History favours India against Netherlands

If past is any indication, India is a favourite against Netherlands in the crucial tie in Pool D, billed for today.

India needs an outright victory against the European giant after it failed to garner three full points against New Zealand on the other day. India is under pressure to put it off the Netherlands challenge.

Netherlands have won both their matches with good margin, and are comparatively have less pressure compared to the former Junior Champions India. However, the Dutch have to play against ever-improving New Zealand in their last tie while India’s next and last rival in the pool will be minnows (?) Poland.

If at all any pressure on the Netherlands that will too be based on history — that the Dutch never won the title despite having so many other titles in their kitty. That pressure of course is far off considering the immediate task on hand – to meet the Asian giant.

India-Netherlands tie billed for the day is expected to be a cracker.

Its only in the first two World Cups that the Netherlands defeated India, both with a single goal margin. India hardly had any program for juniors in those times and even failed to qualify for the 1989 and 1993 World Cups.

But the 90s were a different proportion altogether.

Harendera Singh’s India outplayed the hosts Netherlands in the last edition, much the way his predecessor Rajinder Singh Sir.’s team did in 2001. At Hobart, in a do-or –die battle, India came out with colours in the Stage II contest 3-2.

At Rotterdam in the last Jr. World Cup, India and Netherlands were in the same Pool D as is the case now. In their last pool match, India outclassed Netherlands for a comfortable 4-1 win. In fact, the Indians did as they pleased with Sandeep Singh converting two penalty corners (12th, 60th) and Tushar Khandker chipping in with a brace (15th, 62nd). The lone Dutch goal came in the 38th when Sjcerd Steller converted a penalty corner. Of course, both teams played this match after both qualified for the next round.

It was not the case at Hobrat in 2001. India needed a victory as it lost to Australia after drawing ultimate finalist Argentina. This victory against the Dutch changed the fortunes of India as it went on to win the title with a thumping score against Argentina in the final.

In 1997, when India returned to the World Cup after missing the previous two editions, Yogindra Singh Rawat’s last minute penalty corner put paid to the Netherlands aspirations.

V. Baskaran was the coach then at Milton Keynes. India lost its first match to Spain in a tense contest (2-3). In the next match, Netherlands took what seemed an assailable lead of two goals, thanks to Mar de Jong and paul van Esseveldt. Thereafter, after Dilip Tirkey, then only 19, engineered a revival with a penalty corner conversion in the 33rd minute, Rajiv Mishra and Rawat scored a goal apiece to seal the fate of their famed rival.

That for the first time India reached the finals of the Junior World Cup at Kilton Keynes is history.

The message of history therefore is, India built on its course to podium finish or semifinals of the last three World Cups on the altar of Netherlands.

Can India repeat the history? Yes, if they Can avail the chances and have the commitment.