If words of Indian chief coach Roelant Oltmans is to be believed, Indian team is aware of the strength of tomorrow’s rival, Belgium and are finding right answers to tackle them in tomorrow’s encounter.

India and Belgium will play the quarterfinal of the 35th Hero Champions Trophy tomorrow after having a rest day today.

“Yes, you all pointed out strengths of Belgium team. And also reminded me of past victories of them. What I can say at this juncture is that we are aware of every strong point of Belgium, our strength and weaknesses. We will try to find answers for all those problems in tomorrow’s encounter, which is crucial to get the semifinal spot”, Roelant said today evening after training the team for about an hour on the main turf.

“Belgium is a vastly improved side over the years”, he added smillingly.

Oltmans again repeated the fact that India played well in previous two matches too though the outcome was not in favour of his team. He then added the third match went our way, but it was not the first match of the tournament.

“The tournament did not start on yesterday(When India defeated The Netherlands) or going to finish tomorrow. Champions Trophy is a big tournament, every day every match is crucial for the team to improve” he elaborated.

On pointed out that the team is not generating enough penalty corners, he said: “Defence techniques have improved a lot. No team allows circle penetration and is strong in avoiding mistakes inside circle. What is important therefore is availing the chances. The other day the Dutch hardly got three chances and struck twice. They also did not get many penalty corners, or for that matter no team is getting many penalty corners. Because of improved defence techniques”.

That’s why we resort to long pushes and deflection for goals as we tried against Argentina”, the relaxed coach explained with patience.

Sharp and unforgiving, Belgium has been troubling India, especially scoring in the dying moments of matches. But Oltmans is not going to be guided by the history.

“I don’t want to go into past, long stats etc. I as a coach witnessed only just a match going that way (World Cup opener in June this year)”.

Belgium defeated India at The Hague World Cup scoring a goal in the last 12 seconds, and then here in Bhubaneswar it struck just a solitary second remained for the hooter. Australia conceded a penalty corner goal, leading to 4-4 draw.

India need to go for goals, and also able to safeguard them tomorrow to make it to the semis

It is worthwhile to mention here that India defeated Belgium in the quarterfinal of the last Champions Trophy in Melbourne before going down to the hosts in the Semis.