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Journalism of Courage
MELBOURNE, April 17: India will have to rework its tactics and penetrate deep into the defences of a strong Australia as its hopes of making the final of the four-nation Colorado Cup hockey tournament fully depend on Arithmetic 8211; India have to beat the hosts and the relatively strong Argentina will have to go down to New Zealand.
Australia is yet to lose match in the tournament and is sitting pretty on top of the table with 13 points from five matches while India and Argentina have 7 points each with two wins, a draw and two defeats each.
8220;Argentina is ahead of us in goal difference by three goals which makes our task more difficult but accessible,8221; Indian coach Vasudevan Baskaran said when asked about India8217;s prospects for tomorrow8217;s match.
Baskaran, however remained optimistic about playing Australia on Sunday in the final, despite poor form and loss through injury of captain Baljit Singh Saini.
He confirmed Saini had suffered a fractured cheekbone in a masty incident late in yesterday8217;s 2-2 drawwith New Zealand and would miss the rest of the tournament.
The Indian team had a short work out session today, the rest day, and the boys were looking to improve on handling the loose ball and also tighten up when on a good run, when they take the field tomorrow.
8220;We will have to read just our strategy,8221; Baskaran said referring to the sydney-leg match against Australia where India led in both the halfs but lost eventually.
Baskaran said Australia had a good forward line but 8220;we can beat them in half-line and deep defences because they play open hockey like us and Pakistan. They are an experienced side but we did hold them in check in the first leg,8221; he said adding 8220;we are concentrating on penalty corner conversions.8221;
Baskaran also said he would take no action over Saini8217;s injury, which happened when a New Zealand player swung at the ball late in the game as the umpire blew his whistle for a stoppage, Australia news agency AAP reported.The base of the stick struck Saini full in the face on thefollow-through.
8220;It is part of the game and we have to go on,8221; said Baskaran, who was angry after the game that the New Zealander had not received any card for his indiscretion.
Meanwhile, Australian coach Terry Walsh said this weekend8217;s games would be the last chance for squad members to impress ahead of the World Cup next month in Holland.
