India-England clash will be a battle in the trenches

India will be taking on a high-flying England, winners of the 2009 European Championships with back-to-back wins against the Netherlands (semi-finals) and World champions Germany (final), on March 6 in what would be the fourth encounter for both teams in the 12th men’s Hockey World Cup.

Over the years, England or Great Britain in the Olympics, have proved to be India’s nemesis. It was Great Britain who knocked India out of the 2008 Olympic competition in the faraway Santiago, Chile, to author the worst chapter in the book of the one-time “Kings of Hockey”.

Thus, if the Indians enter this game with some trepidation, it is understandable, though England presents an outside chance for the hosts to pick up some points with a possible fourth victory in seven World Cup meetings.

The traditionalists might accuse England of a regimented style of play with specific roles assigned to players who are expected to limit themselves to their given task with some tolerance of course.

England’s best moments in the World Cup were on home turf in the London suburb of Willesden way back in 1986 when the event for the first time was played on astro-turf.

England then boasted of an array of stars like Sean Kerly, Saleem Sherwani and legendary goalkeeper Ian Taylor who were the cornerstones of Britain’s astounding success at the 1988 Seoul Olympics where they won the gold medal. That apart, they have consistently remained in the 5-8 positions at the World Cup, a feat that India cannot boast of.

In the recent times, England have produced several fine players like Ashley Jackson, the Mantell brothers (Simon and Richard) and Barry Middleton. The team might be short on eye-catching individual skills, but have proved themselves to be the fighters to the core as becomes an English trait. Often, the team resembles an infantry unit fighting from the trenches to the last man as India have found to their grief far too many times, especially in Santiago.

Discipline is at the very heart of England’s game plan and often, that has helped them to extricate from difficult situations. This virtue was showcased quite brilliantly in Santiago where India, despite dominating, lost twice to Britain, losing twice (league 3-2 and final 2-0) in the Olympic qualifiers.

England might not enjoy a great World Cup record, but they are often considered as the dark horse or a dangerous floater who could trip any team on their day.

For India to get past England, they need to be patient and bide their time. For certain, aesthetically it will not be a pretty match to watch, but all the more reason why the onus will be on India to adapt their game against an opponent whose primary plan would be not to concede goals and opt for a careful, if unhurried, build up for their attacks.

As such, India would have to rein in their penchant for individual runs at the slightest opening and instead, work their way in through co-ordinated and disciplined moves. A sensible approach would fetch better dividends than weaving pretty patterns that more often than not wins applause but not necessarily a goal.

England in World Cup (10 appearances): Second in 1986; fifth in 1990, 2006; sixth in 1973, 1975, 1994, 1998; seventh in 1978, 2002; ninth in 1982.

India in World Cup (11 appearances): Winners in 1975; 3rd in 1971; 2nd in 1973; sixth in 1978; fifth in 1982, 1994; 12th in 1986; 10th in 1990, 2002; ninth in 1998, 11th in 2006