Ideally, I would like India to win it all and for Korea to beat Pakistan in the SF...
This would be the best scenario as it will take the pressure off our players for the final and given the incredible variations in our performances from one day to the next, we may just produce a fantastic display (a bit like the 7-2 win in the 2007 final of the Asia Cup). If it comes down to a crucial show down against Pakistan; then we will most likely lose & put up a pathetic display (like the 2008 loss to GB in the Oly qualifier or myriad defeats to Pakistan over the decades).
However, we are quite capable of losing to Malaysia in the semi!!
Ideally, we beat Malaysia, and Korea beats Pakistan in the semifinals. Then we are in the World Cup, and Pakistan are out!
Pakistan not being in the World Cup for hockey is really a lot like Brazil or Germany not being in the football World Cup...
jayakris wrote:If both Pakistan and India lose the semis, then who goes? I guess we play Pakistan for the 3rd place, and the winner goes? Jay
India will be through if Pakistan does not win Asia Cup, irrespective of where India finishes. Thats because India finished ahead of Pakistan in HWL semis.
Saw the highlights of yesterday's match. Korea had more possession & circle penatration. It is really Sreejesh who saved the day for India along with good game in defense & midfiled by Rupinderpal Singh, Bimla Lakra & Chingalseena. Attackers have to do better in crucial matches in SF & F.
Tomorrow, India plays Bangladesh in the inconsequential match. (We do need to win the match, no more).
The semifinal is on Friday, and of course Malaysia has the home advantage -- but there are lots of (Malaysian) Indians in Ipoh too, who will hopefully be less partisan in their support of the home country!
We have the advantage of playing in the 2nd semi. If Korea defeats Pakistan in the 1st semi, the pressure of qualifying for the WC will be off. Of course, I want to win the tournament to gather ranking points and more importantly improve our pathetic record at Asian level.
We were lucky against Korea, especially in the 1st half. There are still too many unforced errors all over the pitch. We gave away silly PCs with sloppy trapping or crazy tackles when there is no real danger of a shot at goal. Sardar wasn't paying for most of the 1st half, and we are obviously missing (much) better players because of injury and HI's bias against WSH players, but overall, the team is lacking in real quality in every position.
Oltmans seems to have implemented some useful changes; quick release of the ball and cutting out the mindless whack into the D every time. The defending maybe a bit better (difficult to judge after one match against a strong team)-possibly by simply getting players behind the ball much quicker and staying in the vicinity of an opposition player (rather than gazing at the ball!!). Common sense stuff, but something we seem incapable of doing.
The top European and Aussie teams move the ball quicker than us. Their slap hits or pushes travel much quicker and their long passes are much more accurate. The player receiving the ball always seems comfortable to trap under pressure and turn or lay off the ball to a colleague. Our guys struggle to do either (long passes or trap under pressure).
Looks like India beat Bangladesh 9-1 to top the pool. Apparently, Sardar started the game, so he must be recovering and that is a good omen for us in the semis.
Really hoping that the Koreans can take out Pakistan in the other semis.
In the first semi final Korea beat Pak by 2-1 to move into the final, with this Pak is officially knocked out of the next years world cup and we are in could not have asked for a better news before our SF ...
Now, time to conceantrate on the task in hand...good luck for the semifinal...
First time in the history Pakistan will not be part of the hockey world cup...4 times champion and now cant find a place in the top 12 nations of the world.. sad to see the death of Indian and Pakistani hockey
could not have asked for a better news before our SF 
