Tactically speaking: India vs Spain
A match where Spain out-thought and outclassed India. The 5-2 verdict was not an indication of a rout alone. It was a pointer to the fatuous ways of the hosts throughout the match.
India tried to match the pace, gave up on the midfield and opted for several long passes from the defence. Why accelerate the pace when you cannot keep up?
Where India won it: Not in many areas. The way the forwards and the linkmen surprised the Spaniards on occasions was heartening. They fetched penalty corners, a sign that India did create a stir in the Spanish circle.
Where India lost it: The defence was poorly manned, despite the Indians opting for a half-court or a three-quarter court press. They were tardy in falling back. Sandeep Singh was harried, made numerous unforced errors that gave the ball to Spain. Upfront, coordination was missing.
Where Spain won it: They kept it simple. Man-to-man marking of India’s forwards, a quiet build-up in the middle, explosive, diagonal runs into the circle that made marking difficult and sharp first-time shooting.
Sparklers: Pau Quemada, Albert Sala, Ramon Alegre
Duds: Prabhjot, Tushar, Rajpal, Sandeep, Chhikara
In the final analysis: The Brasa touch is gone. No more of the one-touch passes. The inexplicable absence of a midfield, which ought to have cut down on the pace, and forwards who couldn’t find their way in the circle all contributed.