Indian Express: In reverse: How Gurjant Singh did a Marco van Basten
India’s opening goal against Belgium brought back memories of Dutch great’s goal in the final of the 1988 Euro against USSR.
This is the stuff dreams are made of. Showcasing your skill on the world stage when a global title is up for grabs. One is not sure what was going through Gurjant Singh’s mind when he entered the Belgian ‘D’ just before giving India the lead in Sunday’s Junior World Cup Final. Route One football is the term often used, rather derisively, when a hopeful aerial ball out of defence searched for a big, strong striker on the edge of the opposition penalty area. India, with a rich legacy in artistic and free-flowing hockey, may frown on similar tactics, but it shows the rapid changes in the game the team profited from such a move. Gurjant’s strike was the goal of the tournament.
A diagonal long ball by Varun Kumar from well inside Indian territory spreads confusion in the Belgian deep defence. Custodian Loic van Doren rushed off his line to clear the danger. But he could only do half the job as his panicked clearance resulted in a loose ball at the edge of the striking circle, with a few Indian goal-poachers ready to pounce. Gurjant was the quickest to get hold of the loose ball, but he still had an awful lot to do. He had to first get the bouncing ball under control, before getting away from Doren and his fellow defenders. Modern hockey does not allow any opportunity for players to dwell on the ball. Whatever had to be done had to be done quickly to catch the opposition off guard.
With his first touch, Gurjant trapped the ball, and then moved left to evade the Belgians. By now, he was at an acute angle to the goal, and two defenders had posted themselves on the goal line with the custodian out of position. Reverse hits can go anywhere. What they gain in power is usually lost in waywardness. But Gurjant ignored the odds against him and unleashed a fierce hit from the left edge of the circle which gave no chance to Doren or the two defenders on the posts before it found the top right corner of the cage. Brought back memories of Marco Van Basten’s volleyed goal from the acute right to the left post in the Euro 88 final against USSR.