Having enjoyed easy run so far, India face France on Tuesday
Biswajyoti Brahma, TNN
NEW DELHI: The fun days are over. It’s now time for some serious business. Having won the first two games without breaking any sweat, the Indian hockey team will on Tuesday enter the critical phase in the Olympic qualifiers, a week which can make or mar their London dreams.
Up against them in their first “real” match would be France, another team which is still unbeaten in the tournament. France are ranked No. 18 in the world, way below India (No. 10) but that does not ensure an easy exercise for the hosts. There are no easy matches when so much is at stake and the French have made this clear with their performance so far.
The Europeans were impressive against Poland in their first match and ruthlessly clinical while thrashing the whipping boys of the qualifiers, Singapore, on Saturday.
The problem with India is that they are yet to be tested, while their rivals have had their share of competition. With the strikers dominating both their games, the Indian defenders, the weak-link in the team, did not get much out of the two matches. But skipper Bharat Chetri believes nothing is going to unnerve the Indians, who have some bitter memories of clashes against France.
“It’s been easy so far and we know that from tomorrow it’s going to be tougher. France are a good and capable side. We definitely have plans for them,” Chetri told TOI on Monday, a day when the Indians preferred to take a break from training. Chetri dismissed suggestion that conceding a goal each against weak teams like Singapore and Italy was due to weak defence.
“This can happen in big scoring matches. When your team is attacking constantly, one or two counterattacks can result in goals. That’s normal. When you play tougher rivals, you tend to be more alert.”
France’s captain has already made it clear that he would like to see his team repeat the result they had against the India eight years back. France had then beaten India in a Test series in the Capital, winning a match and drawing another. “I was part of the squad that beat India in that series.
They had some great players, but we played well to win. It was a big moment for us,” captain Arnaud Becuwe said.
A win against France would help India take a crucial step towards booking a berth in Sunday’s final. Of course, there’s Canada and Poland also be taken care of later this week. “It’s been good for us so far, we want to maintain that tempo,” the goalkeeper kept it simple.