser: 3-3.

You can call it a cruel coincidence, but that’s stretching the truth. All coaches will admit that coincidence doesn’t exist in sports; you get what you deserve. And India, for all their talent and positive attitudes on the pitch, simply didn’t deserve to win. They spoilt their own party, not Australia. India plays an ‘all-or-nothing’ kind of game, which is – again -often a joy to watch. But it’s an one-trackminded type op play, that won’t pay off in the long run.

But let’s stop moaning. Especially after what happened the other day in London. It’s a hockeymatch, not the end of the world. On the contrary: it should be a start for India. I know, there were quite a few re-starts in Indian hockey over the last couple of decades. But there’s no way back to the glory of the past. Link heart to brain, and don’t be too proud. Every coach now and then borrows a tactical idea from his colleague. That’s what they call the art of winning.

Mark Hoogstad is sportswriter for the Dutch daily and Rotterdam-based newspaper NRC Handelsblad