Defensive tactics did not help in Champions Trophy

Indian team raised hopes only to dash them once again as they lost the bronze, writes Pargat Singh.

The Indian team raised hopes only to dash them once again to the ground. They got into early lead but then gave it all away with a defensive approach that is becoming hard to understand in a team that is capable of playing flowing hockey.

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The trademark of sub-continental game from India and Pakistan is smooth, aggressive and attacking hockey. And that is precisely what India is not playing right now. They have forgotten their own strength and falling back all too often, and unnecessarily at that.

The net result of this was a 2-3 defeat in the bronze medal play-off match against Pakistan on Sunday. This was the third successive time that Pakistan had beaten India in a bronze medal match at the Champions Trophy.

The final was won by Spain who stunned a somewhat over-confident Dutch side and halted their march to a hat-trick of Champions Trophy titles.

Both Spain and Holland are playing wonderful hockey and have shown great preparation with an eye on the long term, like the 2006 World Cup and the 2008 Olympics.