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India’s hopes of reaching the men’s semifinals at the FIH Hockey World Cup suffered a major setback after a 3-1 loss to co-hosts the Netherlands in its opening match of the second round.
The result completed a “double” for the Dutch after the Netherlands women’s team defeated India 2-0 in its first match of the second phase.
The men’s contest was closely fought, but defensive errors proved costly for India. Two of the Netherlands’ three goals followed lapses in judgment, while several experienced Indian forwards also struggled to make an impact.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh provided India’s only consolation by converting a penalty corner.
The Netherlands took the field in its traditional orange jerseys, while India wore white. Both teams began aggressively, building attacks along the flanks and occasionally using aerial passes.
The Netherlands earned the first penalty corner in the 13th minute but failed to convert. The opening quarter featured fast-paced, skillful hockey, with both teams searching for an early breakthrough.
India created a promising opportunity following a coordinated move in the 24th minute but failed to capitalize. Neither side found the net before halftime.
India earned its first penalty corner in the 35th minute and sought a second after the initial attempt. Following a video referral, India was awarded another penalty corner, but the resulting shot went wide.
The Netherlands broke the deadlock in the 41st minute through Duco Telgenkamp.
India responded by earning a penalty corner in the 42nd minute. The decision led to a brief confrontation between players from both teams before senior players and the umpire intervened. The penalty corner eventually resulted only in a long corner, leaving the Netherlands with a 1-0 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
India earned another penalty corner in the 47th minute while Harmanpreet was off the field. Amit Rohidas’ attempt was cleared, prompting India to request a video referral. The review resulted in another penalty corner, but India again failed to convert.
The Netherlands doubled its lead when Tjep Hoedemakers deflected a cross from the right flank past the Indian goalkeeper.
India launched a counterattack and unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty corner before earning one in the 51st minute, followed by another. Harmanpreet converted the opportunity to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
India’s hopes of mounting a comeback were quickly extinguished by another defensive lapse. Thijs van Dam lifted the ball over the advancing Indian goalkeeper and tapped it into the net as Manpreet Singh attempted to recover, giving the Netherlands a 3-1 lead.
Despite the result, India matched the Netherlands in several areas, including man-to-man marking, trapping and creating attacking opportunities before a packed Wagener Stadium. However, defensive mistakes and missed penalty-corner opportunities ultimately decided the contest.
The defeat left India needing a highly favorable combination of results to reach the semifinals. Argentina’s subsequent 3-1 victory over England preserved India’s slim chance of advancing, but India must defeat Argentina by five goals in its final second-round match Monday and hope the Netherlands beats England.
