Bhubaneswar: Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey has blamed the hosts for wasting several chances in their knockout clash against New Zealand that ultimately led to their shocking exit from the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 on Sunday.
Tirkey deplored that India allowed New Zealand to come back from a two-goal lead twice in regulation time and the game ended 3-3 after the stipulated 60 minutes. Eventually, India lost 4-5 in sudden death.
“We got plenty of chances to win the match. We have been saying that penalty corners are crucial to win matches, but we wasted one after the other,” Tirkey, a former captain and one of the best defenders of his time, said on his Twitter handle.
“After that, we got two chances to win in the penalty shootout. Our goalkeepers saved twice in sudden death and we had the chance to win but that also we wasted,” he said. He, however, did not criticise the team. Tirkey, the most capped India player with 412 international matches, said, “The team has learned from the defeat and I hope that we do well in the next match.”
Earlier, chief coach Graham Reid’s comments hinted that his team was unable to deal with the mental aspect of the game as the home side once again dominated their crossover match but squandered a two-goal lead twice to end at 3-3 in regulation time. “We need to do something different perhaps. Following this, we will work on how we can get a mental coach involved. I think that is an important part of the future of the team,” a distraught Reid said at the post-match conference.
“As far as the drills or training are concerned, we do what all other teams do. I have been in this game for a long time and I know what other teams are doing. If there is anything necessary, a silver bullet out there, I do think that (is) mentally.”
