Patience and skill can see India through

They have nothing to lose and everything to gain. A victory or a draw with India would boost their image immensely. But there is also another point. Argentina are five points at the moment and if Poland win then they will be seven and ensure that they will fight for places 5-8 which will probably be their best in the Olympics history. (They have never finished higher than eighth in any international tournament leave aside the Olympics). However if they lose then one of the top three (Korea, Australia or India) and Argentina will fight for 5-8. Now if they draw then they will finish on five points and it will all depend on the goals-for (at the moment Argentina have the edge as they are 13 for while Poland are 11).

European format: Poland play according to the European format and are physically strong and use these attributes to the maximum with body play.Hard running, hit and run tactics, overlap play by the wing halves etc. They do also have a fair amount of skill. Players to watch are GK Pobuta, skipper Robert Greszczak, Rafal Grotoswski. But the most important the best player of the qualifying tournament in Japan this year Piotr Mikula who has deft stick-work and lethal finish.

India: They play the back ball especially at the start. Pressurise and hurry them. Once they do not get set in their normal mode, they will be at a loss to cope with our skill.

We cannot go close to them and dodge. Stay away from their reach and cut from far, simple logic. Utilise decoy running. They will rigidly police our forwards, so a dummy run will pull the defender away and give us the opportunity for a through ball release.

A critical factor is our attacking plan. I think we will have much more of the ball in midfield but will have to watch for their long penetrative balls when we lose possession. So avoid easy turnovers, make them fight to earn the ball.

No over indulgence or carrying the ball; give and go will be more effective to break their rigid marking. Our defence will have to be tighter and cover each other and not ball-watch. In one word, communication!

Closing down their strikers and channelising their forwards must be done whenever they receive the ball. Let’s hope and pray that Jude our goalkeeper who has played extremely well in this tournament has another great showing.In the final analysis, even if lady luck stops smiling at us, I do believe that we will win so long as we do not let the pressure get to us. Keeping composed especially if things are not going as per plan will be a critical factor. We have to keep plugging at them patiently. They will crack open.