Sat 5 Jul, 2008
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India go down to Germany  x15
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| India |
August 16, 2005 
Rediff, India
> Page Views 2313
India's chances of a podium finish were shattered after their forwards squandered a number of chances to go down 2-1 against world champions Germany in their second league match of the Rabo Trophy hockey tournament in Amstelveen, on Tuesday.
Coming into the match after a 1-0 defeat against Spain in their opener, India needed to pull off a win against the European powerhouse to remain in contention for a top place finish, but the usual story of chances going abegging meant another disappointment for the men in blue.
India are slated to meet archrivals Pakistan in their last league match on Thursday.
Germany, fielding quite a few youngsters in place of the tested ones in view of next month's European Championship, still played like champions, scoring as early as in the 4th minute through Mitthias Witthaus and in the 48th minute by Niklas Meinert. For India, Kanwalpreet Singh scored via a penalty corner in the 41st minute.
Even before the Indians could get into a groove, they got a rude awakening when the Germans exploited a loophole in the defence to go into lead in the 4th minute.
Indian captain Dilip Tirkey, who has clearly looked under pressure in the tournament so far, failed to trap the ball and sharp shooter Watthaus' angled shot from a half volley landed high in the Indian net.
The early goal proved to be a wake-up call for the Indian strikers who tried hard to regroup for the equaliser but mistrappings and poor interceptions once again proved to be their bane.
The Germans could have gone 2-0 up in the 18th minute but the goal was disallowed since the ball came off the stick of Bimal Lakra.
The Germans earned their first penalty corner 10 minutes from the half time but the Indian defence managed to thwart the fleet-footed rivals this time to ensure they went into the break trailing by just one goal.
The second half was marked by some real shoddy display by the Indian forwards with right-winger Prabhjot Singh, star striker Gagan Ajit Singh and Deepak Thakur guilty of missing several gilt-edged chances.
But credit must also be given to the German defence, especially their talented goalkeeper Christian Schulte who came off with some good saves but in the 41st minute when Kanwalpreet Singh slammed home with a neat shot from a penalty corner to have the score levelled at 1-1.
The Germans, however, were not be reined in as they scored their second goal seven minutes later after forcing their second penalty corner. Meinert gently pushed in the ball from right to seal the fate for India.
Scores: Germany 2 (Mitthias Witthaus 4th minute, Niklas Meinert 48th) beat India 1 (Kanwalpreet Singh 41st).
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Comments on this article
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PRABHJYOT SINGH MADAN
08-16-2005 10:20 am
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we are useless !!!!
Indian players are useless, i am shifting priorities to tennis or basketball where india is good, india players cannot play hockey. it is a hellhole to watch them play. They cannot move forward to make a plan or do anything. Someone tell me when KPS Gill is removed from indian hockey then i will give indian hockey a chance.
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vipul
08-16-2005 10:30 am
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this debacle of india team was expected.now instead of learning and improving from this defeat,India team coach and top management will put the blame on senior players and axe them.They should remember that atleast the senior players r playing,they have put so many below par players for reasonds other then their hockey talent , also who are warming the benches.bench strenght is poor,players like vikram pillay,sandeep michael,len aiyappa should have been included and also we all are waiting for jugraj singh's recovery.
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LAD
08-16-2005 3:01 pm
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THE SAME PATHETIC FAMILIAR STORY
WHAT CAN WE HOCKEY LOVERS SAY OR EXPECT.
EACH TIME WE PRAY AND HOPE OUR TEAM WILL CLICK AS A TEAM.
THIS TEAM ESPESCIALLY IS PATHETIC AND THE PERFORMANCE OF SOME PLAYERS ARE RUBBING OFF ON THE THE GOOD OLD FAITHFUL ONES. PRABHDEEP LOOKS A TOTAL MISFIT, DIDAR SINGH IS BELOW PAR, AND SO ARE THE OTHER NEW FACES. GAGAN, DEEPAK AND PRABJOT ARE PATCHY AND ARE NOT COMBINING TOGETHER. IGNACE IS MAKING MISTAKES BY THE DOZEN AND SO IS ALSO DILIP BUCKLING UNDER PRESSURE. VIREN RASQUINHA SEEMS TO BE FIGHTING A LONE BATTLE AND I WOULD RATHER NOT COMMENT ON THE JOKER KANWALPREET.
IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS SOMETHING MISSING IN THE BONDING OF THIS TEAM. WHAT MORE CAN ONE EXPECT WITH THE COACH HIMSELF PLAYING THE BLAME GAME TO PERFECTION AND DEMORALISING HIS OWN BOYS.
LET US NOT FORGET HIS PREDICTION/ASSURANCE OF A PLACE IN THE FINALS, I EVEN THEN UNDERSTOOD HIS STATEMENT AS A FINAL PLACE.
BEING AN INDIAN SUPPORTER I LOOK FORWARD TO A BETTER PERFORMANCE AND EXCITING GAME AGAINST PAKISTAN. WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE NOT EVEN OUR PRIDE.
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Keshav
08-17-2005 12:37 am
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Team which knows to dissapoint
It has been a devastating performance once again by India, Each time we watch the match with huge hopes and turns to be so futile. Basically the problem is with the attitude of the players some are been in the team for long time even after dismal performances
Indians should learn a lot from our Arch rivals and European teams a lot, Aggresiveness and most importantly the revival of a team when they are underdoged by the opponents,
Having being watched this team coming together for around 2 years i feel it lacks in talent and performers, we have very few players who are brave, bold and affirmative (very few indeed) and most others are timids. why does the higher superiors replace the team with players who are zealous and can fill the prequisite avidness in the amid of the tournament and rejuvinate the hopes of the followers of the game, why are they still prevailing with the existing thespians, i think the whole Hockey board and higher officials need to concentrate on this a lot.
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Manbir Grewal
08-17-2005 7:05 am
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Give India a break
I dont understand why do all these supporters of indian hockey start criticising immediately.1-0 to spain and 2-1 to germany was a deecent outing.India are no world champions and spain and germany are the top 3 teams in the world.
It will take some time for the indians to regroup.
As for len aiyappa...sandeep michael...or vikram pillay they wont have done much better.I have seeen them as well. Dont forget the rock solid defence of spain and germany.India cant beat them in a day or two.We have to groom players.look at korea ..they beat eng 5-1 and then lost to aus 7-1..merciless......
The style of indian hockey cant be changed .so is the case of the pakis.....They have to work a lot on their physical fitness and co-ordination...And a little bit of self-belief will do good to both the asian teams.This is my team for the world cup 2006. We cant change too much too late....................and we dont have studs at home either.....this is the state of affairs and pls for god sake enjoy hockey and relax.
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Pushpendra Matharu
08-17-2005 8:48 am
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Police Raj
Unfortunate to see that in India which is known for its democracy, an Institute like Hockey Federation is run by the most corrupt cop of Punjab. I have nothing personal with this cop, none of my relative was effected But I have witnessed the down trend of Indian hockey since he joined this federation. Somebody have to stop this police raj. After each tournament, 50% of the team players are sacked and the coach is removed just before the tournament or during the tournament. Please stop him, I am 40 years old and I want to see India winning a big tournament before I die.
Please do something to stop this mad cop.
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COOL
08-17-2005 6:00 pm
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WELL SAID MANBIR
It is most disturbing to the team to read such hyped-up criticism during a tournament. They all read planet field hockey. Most of you guys sound like you've never played before. Nothing is more detrimental for the players than having fans who cannot support them when the team is down. A winning team needs no support from the fans.
So stop with the crying and get on with the rest of the tournament. If you can't say anything good then shut-up for once and let the team loose with dignity.
Pushpendra, I wish you a very long life and I am certain by then you shall see India triumph. Just be positive and you'll live to see India on the podium.
Over the years I've seen many of you start off very positive but loose hope soon after a defeat. I agree that the team has not given us any joy and your despair is justified. But the amount you guys whine, there are times I feel that your negativity is to blame!
What is it that we give our team...nothing but criticism. So don't expect anything in return.
