s2h team
Three top contenders for top spot in Pool D have a chance to firm up their position today the last day of pool D matches. With a victory in their kitty, England, India and Spain will aspire to win their match today and get to the top spot to avoid the cruelling cross over. While India is comfortably placed against Wales, a mere victory may not get them where they want to be. The other one between Spain and England will be cynasure of all eyes tomorrw, as it would be a deciding factor as to who will be top the pool.
It would very much depend on first match of their pool, between Spain and England. If England would beat Spain, the latter will have to settle for 2nd or third place in the pool, as it has lost a match earlier to India.
With two victories and a point earned through hard earned draw against the hosts, England would have 7 points. India also can have same points if it realizes its target of beating the Welsh. However, to move ahead of England, the goal difference will have a lead role.
At present England has a healthy GD of 5, three ahead of India.
India therefore has to defeat Wales by more than 4-goal margin plus whatever the English would strike against Spain.
The position as of now therefore is even for all the three teams.
India was not impressive in its win over Spain though it pulled up its socks against marauding English. Despite conceding 7 penalty corners in a quarter alone, Indian defence played heroically to keep its citadel safe.
India’s livewire midfielder Hardik Singh may not play today.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh seemed to be under self-inflicted pressure, as neither do his game nor his specialized area (penalty corner) seem to be on the same sharpness as it used to be before the captaincy mantle fell on him.
If India will be forced to score more goals to offset England’s aspiration (provided they beat Spain), the forwardline need to deliver, which it did not so far.
A mere two goals in two matches is not what they would have set out to achieve.