HWL 3rd place playoff IND v GBR as it happened: Britain thrash India 5-1

Heartbreak indeed for India as they finish the tournament with 3 heavy defeats. As Coach Paul had said earlier in the tournament, India tend to lose heavy when they lose. But overall a 4th placed finish with quite few injuries in the squad is not a bad result, all things considered. Lot of work to be done for the team, especially the defence and PC conversion if India have to compete with the best in the world.

The HWL finals in India at the end of this year will be another challenge for Paul van Ass and his wards.

A heartbreak for our boys as Great Britain beat India in the FINTRO #HWL2015. Well played to @_GBHockey! #IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/AGdtC0mZEQ

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) July 5, 2015

Sardar Singh: We learned a lot through this tournament. Youngsters in the squad. We have tried a new strategy here, it’ll take some time to work.

India score through Rupinder’s drag-flick! After conceding 9 goals against Belgium and GBR, India finally manage to pull one back..

And that’s all we have time for. FULL-TIME in Antwerp! India lose 5-1, finish fourth.

And it’s a PC to India. Can India make this count?

Britain playing patient possession but Akashdeep dribbles down the other end and wins a PC. Which, of course, GBR want to review to preserve their clean sheet.

Manpreet rushes, but takes one on the shine. PC #6 on the way…

….and its deflected out wide by an onrushing Manpreet. Still 5-0.

Another PC for Great Britain. Their 5th of the match.

Less than 5 mins to go for India’s ordeal to end. IND 0 – 5 GBR.

MISS! It’s Jasjit Singh and his flick flies wide. Not much pressure on Jasjit there, should have got it on target at the very least.

India finally get a PENALTY CORNER! 7 mins to go in the match…

Keeping with the Wimbldeon spirit back home, Great Britain going for a tennis score here. Almost 6-0, as Jackson’s reverse hit flies over Sreejesh’s bar.

A rare attack from India, who are trailing heavily on every imaginable stat.

And on the scoresheet too, Middelton.

The end of the game cannot come soon enough for India. Fourth quarter underway and India look completely beaten.

That’s five for GBR! India completely being destroyed here. Every attack from GBR seems like a goal. Indian defence standing watch as Barry Middleton scores.

And there it is, nothing Sreejesh could do there. 4-0 Britain, Adam Dixon scores from the 3rd quick PC.

PENALTY CORNER GREAT BRITAIN! Mayhem in the Indian defence. (That happened again, not a retype) Sreejesh saves again but yet another PC from the resulting scrap.

Great save Sreejesh. High to his right. GBR come at it again..

PENALTY CORNER GREAT BRITAIN! Mayhem in the Indian defence.

From almost becoming 2-1 its now 3-0 against India. Such are the margins in sport.

Seconds before that goal, Lalit found Ramandeep with a spliiting long hit but the shot was saved well low by the British ‘keeper. Looks like this is over for the Indians.

GOAL Britain! Brilliant counter attack! And just like that, GBR turn defence into attack. Jackson with the final touch.

Oh, great chance India! Good save.

Oh, great chance Britain! Catlin turns behind Jasjit and has a free run to the center circle. Gets a snap-flick away but goes just wide. 

Still 2-0 Britain with 10 mins to go in Q3.

Birendra Lakra is back on the pitch by the way. Should see our defence improve.

2nd half underway. Big improvement need from India..

Coach Paul van Ass: Phew, hard to take any positives from the half. The second goal was poor. Cannot make mistakes like that.

That second goal from Griffiths gets better with every viewing. A long hit was so deftly flicked over Sreejesh.

Strong words again from Viren. To be fair to him, India did not turn up in that half with any great intent. 

Another lame duck first half performance by India. Another PC rebound conceded and dreadful marking for 2nd goal. #IndvsGB #WHL2015

— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) July 5, 2015

END OF FIRST HALF, Britain lead 2-0. India have looked laclustre and Britain have just done the basics right without dominating the game. Big improvement needed in 2nd half from India.

That move for the goal came after India had fashioned their best chance from the right as a speedy counter came to nothing. Sreejesh caught in no man’s land for the goal.

It is given! Britain take 2-0 lead as a long hit from the center bypasses Indian defence and Chris Griffith gets the last touch that’s confirmed by replays.

GOAL Great Britain. Or is it!? Umpire wants to take a look at this to see if GBR player got a touch on it inside the circle.

Sustained pressure from GBR as India were barely able to get out of their circle. Gurbaj makes a couple of crucial interceptions during that play. A chance to counter opens up for Akash as GBR defender cannot control a long ball but the British defence get back on time.

GBR 1-0 IND with 7 mins to go in Q2

India more in the game in Q2 with a goal mouth scramble coming to nothing as Devindar loses his footing allowing GBR to bring it out.

Rupinder is on the pitch, but Lakra’s absence definitely being felt.

End of the first quarter and we've been told that the goal has been officially credited to @ABrogdon11. Poor @Danfox450! #HWL2015

— Great Britain Hockey (@GBHockey) July 5, 2015

End of Q1. India trail Great Britain 1-0. Q2 underway.

Fox had enough time to let one fly from the PC rebound, but Brogdon got the final touch to deflect it in from a yard out of the cage.

Brogdon opens the scoring touching in a reverse into the bottom corner GBR 1-0 IND #HWL2015 #RoadtoRio http://t.co/7dV5ftAkPd

— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) July 5, 2015

GOAL Great Britain! That’s deja vu for Indian defence. Eerily similar goal to the first one scored by Belgium a few days back as GBR convert from rebound of PC.

