Argentina are a team to watch in the Olympic hockey men’s competition. First and foremost, they are the defending champions and are known for their unpredictability.
They started on a shaky note drawing with their traditional foes Spain. A shakier show against hosts Japan, which the South Americans won 2-1, didn’t do too much to settle the nerves. Then the Pan American Games champions ran into Australia and, like every other team so far, felt the heat in a 2-5 drubbing.
India, haven’t done too much better. They scraped past New Zealand 3-2 in the opener and then were taken apart by the Kookaburras 1-7, their largest defeat in 128 matches in the Olympics.
India are slightly ahead with six points from three matches. Argentina, who India beat in Rio five years ago, have four from a win, draw and loss so the battle should start off on even keel in the early morning match on Thursday.
India will be cautious of one man – 42-year-old Argentinean goalkeeper Juan Manuel Vivaldi, the oldest player at the hockey competition here.
The four-time Olympian was key to Argentina’s gold medal victory in Rio and has garnered an ocean of experience at other top FIH tournaments.
Vivaldi considers India a strong team, with high-speed players and believes Argentina have a task on hand.
“The Indian team is packed with players who are quick in their moves and maintaining rhythm,” he said.
But what concerns him most is the battery of penalty corner experts that the Asia Cup champions have in their ranks.
“India is good at penalty corners. They have very good shooters. I think this is their strength,” he elaborated.
So would be the strategy to counter India at the set-piece?
Vivaldi replied without batting an eyelid, saying: “The key for Argentina is to keep the ball for long so that we don’t allow Indian players much elbow room to attack, and don’t give away penalty corners.”
Pic: Yan Huckendubler