…and we all fall down

Worse, Tirkey’s absence doubles the pressure on the mid-fielders. And while the centre-half looks strong, Viren Rasquinha & Co. will miss the stalwart marshalling the defence.

One-Man Army:
Gagan Ajit Singh. The 25-year-old deputy superintendent with the Punjab Police was named captain after Tirkey opted out. He has the reputation of being a lethal striker who can convert half chances. Problem is, he doesn’t have an effective feeder, one who can assist him with a precise pass in the danger zone. Dhanraj Pillay was the last forward who really buttressed Gagan’s chances.

Among other forwards, neither Tushar Khandekar nor Prabhjot Singh is as effective. Khandekar is speedy and skilful, but inconsistent. Prabhjot is an exceptionally artistic dribbler, but doesn’t count as a goal-scorer.

“Gagan now has the added responsibility of leading the side,” admitted India chief coach Rajinder Singh Jr. “It will obviously have its impact. But he led the juniors to the World Cup triumph, so I’m sure he can do it again.”

The Art Of Warfare:
India coach Rajinder Singh Jr has guided his team Punjab & Sind Bank to two national titles and knows his players well. But surely he is no match for heavyweights like Roelant Oltmans (Holland), Barry Dancer (Australia), Peter Bernhard (Germany) and Maurits Hendriks (Spain). These coaches can win a tournament purely on their strategy and observation of the opponents.

“Rajinder perhaps does not have the experience of analysing or strategising like his contemporaries,” says a former coach. Also, his placing of extra confidence in players from Punjab could be his undoing.

Oltmans had a 10-month stint with Pakistan before switching back to Holland this year. He was the Pakistan team’s guiding star at the Athens Olympic Games. Oltmans not only knows how each member of the team plays, he is also aware of what a particular player is capable of. It will be interesting to see how he deals with Pakistan when the two meet on December 14.

However, Oltmans negates the theory. “The role of a coach changes with a new assignment. You can’t apply the same coaching methods with everyone. Pakistan and Holland are two different teams,” he says. That’s true. As true as the fact that he knows pretty well how the Pakistanis think.

Team composition:
That’s a major cause for concern. The goalkeepers and the midfielders won their place, players believe. But leaving out Bimal Lakra and Prabodh Trikey destabilised what, as one player said bitterly, was a “winning combination”. Prabodh could have fit into any role, Bimal would have been handy in the midfield. Bimal, along with Rasquinha, V S Vinay, Arjun Hallappa, Sandeep Singh and Vikram Pillay, would have multiplied options.

Especially in the absence of Dilip Tirkey. Lakra would not only have enabled the coach to use the rolling substitution effectively, but could also have contributed with his defence-splitting hits.

“Leaving out Lakra and Prabodh jeopardised whatever little chance we had of finishing among the top three,” says a player. That may be an exaggeration, but the deficit will be noticed.

David vs the Goliaths:
Let’s admit it, the opposition is simply superior. Germany are handicapped, without eight of their key members of the Athens Games, but they can still spring a few surprises. Here, though, India can still have a go at a win.

Holland, with players like Teun de Nooijer, Karel Klaver and coach Reolant Oltmans’ expertise, are serious title contenders. Australia gave the last edition of the Champions Trophy in Lahore the skip due to security reasons, but won the Olympic gold and also added to their kitty a second place at the eight-nation Rabo Bank Championship back home.

Pakistan, who won that championship, have received a shot in the arm with the cancellation of skipper Mohammed Saqlain’s three-match ban. And Spain, well, are the champions for a very good reason -consistent victories.

For the record, India’s best finish is a third place during the fourth edition of the Champions Trophy at Amstelveen.

The odds are stacked heavily against the hosts, but a podium finish could be grabbed if – and that’s a BIG if – drag-flicker Sandeep Singh dazzles and Gagan Ajit nets some really special ones. Sandeep, people say, is developing to be on a par with the great Pakistani Sohail Abbas – the highest goal-scorer ever. That is, in terms of ferocity.

The asset
“Sandeep is an asset. He has a crucial role to play and is a far better player after his Dutch sojourn,” hopes India coach Clarence Lobo. If he can maintain his short corner conversion percentage of 60 to 70 per cent, a miracle could be on its way home. The only problem with Sandeep was with his defensive capabilities. His foreign trip could have added muscle to that.

If Gagan Ajit Singh scores like the one he hit against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy at Amstelveen in 2003, India have a distant glimmer of hope. Also, a lot will depend on Adrian D’Souza. The Indian Airlines employee is one of the best in his trade. After all, he was the only goalkeeper who could counter the great Sohail Abbas’s drag flicks head on.

If he has a productive (in terms of saves affected) tournament, India could well salvage a few draws and perhaps the ignominy of finishing at the bottom of the table.

Matches you shouldn’t miss

The Big One: An India-Pakistan sporting encounter is always a treat to watch, just for the pumping adrenaline and the emotions. Action starts today, at 6.30 pm.

Clash Of The Titans: Holland haven’t had many title wins for a while; and Australia have the psychological edge with the Olympic gold. A fast-paced match is on the cards, attacks and counter-attacks keeping the momentum swinging. Watch out for the match on the sidelines, as two super coaches-Roelant Oltmans and Barry Dancer -try to outwit each other. Action starts December 14, at 4.30 pm

Grudge Match: The Aussies were snubbed by Pakistan at the eight-nation Rabo Bank Championship in Amstelveen, Holland, and will look to avenge the 3-4 defeat. Artistry Vs Speed. A treat for purists and youngsters alike. A paisa vasool match. Action starts December 16, at 8.30 pm