India to fight with ills within

Indian hockey players will have to check their tendency to allow last-minute goals when they play arch-rivals Pakistan at Olympics.

India will have to check their tendency to concede last-minute goals when they take on arch-rivals Pakistan in what promises to be a high-voltage classification match for the 5-8 positions in the Olympic Games on Wednesday.

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The Indians, also saddled by injury woes, have been haunted by the problem of conceding goals in the dying minutes and a similar blow could lead to their downfall against their bitter foes in what promises to be a test of Asian skills and nerves.

Out of a medal contention, India are now aiming for a top-five finish which would help them qualify for the Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan in December. Pakistan automatically qualify for the elite six-nation tournament as hosts.

But for three times in a row here, the Indians have been laid low by last minute goals which have cost the eight-time gold medallists heavily and chief coach Gerhard Rach is aghast by the elementary mistakes his wards have been committing in the dying stages.

It is an aspect of the game which has tormented the Indians for much too long and it remains to be seen whether the tough talking by the coach will have any bearing when the two Asian giants clash at the Helliniko Hockey Centre.

The Indians suffered a last minute reversal to be held to a 2-2 draw by Argentina in their last league match yesterday to finish fourth in Group 'B' with four points, behind defending champions the Netherlands (15), Australia (10) and New Zealand (9).

Pakistan took the third position in Group A with nine points behind Spain and Germany who finshed with an identical 11 points but Spain got the top position by virtue of a better goal difference.

The injuries to several key players have also left the Indian camp a little worried ahead of the potentially nerve-wracking encounter.

The injury to goalkeeper Arian D'Souza, who has been by far the best Indian player in the tournament effecting some brilliant saves, will serve as a big blow for the team looking to improve upon its seventh-place finish in the last Olympic Games in Sydney.

Forward Deepak Thakur, who was rested in the last match because of chest problems, is keen to play against Pakistan but it remains to be seen whether the team think tank will take the risk and make him play even for a short while.

Midfielder Viren Rasquinha also finds himself in the injury list but it did not lok serious enough to put him out of action in the crucial match.

Notwitstanding the odds, India's chief coach Gerhard Rach is desperate to plug the loopholes which, if left unrectified, could push India further down in the classification list.

"Conceding goals in the last minute is definitely an area of concern. They are not doing the basics correctly. The main thing is that they should not dribble, they should push or hit the ball away in the last minutes," Rach said.

The coach also said that despite the reverses, Indians were keyed up for the match.

"A match against Pakistan is a motivation enough. Any India-Pakistan match is a special game. The players are geared up for the match," he said.

The Indian forward line has failed to click in the league matches and with the defenders also appearing patchy in the tournament, Pakistan's expert drag flicker Sohail Abbas could pose a major threat on the morrow.

Forwards Rehan Butt and Sabbir Muhammad are also dangerous players who are quite capable of piercing any defence.