Attack is the best option against Pak

It was yet another game where we were totally profligate with giving away penalty corners, and therefore conceding far too many goals. When ...

It was yet another game where we were totally profligate with giving away penalty corners, and therefore conceding far too many goals. When such lapses come against a team as solid and organised as the Dutch 8212; beyond doubt the best in the tournament by far 8212; it can mean only one thing: an embarrassing loss.

Though the Dutch weren8217;t at their best 8212; otherwise how do you explain so many PC misses 8212; it was good enough against this disjointed Indian effort.

An already superb side, the presence of Australian coach Terry Walsh has only added to the power. Walsh, in his playing days, was a supreme exponent of powerplay in the opposition8217;s D, and he has brought in the same quality to the Holland team. Though the Dutch played an open game, as they would against teams like India and Pakistan, they did not forget to keep up the pressure on India8217;s left flank 8212; the weaker side 8212; and switch flanksat the opportune moment.

The key to the Dutch success, to my mind, was their fantastic trapping with one outstretched arm, which repeatedly made the Indian markers fall short.

From the point of view of the Indians, it was again the deep holes in the defence and deep defence and the evident lack of communication between the defence and the halfline.

To add to the confusion was the fact that the Indian defenders just failed to figure out whether they should indulge in man-to-man marking or the zonal option.

The only positive for the Indians, again, was the good show from Gagan Ajit Singh and Deepak Thakur. One Gagan-Baljit Dhillon move stands out, where the two moved up in tandem from around the centreline and Gagan8217;s reverse hit bounced off the upright to go out of play. It was a fantastic move that deserved a goal.

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But like I have been emphasising right through the tournament, we can8217;t play like three teams within one team. Our forwards, midfielders and defenders seem to be playing three different matches most of the time and there is often zero communication between them.

Our deep defence seems reluctant to move up during attacks and as a result, when the counterattack comes, there8217;s a huge gap in the middle of the field for the opponents to run riot. The PCs, in either D, remain an area of concern that we just don8217;t seem to be able to find an answer to.

Coming to the bronze medal playoff against Pakistan, it8217;ll be a repeat of the 2003 Champions Trophy match when we beat Pakistan in the league, only to concede defeat in the more crucial encounter.

This time around, we have lost to them in the league, so hopefully things will turn around in the playoff. We should play with four forwards 8212; Gagan Ajit, Deepak, Arjun Halappa and Baljit, four midfielders 8212; Baljit Saini, Viren Rasquinha, Ignace Tirkey and Vikram Pillay, and two in the back 8212; Dilip Tirkey and Kanwalpreet Singh.

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Attack is the best option in these matches as we have seen in the past, and if Devesh Chauhan can continue his rich vein of form, we should be able to pull it off. But guard against that one man 8212; Sohail Abbas 8212; whose high balls often terrorise our defence, and whose PCs are killer blows. If Devesh can win that fight, then India should find themselves home.