India lose winning streak

Both coaches used the game to try out younger players and to give them a feel of top-level international competition.

The fact that the trial paid off for Germany and failed from the Indian point of view will have little bearing on Sunday, which promises to be a hard fought battle between the two in-form teams of the tournament.

India began without the magic of Dhanraj Pillay and the right wing brilliance of Baljit Dhillon. Soon it was apparent that the gamble of experimenting with the less experienced players like Daljit Chandi and Jagan Senthil was not paying off for India.

There was no cohesion in the midfield, the man-to-man marking was far from the precision shown in the two previous games, and the passing was inaccurate.

Without Pillay creating the counter attacks, the forwards seemed to lack imagination coupled with the complete lack of midfield operations.

Captain Ramandeep Singh was constantly forced to abandon his place at the centre of the defence to play the role of gamemaker.

India was lucky to finish the first half without the scoreboard showing a deficit against its name, and Pillay8217;s entry five minutes before the half-time seemed to lift their game. It is remarkable what one player can do to the functioning of an entire team.

Even though the Germans had the better of the exchanges in the first half and in the opening stages of the second, India were unfortunate to go down 1-0 nine minutes after play resumed.

In a totally unforgivable defensive mistake, Dinesh Nayak dribbled right across his own goalmouth only to find Oliver Danke8217;s stick pushing the ball into the goal, much to the disgust of goalkeeper Jude Menzes, who once again had a scorcher of a game.

The Germans maintained the pressure, forcing two successive penalty corners, the second resulting in another goal, by courtesy a Michel Bjorn conversion.

Germans were awarded their fourth penalty corner half way through the second half but India began to dominate play, enjoying more possession thanks to combination of Pillay and substitute Dhillon.

The pace of the game went up a notch, as did India8217;s counter attacks. Both teams with the best eleven on the field, produced 10 minutes of good entertaining hockey. India kept improving with every passing minute and with three minutes remaining enforced their first penalty corner.

If the Germans were happy with their win then the last-minute goal India scored must worry the Germans no end.

In a counter attack, Pillay split the German defence through the middle and then gave Sameer Dad the honours of sounding the boards with 32 seconds left on the clock.

Indian coach Baskaran said he wasn8217;t very disappointed with the result, though he was unhappy with the midfield efforts of Gagan Ajit Singh and Deepak Thakur. He refrained from criticising the younger players, but judging by their performances, it is clear India is going to have a bench strength problem when the Olympics come around in September.

Unless of course the likes of Chandi, Senthil and others are quick learners or replacements are found.