1971: Highlights of inaugural World Cup
1971 Lucky for Pakistan: Having won the 1968 Olympics and 1970 Asian Games hockey, Pakistan added third major title – to become hockey’s first All Grand Slam Maker – at Barcelona. They won first three matches but lost to the hosts Spain in their fourth match and thus got eliminated from the semifinal line up. However, next day Japan gifted Pakistan the semis, when they defeated The Netherlands. Pakistan went on to win next two matches – semifinal and final – to lift the Cup and also to win the third and last of the Hockey’s Grand Slam:
India’s Tactical Blunder: With all win record India easily qualified for the Semifinal. But their last pool match was against Germany. Had India tactically lost to Germany, they would have easily picked up soft semifinal rival, that is Kenya, but India did not. It defeated Germany 1-0 and then met Pakistan in the semis only to lose there.
Pakistan’s record against India: When Pakistan forward Rashid scored a goal past Cedric Perreira, the goalie, in the semis, it was the first goal India conceded at Barcelona. India did not yield single goal in the pool stage. This match was India-Pakistan’s tenth encounter.
Anti-climax Day: In some tournaments, all predictions and forms take a beat. Barcelona was not different. Olympic Gold medalist Pakistan lost to Spain, Olympic Silver Medalist Australia to The Netherlands and not to be undone, Kenya defeated Germany.
Kenyan Trouble: Kenya was almost consisted of Indian origin players, essentially Punjabis and Goans. India could have played them in the semis, but as events turned out, both met at the bronze medal match. India struggled and won the bronze in the extra-time, right winger MP Ganesh scoring the lone winner.
World XI: The assembled media selected the World XI after Barcelona World Cup. It included three Indians – Michael Kindo, Ajit Pal Singh and Ashok Kumar. Three Pakistan players were also in the list. And, do you know who was the Best Player of the inaugural World Cup? Its Japan’s goalkeeper, Otsuka.
Organizer: Juan Angel Calzado is a well known player from Spain. In the 90s, he went to head the FIH. He was the man who organized the first world cup in short time, after it was shifted from Pakistan.
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