The final outcome was also painfully familiar: a 2–0 defeat. It was India’s fifth straight defeat this Pro League season – and the twelfth in the last thirteen matches dating back to last season. If there was ever a time to worry about Sunday’s clash with Australia, this was it. India’s black bête are operating on a different plane, intimidating opponents with their physicality and remaining as ruthless and ruthless as ever, as the five wins in five suggest. Spain would be the easier of the two opponents in the Hobart leg of the competition. But the manner in which they beat India into submission will add to coach Craig Fulton’s concerns.
Transitional India
Fulton, whose team is struggling with the player transition phase, was candid on Saturday about what ailed the team. “Just to get better on the ball, man,” he said resignedly during the half-time interview on the field. “A lot of their counterattacks come from our mistakes.”
Those mistakes added to the frustration as they were often made in critical areas and prevented India from building any semblance of rhythm.
The numbers underline the problem. In the first half, India found themselves in the Spanish ‘D’ only twice. Six months ago, against much inferior Asian opposition, they broke the circle almost every two minutes. Against a competent European side of comparable quality – and with a squad containing several young players with little experience of this intensity – it would be naive to expect that level of dominance.
But Spain has exposed what India currently lacks. They were direct and sharp with the ball; India were heavy in their decision-making and lacked the creativity or conviction to attack the Spanish goal with purpose. Inside the ‘D’, Spain wasted no time and pulled the trigger. They were as confident on reverse hits as they were on forehands, avoiding unnecessary touches and instinctively flooding the circle, teammates finding each other without hesitation.
That’s how the opening goal came. A ball drilled into India’s ‘D’ traveled almost 50 yards unchecked. Ignacio Abajo slipped behind Sumit – who had absolutely no idea that a man was lurking over his right shoulder – and with the slightest touch brought him past Suraj Karkera. The sixth minute strike was an early confirmation that this would be another long night for the Fulton side.
India’s own sloppiness has only widened the gap. Apart from Abhishek, no attacker made a real goal attempt. In midfield, only Hardik Singh showed any real intent to create chances or support the defence. India tried to attack from the right flank but the players overran the ball as they crept into the Spanish circle from the baseline. Simple forward passes were easily put in between and the attackers lacked the ingenuity to find a foot to earn a penalty corner when there was no clear shot on target.
As the midfield continued to give away possession cheaply, the Indian defense was under constant pressure. And while the result suggests improvement, the mistakes at the back were still striking enough to inspire disbelief. The seven penalty corners that the experienced defense led by Amit Rohidas gets, tell their own story. Fulton would relieve his team’s losing side with just two goals, the second coming from Ignacio Cobos in the 36th minute.
Final score: India 0 lost to Spain 2 (Ignacio Abajo 6′, Ignacio Cobos 36′).
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