When did India last concede 7 goals to New Zealand?
Despite being away from the elite Champions Trophy for long, India has not been an easy team to beat, often it loses because of its own forced errors. However, India has hardly concded more than 4 goals in 90 percent of its matches, it is a long term record. India’s worst-ever defeat at the hands of NZ needs to understsood in this perspective.
New Zealand is the first country India visited to play international hockey. Since then till to date, that is, almost 80 years, Indians have never conceded more than four goals to New Zealand, even that was only once. That blemish occurred three years ago in the Azlan Shah Cup.
The Azlan Shah again stood for testimony to the falling Indian grace, 3-7 to New Zealand.
Excepting the 2008 Azlan, only once India did concede three goals to NZ that was in 1983.
By and large, India has been having a good performance over NZ, not only historically, but also till recently. This can be gauged by the fact that India lost only 14 times so far out of 65 contests. Out of those loses, 11 are single goal margin.
India’s defeats at the hands of New Zealand. First lose coming in the Mexico Olympics opener.
1968: 1-2
1975: 2-3
1983: 0-3
1986: 1-2
1998: 1-2
2001: 2-3
2001: 1-2
2001: 0-1
2002: 1-2
2004: 1-2
2006: 1-2
2007: 0-2
2008: 3-4
2011: 3-7
Its ironic that only last year India made a history of sort by losing 0-8 to Australia at the CWG Final. Indians have never conceded 8 goals till then to any other country. The Oceania misery for India continued here, as yet another country from that continent gives India another dubious record, 3-7.
3 Comments
Mahadik is very poor defender cannot play under pressure. Player like William Xcalko in defense and Vinaya in midfield are not getting selected for Indian team. Poor defense put lot of pressure on midfield. India missed Sardara and Rajapl also.
I agree with Rajeev. Mahadik is slow and is more suited a defensive midfield role. The other 2 defenders here, Diwakar & Rupinder have been poor too. Even Sandeep is better than any of these. Xalco or Innocent Kullu may have done better, but the fundamental issue is that we are not producing quality players. We are struggling in all positions. Of the current lot, I’d rate Sardara, Gurbaj & Bharat Chikkarra + the 2 keepers as international quality. Sunil & maybe Tushar & Vikas Pillay could be retained, but the rest have to go.
Shocking result, but as I don’t think there is any limit to how far we can fall. This result was flattering. We could have lost by 10-3…we were shockingly bad. Really hopeless situation. I can’t see any hope on the horizon. It might be best if we don’t qualify for 2012. What is the point of sneaking into the Olympics and getting thrashed.
Really pathetic result for Hockey fans in India.Indian goal keeping was also very poor and coach must have used 2nd Goal keeper in the this match. Most of the times our Goal keeper was out of position.This helped NZ to score more goals.