India take on Ireland in quarters, eye revenge, semifinal berth
Win over Italy offers Indian women shot at lastfour spot after gap of 44 years
An erratic campaign back on track, the India women’s hockey team would now be aiming to secure their first World Cup semi-final spot in 44 years by avenging their 0-1 loss to giant-killers Ireland in the last-eight stage here on Thursday.
India registered their first win of the tournament by sailing past Italy in a quarter-final play-off on Tuesday night and if they manage to beat Ireland, it would ensure them only their second appearance in the World Cup last-four.
The only time India had managed to enter the semi-finals of the showpiece event was in 1974 in Mandelieu, France where they finished fourth.
In the last edition of the tournament in Rosario, Argentina India had finished eighth.
QUITE A TASK
Having come second best in their last two meetings, it would be quite a task for the Indians to beat Ireland.
The Irish have been in ominous form having topped Pool B ahead of higher-ranked USA and India.
World No 16 Ireland have already scripted a history of sorts by outclassing USA 3-1 and India 1-0 before slumping to a 0-1 defeat against hosts England. But they still managed to secure their maiden World Cup quarter-final berth.
India, on the other hand, had to slog it out to make it to the quarter-finals, having drawn 1-1 against England and USA, respectively and losing 0-1 to Ireland.
CRUSHING ITALY
The Indians would take heart from the 3-0 win over lowerranked Italy in the cross-over match.
The Rani Rampal-led side rediscovered its scoring prowess to end Italy’s World Cup adventure through a field strike from Lalremsiami (20th minute) and two penalty corner goals from Neha Goyal (45th) and Vandana Katariya (55th) to register an emphatic win.
The Indians were brilliant with their first touch control on Tuesday and come Thursday, the side would look for an encore to outwit the gutsy Irish.
But it won’t be easy as it is the same Irish side which beat them in the last two meetings — 2-1 in the Hockey World League Semifinals in Johannesburg (South Africa) last year and then here in the pool stages.
The Irish would definitely come out as a confident unit but India would be banking on their newfound confidence.
The Indian defence led by talismanic Savita under the bar has produced a stellar performance throughout the tournament.
CONFIDENT STRIKERS
It was the forward-line which was lacking the sting but Tuesday night’s performance would do a world of good to the strikers’ confidence.
Skipper Rani feels India have gained confidence as the tournament has progressed and they would look to carry that forward going into the business end of the event.
“Early in the tournament we didn’t do the one thing we needed to do — score goals. But we have found the net now and we can definitely push on with our journey. We do not see that journey ending tomorrow,” she said.
EXCITING CONTEST
It promises to be an exciting encounter as Ireland have already proved that they are no pushovers and the outcome of the match will eventually depend on controlling the nerves at crucial stages.
Meanwhile, in the other quarter-final of the day, the mighty Netherlands will take on hosts England.
›
Though we lost against Ireland in the pool stage, we know we played really well. Now we have a golden opportunity to beat them in the quarterfinal.
RANI RAMPAL, India hockey captain