India Falls Short in Hockey Semis Against Germany: They played like they were paying homage to the old-time hockey legends before they gave themselves an opportunity to make their names in the annals of Indian hockey.
This one will sting. Not so much because India lost as because of the type of hockey they played, which was brilliant at moments, brilliant all the time, but replete with expensive errors. The team captained by Harmanpreet Singh would have felt that they deserved better.
Sadly, it was not meant to be. And four more years were added to the already 44-year wait to make it to the Olympic final. India took an early lead but lost 3-2 to Germany in an exciting Olympic semifinal in Paris.
However, when India plays Spain in the playoff match on Thursday, they will have another chance to finish on the podium and at least tie for the bronze medal in Tokyo.
It was an excruciating instance of coming up painfully short once more for the nucleus of the team that made sure India made it back to the podium for the first time since 1980 (there are 11 of them in Paris). India’s meteoric rise to prominence, which they had believed would take them to their first Olympic final since 1980, has come to an anticlimactic halt.
India had to put in more effort, run more, and use their players more strategically because they had one fewer player (15) than Germany in the playing team. Amit Rohidas, who was suspended, was missed on both ends. He was used as a backup drag-flicker for Harmanpreet and initially rushed in penalty corner defence.
They effectively “out-Germanied” Germany because, as they have repeatedly demonstrated in the past, the world champions are one of the few teams with the discipline and tenacity to overcome such obstacles.
Additionally, this German squad had been playing well. They have scored 19 goals at an average of slightly over 3 per game going into Tuesday’s match; most of those goals came from open play.
India were a sight to behold when they were at their best, even in defeat. With his deft wristwork, Hardik Singh created elaborate patterns on the pitch, hypnotising the German defenders and getting them to dance to his music. This one time, early in the first quarter, he found a way past the defender and managed to get a foot inside the “D.” He dribbled past three defenders to draw another penalty corner a few seconds later. He gave an air punch both times, like he was celebrating a goal.
Little Vivek Sagar Prasad also became a part of the group. Two German defenders who were more than six feet put a 5’2″ Indian in a corner and did everything they could to scare him.
Rather than being afraid of them, Vivek expertly outwitted Niklas Wellen and shifted the attack’s focus to the right flank, where a large number of unmarked Indian corpses could be found. With a nonchalant glance back at Wellen, he grinned. India’s dominance in the first quarter was encapsulated in the one image.
They were rewarded with a goal, as none other than Harmanpreet Singh gave India the lead with his ninth Games goal to take the lead in scoring.
Fulton’s India was presenting a different side of themselves. They launched an all-out assault on Britain after playing a very defensive game. Germany had an emergency mid-quarter team meeting on top of their “D” due to the strategy’s unease.
India was never going to be able to maintain the intensity that they displayed in the first exchanges, especially against a German team that is known for its comebacks.
The Germans overcame early deficits in the knockout stages three times to become world champions last year: against England in the quarterfinals, Australia in the semifinals, and Belgium in the championship match.
By holding onto the ball, forcing India to move from side to side of the field, and taking advantage of their flaws, they were able to claw their way back into the game once more.
The Germans turned a first-quarter deficit into a half-time advantage thanks to two errors made by defender Jarmanpreet Singh: finding his foot to win penalty corners and a penalty stroke. Gonzalo Peillat and Christopher Ruhr then made it 2-1.
India tied the score with a peculiar penalty corner variation. A quick reaction by Sukhjeet Singh, who was unmarked, allowed him to redirect the ball into the net after Harmanpreet played it wide and to the right of the German custodian. Germany charged their rushers to stop the India skipper from executing one of his dreaded flicks since they didn’t anticipate the change. Harmanpreet gestured with a finger to his head in celebration.
However, India failed not utilise it at a crucial juncture, which occurred late in the fourth quarter. Germany entered the Indian ‘D’ from the right wing through the baseline thanks to a momentary gap in focus. In the 54th minute, Marco Miltkau deflected in a cross that was played in front of the goal.
The Indian players left the pitch with their shoulders lowered and a dejected expression as the last hooter blew. They will recognise that even in defeat, they were brave when they think back on it.
