Total hockey at its best

M.S. Unnikrishnan

Tribune News Service

A kaleidoscope of moves, methods, modes, goals, systems, speed, one-touch hockey, quick interchange of positions and much more provided an enchanting spectacle in the 10-day long group matches of the 12th Hero Honda FIH World Cup Hockey Championship at the National Stadium here.

Each of the 30 group matches were furiously, closely and intently fought, with no quarters asked and none given. A few upsets underlined the fact there were no real, solid favourites as any of the 12 teams could win or lose, depending on their form and luck on a given day.

That 159 goals were scored in the 30 group matches proved that aggression was the byword of the contests as each goal was replied with an equally vehement counter. The disciplined Korea, the hallmark of whose game was speed, thrust, stamina and their uncanny ability to score from quick counter forays, have elevated the image of Asian hockey to a higher plane as they fought relentlessly in each of their matches to drive their rivals up the wall.

Fancied opponents like defending champions Germany, whom they held in their opening match 2-2, and former champions Holland, whom they shocked 2-1 in their last Group A match to threaten to sneak into the semis at the cost the Dutch, but for a minus one-goal difference, showed that the days would not be far behind when Korea would fight as equals with the European teams.

That Holland eventually pipped Korea to the semifinal post also showed that the European team, for whom hockey is a virtual religion back home, had done their home work well and chalked out their game plan with a nicety to score important, big wins in the early stages of the league phase, which stood them good stead. Ditto was the case with Australia, who were in Group B along with hosts India and Pakistan, and who recovered from a shock defeat at the hands of England in their opening match to top the group and sail into the semifinal with their typical brand of aggressive, energy-sapping hockey.

England, after a fine exposition of total hockey in which they gave equal importance to attack and defence to notch up four consecutive wins, lost to Spain in their last league match. But the four wins in a row they stitched together, got them 12 valuable points which paved their path to the semifinal without much fuss. However, Australia’s 12-0 goal-rush against South Africa put them on the top of the group, on the strength of the sheer volume of the goals they scored – 21.

Though hosts India’s high point was their 4-1 triumph over Pakistan in their opening match, they did not do that badly either in other matches, as they played as a fighting unit in each of the five matches and the closely fought 3-3 draw against South Africa, which they could have clinched had not a video referral robbed off them of a goal, was an indication that Spanish coach Jose Brasa has worked hard on them, and the Indian team are on the road to recovery.

And India need not fuss or fret over the missed penalty corners as tops teams like Germany, Australia, England and Holland also muffed many a short corner, despite having the best drag-flickers in their ranks.

That the domination of the European teams on the synthetic hockey turfs is here to stay as others have to work a lot more hard to match their speed, flair, recovery and total hockey on the demanding surface, is a bare fact exposed in this championship. And they score goals when they need them most, and not as a matter of routine, though they do that too. But the European and Australian teams bring out their best when they face adversity.

Sadly, that has not been the case with India and Pakistan, once the super powers of world hockey, who dominated with their skill and flair. Skill and flair, like dribbling and speedy runs down the corridor, are all fine, but the Asian teams invariably bungle once inside or top of the circle to squander finely structured moves.

Though the new referral system for goals, penalty corners and infringements is time-consuming and often irritating, it gives a level-playing field as the error of the on-field umpire can be corrected by the video umpire. And last but not the least, the lack of mementos of this World Cup. Fans and the media have nothing to show that a World Cup was staged in New Delhi.

The media persons of course can flaunt their hard-earned media cards, but otherwise, Hockey India, FIH and others concerned with the organisation of the 12th World Cup missed a chance to market merchandise like pins, badges, vests, shirts, caps as the signature products of this World Cup, as a lasting memory for those who were there at the National Stadium.