Bhubaneswar: Optimistic about India’s chances at the quarterfinal encounter against Belgium, men’s hockey Chief coach Graham Reid stated corners might determine the result tomorrow. Indian colts will play Belgium on December 1 in the ongoing FIH Odisha Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar.
“I think corners is the navigator that might determine the result tomorrow night for both the sides. “We have been spending a fair bit of time practicing penalty corner attack and defence as it may decide the match tomorrow for both the teams. We are studying what Belgium are doing in the past couple of days.”, said Indian Chief coach at the pre-match virtual press conference on Tuesday.
While Reid also added that India is good at midfield, stated that “We are also playing well through midfield and we need to continue doing that. We have started to get penetration and we are creating opportunities. The team that can comes out and play their natural game tomorrow will be the winner.”
Speaking about the inability to analyse the team’s play with just three games in hand at the pool stage, Reid said that “it is not as much as what you normally have in the competition and with this it becomes a bit difficult for what you have in mind and what you will do at the field.”
Meanwhile, Reid informed that Boby Singh will play at the rest of the tournament in place of Maninder Singh. Maninder was stretchered off the field from the last match of India due to hamstring.
