After two unconvincing wins, a misfiring India face their first real test when they take on arch-rivals Pakistan in a much-anticipated Pool A encounter of Hockey World league Semifinals, here on Friday.The showstopper encounter between Asian Games champions India and Champions Trophy silver medallists Pakistan has raised the stakes in the diamond city of Antwerp.The misfiring Indians enjoy the luxury of having already qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games, but Pakistan have promised to go all-out into attack in Friday’s sub-continental contest.For both India and Pakistan, a victory in this preliminary pool match will pave the way for a favourable quarterfinal draw.Friday’s match is also the first encounter between the sub-continental hockey rivals since their clash in the tense, incident-marred Champions Trophy semifinal in Bhubaneswar, where some gestures during on-field celebrations by the victorious Pakistani team led to a few suspensions and angry reactions.
There remains some palpable tension between the teams over that incident, but on Friday both the side would seek to showcase the attractive sub-continental style of hockey.Going into the contest, both India and Pakistan’s strikers have been erratic and wayward in the first two matches.India have won both their first two outings against France (3-2) and Poland (3-0) but Paul van Ass’ wards were far from impressive.Pakistan, on the other hand, managed to beat Poland 2-1 before being outplayed by Australia. Australia hammered Pakistan 6-1 on Wednesday evening after being level 1-1 at half-time.India captain Sardar Singh said even though their Rio Olympic berth is secured, they want to take this opportunity produce some positive results ahead of the World league Finals, to be played at home at the end of the year.For India’s new chief coach Paul van Ass to be a part of an Indo-Pak contest comes as a completely new experience.
“It’s going to be my first experience of an India-Pakistan hockey encounter. But during the 2010 World Cup in Delhi, I saw the excitement it causes,” said Van Ass, a former Dutch national coach.Van Ass says he had only seen the current Pakistan team on television before the ongoing tournament, but insisted India were focused on their own game. “We need to control the ball well and our penalty corners ought to be better executed,” said Van Ass, who has used the tournament to try out new strategies and also some young players. “The young boys always give lots of energy,” he added.
Several injuries to some key players and the new coach’s plan to test juniors and different strategies is the reason India are not here in full strength. In comparison, Pakistan have a well-settled side, which is here in full strength. “Our lineup has not changed since the Incheon Asian Games and the Champions Trophy at Bhubaneswar last year,” said Pakistan coach Shahnaz Sheikh, a former captain and Olympian himself, who was also the coach at the Asian Games and Champions Trophy.“We have a lot at stake in this tournament,” said Shahnaz, seeking to play down the controversy about over-the-top celebrations that followed the last encounter between the two neighbours. “let bygones be bygones and let’s put up a fine exhibition of hockey,” said Shahnaz.For Pakistan this tournament is the last opportunity to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, having lost the Asian Games gold medal to India, who thus became the first team to secure passage to next year’s quadrennial event.