India and Belgium play a repeat of the 2016 FIH Junior World Cup final, only this time two stages earlier. Five years ago in Lucknow, Harendra Singh’s boys emerged triumphant by two goals to nil but on Wednesday, December 1, one of those nations will not go all the way to the title clash.

Graham Reid, India’s head coach now, mulled over the advantage or lack of it that history would have on the eve of his side’s clash with Belgium at the 2021 edition of the tournament at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

Addressing a virtual media conference, he said, “The tournament’s here after five years so no one has the memory of winning or losing. That brings freshness to it. But obviously, when you beat a team you have that thing to fall back on.”

India started with defeat against France (4-5) but have fought themselves back into contention with superb wins over Canada (13-1) and Poland (8-2) to make the last eight from Pool B.

“We had nerves to start with but we’ve washed them down since then particularly in the last couple of days,” said the Australian looking ahead to the quarterfinal.

He commented on his side’s adversaries. “Belgium have it in their DNA, probably handed down from their senior team which is the World No. 1 – they move the ball very quickly, confidently and purposefully. And they’re patient and composed. It’s ingrained in them. “But we’ve also seen some vulnerability that they have which the Malaysians capitalized on (in their 1-1 draw),” the Australian said.

The former Kookaburras defender/midfielder looked at his team’s strengths. Particularly at penalty corners where it has multiple options starting with eight-goal Sanjay.

“It’s here where tomorrow’s match could be won or lost,” he said.

Reid is also keeping faith in his team’s ball-handling skills, speed, and ability to counter-attack. He also praised his midfield that has done well so far.

Reid, however, struck a note of caution.

“We’ve had just three games in the tournament and Belgium like other teams are probably holding back things. The quarterfinals could be quite different,” he said.

Concerns from the Indian media surrounded the injury sustained by Maninder Singh who pulled a hamstring against Poland and Reid confirmed the bad news that the effervescent forward would be ruled out of the rest of the tournament.

“It’s disappointing when someone’s dreams are shattered.

“However, he will be replaced by Bobby Singh. He has different attributes from Maninder but can score. He surely knows where the goal is and he can slot them in,” Reid said.

Planning for the knockouts has gone beyond strategy and tactics.

Reid’s team picked up three yellow cards and two green cards against Poland and lost their way a bit when reduced to less than 11 on the pitch. Against Belgium, it could be fatal.

Reid explained work done in this area: “We discussed the issue with, not just his team, but with the umpires in terms of the finer points of the rules – what can do and what can’t.”

Another area of concern was the interception of balls in and around the danger area.

“For those old enough to remember, interception was a huge part of my game. My boys didn’t well enough against France but it’s an area that we’ve worked upon most after that.”

The absence of the 12th player for the hosts – the crowd, kept out by issues surrounding the Covid pandemic – came in for discussion.

But Reid said his team would accept vociferous from a thousand or so volunteers or academy kids in the stands. “The noise they’d make would be more than some of the boys on the pitch are used to and maybe that would help us a bit,” he said.

And there’s another X-Factor.

Asked to comment on “over-coaching” when it comes to junior players, Reid who coached the senior team to the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo admitted he was very wary about the issue.

“Indian players have skills that most other nations don’t have and I have made an effort not to disrupt those skills,” he said.

“Most of these players develop those skills on the sidelines of the training pitch and that’s the real fun part. “I’ve tried to put a structure to those skills and mould them on those lines,” Reid explained.

Maybe, just maybe, a player or two could produce a moment of magic from those exotic Indian skills that Reid appreciates and celebrates in the quest for a semi-final berth.