New Delhi: For the first time at the Junior Hockey World Cup here, organisers are in a quandary over the demand for passes. India and Pakistan are set to clash for the 9th place here on Saturday night, and even though both teams are out of the top race, excitement and expectations among fans is high.
India coach Gregg Clark too acknowledged the importance of the clash. “The traditional rivalry between the two nations is huge and even though we are not in the reckoning for top places, we would like to finish 9th and not 10th,” he said after the team’s training session here.
India will be without striker Ramandeep Singh, who suffered a shoulder injury in the game against Argentina on Thursday night. The think-tank was still awaiting an MRI result, after initial tests had ruled out a fracture.
The 20-year-old forward is expected to be out for at least two weeks.
An India-Pakistan clash always evokes the best in both the teams. There is an extra dash of aggression and effort, and coach Baljeet Singh Saini said it will be important to keep emotions under check. “We should take it as just another game. The fans enjoy such encounters, but we cannot afford to get carried away,” he said.
The 9th-place playoff though is a sad reflection for hockey in Asia. Both teams struggled in the tournament, and even
though India have a stronger team on paper, it hasn't shown in the results.
Reflecting on India's campaign so far, Clark said, “We didn't get our small moments right.
Meanwhile, an unheralded French side set up a historic summit clash against defending champions Germany. France defeated Malaysia 3-1 via penalty shoot-out after both teams were locked at 1-1 at the end of regulation time.
Germany to beat last edition's silver medallist Netherlands 5-3.
LIVE on TEN Sports From 8 pm
