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India take on Canada in last ditch effort

Harpal Singh Bedi in Utrecht

Unpredictable India faces a tough task as it takes on Canada in the last league pool A match at the 9th men's World Cup hockey tournament on Thursday, in a game that will determine its polsitional play-off chances.

In the four games played by India so far, the first three against Germany, Holland and South Korea were lost. The only win came yesterday, against New Zealand -- and that too in the dying minutes. The Indians were distinctly lucky to scrape through with a rather insipid attack, after goalkeeper Jude Menezes had brought off a spectacular penalty stroke save.

Canada, on the other hand have surprised the pundits. Though they have an identical number of three points as India, Canada gained them from three drawn encounters against Korea, New Zealand and favourites Germany. Their only loss of the tournament was in the opener, to hosts Holland.

Canada have proved to be a hard-fighting squad with a tenacious defence -- and testimony to this fact is their 4-4 draw against Germany, even on a pitch soggy with constant drizzle.

India will have to do a great deal of soul searching to make a match of their game against the Canadians. Only a victory and the resulting three points can keep their chances of trying for a first six finish afloat.

To do so, India will need to better its scoring record -- the forward line has proved to be the team's biggest weakness. Thus, India have thus far scored a mere five times in course of this tournament, as against nine strikes by Canada. Thus, on a goals difference comparison, India stands at minus eight to Canada's minus two.