The missing killer instinct the Champions make up
Germans are defending champions and played the same way. Indians are underdogs and assumed the role accordingly. The intension is not to berate our national team, but put things in perspective.
India played most part better than the Germans and appeared fitter than them. These are statement of fact stable for academics.
Winning and losing is in mind. Mindset to be specific.
Its not question of conceding a goal in the last minute or last second or last fraction of a second, as happened the other day for India against Germans.
It’s a question who determined to win come what may. And who did not give up till the fraction of second from hooter.
What happened yesterday is copy book case for many things, importantly as to mental make up.
Germany have comfortably won the opener (6-2). They are sure of quarter’s graduation. After all what you need to be there is just two wins and possibly a draw as bonus.
Germans were not their self yesterday, or if we put it other way the fitter and better India did not allow them to be so.
They got a yellow card suspension of a key player Martin Haner at the stroke of 62nd minute. India had upper hand for full five minutes on account of superior numbers on the field.
Did India go for the kill? They attacked, recovered, rotated the ball, calm down the rival surges etc, but one can say they were content to draw, which will any case be hailed. And the hailing will have its own merits.
Germans on the other hand were cruising for a draw despite being overwhelmed by their rhythmic rivals.
They were by actions not content with a draw, which against their poor form appeared deserving.
No, its approach, attitude and mental outlook that kept them going for last minute kill.
With the return of Martin Haner, as would a wounded lion, they kept pressing. Why did whole of Indian team descended inside circle.
Simple. If we can save the finals seconds, draw is assured.
Teams need not be ambitious beyond their potential, but India deserved to be ambitious yesterday given their superlative game.
But the traditional mindset was their enemy. It chose to contain the rival rather than going for the last kill that would have given not just a point but three.
Champions don’t rest. They know a draw, for that matter, will rust their ambition. Winning on a bad afternoon will pave way for a bright morning next day. They know it for sure.
This is mental framework or call killer instinct.
This match was not a final but champions consider each match a final and that’s why they are champions.
On the other hand, losing full points after being comfortably placed for long spells will be counter-effective.
That’s why India did not do well at Athens, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Monchengladbach and elsewhere.
If India will come back at Rio after this Tuesday Torment it will justify it fifth rung in the world ladder.
Indian spirit and mind should now look up, however difficult it is, to start Rio campaign anew – just like champions.