Few matches in hockey come with the weight of an India-Pakistan contest. On Wednesday, at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, the rivalry returns to the FIH Hockey World Cup after 16 years. But this time the stakes are even higher. India need only a draw to keep their semi-final hopes alive. Pakistan, with one point from two games, must win.
India sit second in Pool D with three points after beating Wales 3-1 and losing 2-4 to England. Pakistan drew with Wales before going down 1-4 to England. England have already secured a top-two finish, leaving the second spot to be decided between India, Pakistan and Wales.
The recent record strongly favours India. The two sides have met 19 times in the last decade, with India winning 17 and the other two ending in draws. Pakistan have not beaten India since the 2016 South Asian Games final. But statistics tend to disappear when these two teams meet.
The rivalry has always carried its own pressure. “We always have the rivalry; that’s never off the table. As a proud coach of the Indian team, you want to win every time you play against Pakistan. That’s a given,” India chief coach Craig Fulton said.
India will once again look towards captain Harmanpreet Singh, who has scored three goals in the tournament, all from penalty corners. His drag-flick could prove crucial in a match where one goal may change everything. India will also need greater efficiency in front of goal after creating chances against England without getting the desired reward.
For Pakistan, there is no margin left. A draw is not enough. They need three points to stay alive, and that urgency could make them especially dangerous.
The World Cup has witnessed this rivalry before, although not for a long time. The last meeting came on February 28, 2010, in New Delhi. India won 4-1, with Sandeep Singh scoring twice, alongside goals from Shivendra Singh and Prabhjot Singh. Sohail Abbas scored for Pakistan. India lead the World Cup head-to-head 3-2.
None of the players in the current Indian squad were part of that 2010 World Cup meeting.
Yet the history goes much further back. In the 1975 World Cup final in Kuala Lumpur, India beat Pakistan 2-1 to win their only World Cup title. Surjit Singh equalised before Ashok Kumar scored the controversial winner after his shot struck the inside of the post and bounced out. The goal was given by Malaysian umpire G. Vijayanathan, despite strong protests from Pakistan.
The rivalry began even earlier on the Olympic stage. Their first official international meeting came in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics final, nine years after Partition. India won 1-0 through Randhir Singh Gentle’s penalty corner. At the final whistle, players from both sides embraced, a reminder that beneath the rivalry was also a deep respect between two hockey nations.
That history now meets the present. India have the advantage, Pakistan have their backs against the wall, and the World Cup semi-final race is on the line.
For 60 minutes, none of the old numbers will matter. It will simply be India versus Pakistan.
The post 16 Years Later, India and Pakistan Meet Again on the World Cup Stage appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.