GREAT ALERTNESS FROM SREEJESH! But a penalty corner is conceded from resulting scramble..

No great momentum for either side. Scrappy so far, perhaps expectedly after a draining semi-finals for both sides. Birendra Lakra got hit in the hand with a shot from the right flank and had to go off for a while.

Its a steady start from both sides. 0-0 with 8 mins to go in Q1.

Excellent work by Akashdeep from the left, starting from the sidelines all the way to the byline, showing the wrong side to a defender and going the other way. Gets too close to the ‘keeper and cannot find a pass to the center.

India fashion a couple of early chances, one from the left and one from the familiar right side hit from Gurbaj. Britain go up attacking on the other side and JAckson cannot connect inside the circle.

Off we go in a windy, overcast Antwerp..

Our men’s team is ready to play for the bronze medal in the #HWL2015 (Men). Tune in to Star Sports 1/HD1#IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/w2Nw3452hy

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) July 5, 2015

National anthems completed. God save the queen followed by Jana Gana Mana. All in readiness here, folks. No surprises in India’s lineup. Can the Indian attack click against British?

Let’s find out…..

““Small final” is an interesting way to put it.

Would be a massive achievement for Ireland if they make it. Depends on how the rest of the Continental championships pan out. For now, all they can do is wait and hope.

Would be a first Irish team sport (of any denomination) to qualify for an Olympics since 1948 #HWL2015

— The Hook (@hookhockey) July 5, 2015

A few things to look forward to from India’s perspective today. Wil Jasjit take over from Rupinder Pal for drag-flick duties? Will the mighty-impressive Sreejesh receive support from the defenders in front of him to keep the British at bay?

We’ll find out soon.

Would be a massive achievement for Ireland if they make it. Depends on how the rest of the Continental championships pan out. For now, all they can do is wait and hope.

Would be a first Irish team sport (of any denomination) to qualify for an Olympics since 1948 #HWL2015

— The Hook (@hookhockey) July 5, 2015

Meanwhile, Indian women are the verge of creating history as they are on the verge of qualifying for the Olympics for the first time since ‘80 Moscow games, with a mighty impressive 5th place finish in Antwerp.

Relive India's splendid win against Japan yesterday.
Images courtesy http://t.co/zPuQCHVEejhttps://t.co/XlahKFtwps pic.twitter.com/kyYVIfLBaa

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) July 5, 2015

Good point raised there. South Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan have all missed out on Rio. India deservedly through after winning Asian Championships and finishing in the top-four here too.

All Asian hockey teams need to get their house in order. Only 1 Asian men team has qualified for Olympics

— Give Me Hockey (@hockeyind) July 5, 2015

 In the last match between the two sides Britain defeated India 2-1 through a last-minute goal in during the World Cup at The Hague last year.

One of India’s biggest weakness in this tournament has been Penalty corners – offensively and defensively. Conversion rate has been poor despite Jasjit Singh’s match-winning brace in QF against Malaysia. India failed to convert all 3 in the SF with an understandably rusty Rupinder mis-firing.

“Rupinder has been out of action for 12-13 days due to injury in a warmup game ahead of the tournament. It was not easy for him to strike form,” said Van Ass, exhorting the Indian team to get it right in the bronze medal match.

“We need to take lessons from the outing against Belgium in the semifinal. It was a big learning experience for the boys. For a start, we must guard against letting in early goals,” said India coach Paul van Ass.

(via PTI)

HWL Preview: India face tough task against Great Britain in third-place playoff – Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

Coming to the third-place playoff, the two teams come into the match with contrasting defeats in the semis. While India were completely outplayed and out-thought by the impressive hosts, Belgium, Great Britain put up a remarkably good show against the Aussie Hockeyroos who have been in irrepressible form in Antwerp. 

No prizes for guessing who’ll come into the match as the more confident side.

In what is perhaps the most crucial match of the day, Ireland have just beaten Malaysia in the 5th-6th place playoff and have set about celebrating it in the way as only the Irish know too well! Fifth place means, they are in good shape to make it to the list of final 12 teams at Rio Olympics.

#HWL2015 Antwerp | @irishhockey v @TeamMsia an exciting finish, but Ireland secure 5th place with 4-1 win and Olympic dream remains alive

— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) July 5, 2015

On a busy Sunday afternoon for sports fans, the Silverston Grand Prix is underway right now. So go and hit CTRL + T to open Firstpost’s live-blog of that.

Here’s something to get you in the mood for the match. Sardar Singh tells Hockey India about the playoff match.

Here are Captain Sardar Singh's views about India's crucial #HWL2015 match against Great Britain today. #IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/L0PVD5PuSC

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) July 5, 2015

Rupinder Pal Singh is excited. Time for us join him too as what has been a thoroughly enjoyable tournament is coming to an end.

Playing our @TheHockeyIndia Men's @HockeyWLAntwerp Bronze Medal match today at 7pm IST today. 😊 Watch it LIVE on @StarSportsIndia. #HWL2015

— Rupinder Pal Singg (@rupinderbob3) July 5, 2015

Having lost their respective semi-finals, the Asian champions will take on 5th ranked Britain in a match that will determine who takes home the Bronze medal from Antwerp. The big prize of Olympic qualification, however, is assured for both these teams. (Not official for GBR but it is a mere formality even if they finish fourth here.)

Good evening, Hockey fans! The final game for India’s men of the HWL semifinals is upon us, as Sardar Singh’s men take on Great Britain in the 3rd place playoff match in Antwerp.