Junior World Cup hockey: Penalty nook shock, flawless defence takes India into semifinals

It’s exhausting to fault Belgium’s meticulous homework.
For virtually quarter-hour earlier than the push-back, their penalty nook specialists flicked quick, knee-high pictures at their two goalkeepers, making ready them for India’s battery of drag-flickers. Or to be particular, for Sanjay Kumar – the Junior World Cup’s finest nook specialist thus far, alongside France’s Timothy Clement.
Each of Kumar’s drag-flicks had adopted this sample. So, it was hardly a shock that Belgium’s last-minute revision was round these low, exhausting flicks. And 20 minutes into the Junior World Cup quarterfinal, the query was requested of them. Turns out, nevertheless, they weren’t ready for a query out of the syllabus.

Houston, we’re into the semis 🇮🇳💙
India Colts have accomplished it 💪#IndiaKaGame #JWC2021 #RisingStars pic.twitter.com/oSQmRk28PQ
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) December 1, 2021
Sanjay, as ordinary, was standing on high of the ‘D’ when the ball was pushed out. The Belgian rushers sprinted in his route to dam his shot however as an alternative of going for it himself, Sanjay twisted on the final second and laid off the ball for Sharda Nand Tiwari, who stood behind him.
Suddenly, Belgium gamers needed to change instructions – the defenders needed to flip proper and the goalkeeper, who had positioned himself to avoid wasting a low shot, was in no man’s land. It gave Tiwari sufficient time to step ahead, decide his spot and slot the ball calmly into the highest nook, giving India the lead and leaving Belgium scratching their heads.
In the previous, India have usually been accused of being too one- dimensional from set-pieces. That they’ve 4 penalty nook specialists on this squad who’ve various kinds was therefore seen as a optimistic. But this was an ace up their sleeve which few would have anticipated. Germany, India’s opponents within the semifinals following the 1-0 win on Wednesday, would have made a observe, having watched the sport from the stands.

India Colts had been proper on the 💸
📸 | A couple of moments from our incredible win in opposition to the Junior Red Lions 💙#IndiaKaGame #JWC2021 #RisingStars pic.twitter.com/SR1fvCya4p
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) December 1, 2021
Given how India performed, their notes, one can assume, would have run into a number of pages.
There had been many takeaways for coach Graham Reid from this match.
One was the power to attain from the one likelihood that fell their approach, which was refreshing given how wasteful India have been prior to now from penalty corners. But much more spectacular was the truth that they had been capable of maintain on to that slender lead, surviving a barrage of Belgian assaults in direction of the top.
Indian gamers confirmed composure past their age and one thing that’s quick turning into a key attribute of the nationwide groups, senior and junior. This sort of managed, defensive work is one thing that’s often related to European groups, Belgium being one of many masters of it.
On Wednesday, India weren’t at all times in management, particularly within the final two quarters when Belgium actually threw the kitchen sink at them. But the defence confirmed calmness and made only a few errors as they efficiently fended off each opposition raid on their purpose.

pic.twitter.com/MbGXlIcBBy
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) December 1, 2021
Disciplined zonal defence
Reid employed zonal defence in opposition to a facet that was urgent very excessive up, virtually choking his gamers for house. Each participant guarded his personal space, with the accountability being to intercept passes and ensure the ball didn’t get to the meant goal.
Poor interception and trapping had been India’s undoing within the defeat to France, one other of the semifinalists. Against Belgium, these two aspects had been close to flawless. More than the purpose he scored, Tiwari’s defensive contribution was much more immense together with these of Sanjay, Yashdeep Siwach and Manjeet.

Close matches was the theme of the day 🧐
Results from the Quarter-Finals of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Bhubaneswar 2021 🏆#IndiaKaGame #JWC2021 #RisingStars pic.twitter.com/QQwwfxRbB6
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) December 1, 2021
In the third quarter, Belgium made 5 harmful entries into the ‘D’ however every time, they ran right into a cussed Indian wall. In the ultimate quarter-hour, once they upped the tempo, Belgium had been profitable in drawing out a number of errors and creating panic within the Indian defence. But throughout these moments, goalkeeper Pawan – who switched quarters together with Prashant Chauhan – pulled off some exceptional saves. And on the event when he was crushed, there have been defenders to make goal-line clearances.
It was a commendable defensive efficiency, papering over some cracks, particularly in assault, the place India had been unable to create even one clear scoring alternative.

Congratulations to all of the groups for making it to the Semi-Finals of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Bhubaneswar 2021 🏆
Catch the live-action solely on Star Sports and Disney+ Hotstar. #IndiaKaGame #JWC2021 #RisingStars pic.twitter.com/p6eBo3EaDk
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) December 1, 2021
And whereas India’s forwards didn’t have many makes an attempt on the Belgian purpose, one other takeaway from Wednesday’s win – provided that the Junior World Cup is a window into the longer term – is the depth of expertise that Reid has at his disposal.
While the efficiency of each goalkeepers and drag-flickers bodes effectively for the senior group, the abundance of attacking expertise throughout the U-21 ranks can also be an encouraging signal.
The hosts had been dealt a blow on match eve when Maninder Singh, one of many key gamers in assault and a dependable stopper throughout penalty corners, was dominated out because of a hamstring damage. His alternative, Boby Singh Dhami, didn’t let India really feel Maninder’s absence, particularly within the first half.
Like Maninder, whose runs requested probing questions of opposition defences within the group stage video games, Dhami was at all times discovering methods to run behind Belgium’s defence. He did it with a whole lot of grace too, fantastically utilizing his wrists to alter the route of the ball and swerving his physique to ship defenders the incorrect approach.
As Belgium stepped up the gasoline within the second half, parking themselves contained in the Indian half, Dhami and the opposite Indian forwards didn’t have a lot to do, attack-wise. But the forwards put in an additional shift, defending deep in their very own half to defend the backline.
Once once more, it was uncharacteristically Indian. Just just like the penalty nook variation, which in the end proved to be the distinction between the 2 groups. “This was just one of the many surprises we have,” Tiwari stated after the match. “We’ll unleash them one after another.”

Quarter-Finals ✅Semi-Finals ⌛
Presenting the groups that may progress to the subsequent spherical of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Bhubaneswar 2021 🏆
Catch the live-action solely on Star Sports.#IndiaKaGame #JWC2021 #RisingStars pic.twitter.com/CI5qpN3qKo
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) December 1, 2021
Quarterfinal outcomes
Germany 2 Spain 2 (Germany received 3-1 through tie-breaker)
Netherlands 1 Argentina 2
France 4 Malaysia 0
Belgium 0 India 1
Semifinal line-up
France vs Argentina, India vs Germany (each on December 3)