Pakistan’s 2-1 victory over Olympic silver medallists Spain has spiced up the race for the semi- finals of the 12th Hockey World Cup in Pool `B’. With four teams tied on three points each, every single match from here on in becomes critical to progress in the tournament.
Pakistan now face a buoy- ant England side, who are sitting pretty on the top of the points table with impres- sive wins over Australia and South Africa, on Thursday at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
The four-time world cham- pions gave a good account of themselves in their sec- ond match here, clinically curtailing the fast-paced Spanish team to come out on top. The Pakistanis decided that defence was the best form of attack on Tues- day night, preferring to play the waiting game.
England have shown the ability to produce plenty of goals and they are the one side that have looked com- pletely at ease in conversion of short-corners. It was James Tindall who torment- ed Australia on Sunday while Richard Mantell found the back of the net in both his tries at the penalty- corner against South Africa.
The 2009 EuroHockey Nations Champion believe a win over Pakistan will be a big step towards a semis berth.
“We are on the right track after two wins here. We have a tough game up next against Pakistan but we are confident of our chances,” England skipper Barry Mid- dleton said after their 6-4 win over South Africa on Tuesday.
“We can’t say we are favourites for the trophy just yet but I wouldn’t call our- selves the underdogs either,” he added.
One thing on Pakistan’s side is be the Delhi crowd, who cheered them on vocif- erously against Spain.
“After a long time, we found some crowd support in India. It was a great feeling and we felt as if we are play- ing in Lahore or Karachi,” Pakistan’s star dragflicker Sohail Abbas said on Tues- day.
“The pool has opened up now and after Australia’s loss to England in the first game, it seems that every team has a chance of making the semis. We are not look- ing too far ahead but going to take it one step at a time,” he said.
Pakistan showed on Tues- day that they had a few tricks up the sleeve when it came to drag-flicks.
While everyone expected Pakistan’s highest goal- scorer Abbas to go for goal after the team earned their first penalty-corner against Spain, the team opted to go for an indirect strike.
“With Sohail there every- one expects a direct hit, but we have been working on a few variations. You’ll see all of them in the course of the tournament,” Pakistan coach Shahid Ali Khan said.
Apart from Tindall and Mantell, Pakistan will be wary of 2009 FIH Young Player of the Year Ashley Jackson, who has given a good account of himself throughout the tournament.
Meanwhile, in the other match of the day world number two side Australia will look to continue their fine form against South Africa, who have lost both their matches here so far.
The The Kookaburras put the reverse against England behind them by walloping India 5-2 on Tuesday.
“This is probably one of the most competitive World Cup yet. Both pools are very tough with most of the world’s top 12 nations seen in action here. Even if you drop points it is not the end of the world for a team because any side is capable of posting a win,” Aussie skipper Mark Knowles said.