India secures second place in Pool D after 5-3 victory over Pakistan
India’s Victory and Defensive Concerns
India secured a 5-3 victory over Pakistan in their final Pool D match of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 in Amstelveen on Wednesday. This win allowed India to finish second in their pool, keeping their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive. Despite the crucial win, captain Harmanpreet Singh expressed concerns about defensive lapses that allowed Pakistan to mount a comeback during the match.
India initially established a 3-0 lead before Pakistan responded, narrowing the deficit to 3-1 and then 4-2, eventually scoring again in the final quarter. Harmanpreet Singh, who scored twice from penalty corners, acknowledged that the team was not flawless. He stressed the importance of eliminating defensive errors, stating that while missing chances upfront is acceptable, mistakes at the back are not.
The match saw Harmanpreet Singh and Abhishek each score two goals for India, with Hardik Singh adding another from a penalty stroke. For Pakistan, Hannan Shahid scored twice, and Sufiyan Khan contributed a goal from a penalty corner. The victory extended India’s decade-long winning streak against Pakistan.
Tactical Lapses and Player Reactions
Harmanpreet Singh highlighted specific areas for improvement, particularly the team’s inability to maintain possession after winning the ball in advanced areas. He noted that India made “silly mistakes” that could be avoided. Furthermore, he pointed out a recurring issue: a slow start to the third quarter, a problem that had been discussed prior to the match but was repeated. He described this as a “good learning” experience for the upcoming matches.
Despite these concerns, Harmanpreet Singh also found several positive aspects in India’s performance. He was pleased with the team’s attacking intent, their ability to create opportunities, and their overall ball possession and circle entries, which he deemed “up to the mark.”
Head coach Craig Fulton expressed satisfaction with India’s ability to adhere to their game plan amidst the high intensity of an India-Pakistan encounter. He commended the team’s performance, stating he was “happy with the way the team played.” Abhishek, who scored two goals, also confirmed that the team did not panic during Pakistan’s fightback, sticking to their strategy.
Pakistan’s Sufiyan Khan acknowledged his team’s errors, stating that they proved costly. He expressed a commitment to work harder and learn from the defeat, with an eye on the upcoming Asian Games.
Pool Standings and Future Prospects
The 5-3 win ensured India finished second in Pool D with six points from three matches. England topped the group with nine points after securing three consecutive wins. As a result, England advanced as pool winners, while India moved into the next round of the tournament.
Pakistan’s campaign in the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 concluded with this defeat. Both Pakistan and Wales will now compete in the classification phase. India now shifts its focus to the next stage of the tournament, where the level of competition is expected to increase significantly.
The match was characterized by an action-packed second quarter, where both teams scored twice, contributing to a total of four goals in that period. India opened the scoring in the fifth minute through Harmanpreet Singh’s penalty corner conversion, and later doubled their advantage in the 11th minute. Hardik Singh’s penalty stroke in the 35th minute restored India’s three-goal lead, making the score 5-2.
Pakistan continued to press in the final quarter, even earning a penalty corner in the 58th minute, but India’s defense held firm to secure the 5-3 victory.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