//
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An Indian Fan
08-17-2005 10:19 pm
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It is so disturbing to find criticism of Indian Team and when they have played well enough to keep score low. It is so nice to hear from Manbir and Cool as they have put it rightly, give some time and break to Indian team. I hope and wish that IHF does not change the staff even though they have promised to keep Coach Rajinder and staff and it has been their history, they cave to media pressure so quickly. Rajinder had promised better defense and it has been better what we have been reading and seems like Kanwalpreet is holding much better than thought and my question is what Len ,Micheal , and others accomplished at Azlan. It is not They are not good but let a combination settle and then if it does not work bring on some changes. If people remember Rajinder asked Len and he wanted to play in Malayasian League. Good for him. Let us give boys a cahnce and let them just play and play hard, w's will start comimng. Remember Rome was not built in a day.
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Dude
08-18-2005 3:44 am
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Support India all the way !!!
Fully with you Manbir and cool. I stand by the Indian team all the way. I saw the games on field hockey.tv and I thought this team played well. True they are yet to win a single game but we must give them some time under Rajinder.
India needs to work on finishing the chances they create ( which they do) and tightenup the midfield where they seem to be yielding some soft turnovers.
As fans the least that we can do is stand by our team till the last minute of teh last game.
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Bhaji Dhillon
08-18-2005 8:17 am
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Good Job Grewal Sahib,
These people who criticize Indian hockey team are the same people who will write most hyped comments if Indian team wins against Egypt, Kenya or other under dogs. Win or loose by one goal margin at this level of hockey doesn’t tell the real difference between the teams. Now Holland lost to Korea but I don’t think Dutch fans will start writing pathetic comments about their team.
This Indian team with Sandeep singh and few others juniors, if play together for couple of Tournaments can easily obtain podium finish in future.
Good luck Team INDIA!
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Jharkhand
08-18-2005 10:30 am
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Good?? or a farce??
All,
well the Indian team has been losing and as u all loyal fans put it.. they have been losing respectably.. but dunt u think v shud all look at the broader picture..
Lets start wid the case that the Spanish and German teams are not full strength.. its a proven fact that they are trying combinations for the future.. so the fact that we "LOST" respectably can be argued there..
But again as an Indian Fan and knowin the capabilities of each player i expect a betta performance and when u cant deliver again and again and again u gotta go.. !!
Secondly.. wats the fuss abt India defending well .. guys v have to score to WIN.. we may have a clean sheet for 2 whole years but r we gonna win anything.. any silverware... nope's... so why r u all satisfied..
I dunt get pleasure out of criticizin the team.. but yea i am dissappointed wid the performance and i blame the coach entirely for tht... its the coach who has to motivate and make the players pull up.. if not him then who?? ME???
The best forwardline.. and 0 goals?? come on.. chances they create?? how many against spain?? against germany yes there were chances.. but???? dunt u all think the forwards are tryin to click for more than a year NOW!!! isnt it ever gonna stop..??
Its positive criticism tht we are tryint o talk in here.. how many times do we stress on "TRAPPING"!!!
Guys standing by our team is what i've been doing for so amny years now.. but when they fail again .... and again.. it get a lil too hurtful... im not expecting much.. mind u.. just a fight.. a effort to push the opponent hard till the last minute and for some reason the team fails to exhibit this to me!!!
@Jharkhand
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Indian
08-18-2005 11:08 am
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Its a Punjab team , not Team India
Have a look at the Hockey team's composition you will start doubting why it should represent India. Is Hockey played only in North India. If it is so let only north Indians watch it.
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Jammu P Singh
08-19-2005 3:03 am
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Hard Luck
Its hard luck for india, but kanwalpreet singh and Didar Singh are doing good in this tounament.
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Jammu P Singh
08-19-2005 3:07 am
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North India
Its north india but the think tank is in the south india which don't let north indians play thier hockey.
I think u guys should go back and review the history of the field hockey before 1952, and then tell me who were the players in the indian hockey team in that time.
Shame on us.
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Dude
08-19-2005 6:57 am
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point well made Jharkhand !
and a point well taken as well.
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