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Coach Michael Nobbs of India talks to his team during practice ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games at the Olympic Park on July 23, 2012 in London, England. (Getty Images)
June 2011: Michael Nobbs takes charge of the Indian senior men’s hockey team
Inaugural Asian Champions Trophy (September 3-11 2011):
Nobbs’ first assignment was the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy held in Ordos, China. India’s first outing under Nobbs began on an auspicious note as they spanked China 5-0 and remained unbeaten in the league phase, which included an impressive 5-3 win over Korea to march into the final.
In the title tilt, the Rajpal Singh-led side outdueled arch-rivals Pakistan 4-2 in penalty shootout after both teams were locked goalless in regulation time. Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh emerged as the hero in the shootout, producing two crucial saves of Abdul Haseem Khan and Shafqat Rasool.
Fair to say, Nobbs passed the first test with flying colours.
Three Nations tournament in Australia (October 26-November 3, 2011):
The highs of winning the Asian Champions Trophy soon evaporated as Nobbs’ boys under new captain Bharat Chetri turned in a listless showing in the double-leg Three Nations tournament in Australia.
India were handed a 3-8 walloping by Australia in the first leg – their biggest defeat so far in international hockey – and were then drubbed 0-5 by the Kookaburras in the second leg. India squandered a cosy 3-0 lead against Pakistan to settle for a 3-3 draw in the second leg after playing out a 1-1 draw in the first leg.
India’s inability to convert that 3-0 lead into a win cost them a place in the final, which the Greenshirts surprisingly won against Australia.
The Champions Challenge tournament (November 26-December 4, 2011):
The Champions Challenge tournament held in Johannesburg was the next assignment for Nobbs. India were denied a direct ticket to the 2012 Champions Trophy by a Tom Boon’s last-minute goal as Belgium rebounded from being 1-3 down in the second half to win 4-3 in the final – incidentally, both teams played out a 3-3 draw in the league.
India played free flowing hockey in the league phase scoring two big wins – 7-4 over South Africa and 7-0 over Poland. Despite the disappointing final defeat, the performance of the Nobbs’ boys was seen in positive light. Of course, India were handed a wildcard entry to the 2012 Champions Trophy where they sprang a big surprise finishing fourth.
Five Test series against South Africa (January 16-22, 2012):
Nobbs tried out a plethora of youngsters in the five Test series against South Africa ahead of the 2012 London Olympics qualifying tournament. Kothajit Singh and SK Uthappa made their senior international debuts with the latter making a big impression even scoring in his first international game.
India began the series on a whirlwind note, romping past the South Africans 4-0 in the first Test. India won two more Tests in hard-fought contests and lost and drew one to win the rubber 3-1. Nobbs got a fair idea of India’s bench strength ahead of the Olympic qualifiers.
Indian men’s hockey team coach Michael Nobbs surveys the field during a training session at the Old Loughtonians Hockey Club at Chigwell in Essex on July 26, 2012 one day before the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Getty Images)
London Olympic qualifiers (February 18-26, 2012):
The London Olympic qualifiers were the biggest test for Nobbs and there was pressure on him given the fact that the event was played in front of their home fans in New Delhi. Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh was in such rousing form that he ensured no team posed serious threat to India’s qualifying hopes.
Sandeep struck a whopping 16 goals in the tournament, including 5 in the 8-1 final win over France to exorcise the ghosts of Santiago 2008 when India missed the Olympic bus for the first time ever.
Four-Nation Olympic Test Tournament (London, May 2-6, 2012):
Reality struck the Indian team when they locked horns with the world top teams – Germany, Australia and Great Britain in the Four-Nation Olympic Test tournament.
India lost tamely 0-3 and 2-4 to Australia and Great Britain before scripting a magnificent performance against Germany, losing 1-2 following a late Florian Fuchs goal after the Blueshirts took the lead. Nobbs knew his team had a lot of hard work left before the London Olympics.
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (May 24-June 3, 2012):
India regrouped well from the disappointing Four-Nation Olympic Test tournament, bagging a bronze in the 21st Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, piping higher ranked Great Britain 3-1 in the play-off game.
It was a huge recovery for a side which received a 1-5 thrashing from New Zealand in their tournament opener.
European Tour (London Olympic warm-ups June-July 2012):
Indian team embarked on a European tour to tune up for the London Olympics. Nobbs’s troops routed France 8-2 and 4-0 in the two Test matches. The Blueshirts drew 3-3 against Spain before losing to them 1-2 in two Test matches.
India also played two Tests against South Africa, winning the first one 6-5 before suffering a narrow 3-4 defeat in the second Test. India figured in a Three Nation tourney featuring Spain and Great Britain. India lost 1-2 to Spain and 1-3 to Great Britain respectively.
London Olympics (July 27-August 12, 2012):
India put up a brave effort against the Netherlands in their Olympic opener going down 2-3, but after that they fell like a pack of cards to lose all their league games to settle for the wooden spoon – their worst ever showing in the marquee event.
Nobbs survived calls from all quarters for his sacking, but was lucky to get the backing of SAI and Hockey India and managed to hold on to his job. The fact that he was just one year into his job went in his favour or else an axe was a mere formability.
Coach Michael Nobbs of India talks to his team during practice ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games at the Olympic Park on July 23, 2012 in London, England. (Getty Images)
34th FIH Champions Trophy (December 1-9, 2012):
Hockey fans who were frustrated to the hilt watching the Blueshirts cut a sorry figure in London, had something to rejoice as India under new captain Sardar Singh performed beyond expectations to reach the semi-finals of the 34th Champions Trophy before they had to settle for the fourth place after losing the bronze medal play-off tie to Pakistan.
Things started to look up for Nobbs as hockey lovers felt that giving a fair run to the Australian was justified.
Second Asian Champions Trophy (December 20-27, 2012):
India gave a good account of themselves in the second Asian Champions Trophy in Doha. The Blueshirts finished runners-up losing 4-5 to arch-rivals Pakistan in a fast-paced final encounter marred by poor umpiring.
India had put it across Pakistan 2-1 in the league phase, but in the final they were robbed of a win by the Korean umpire. Nobbs was beginning to attract praise among hockey fans after two decent showings in Melbourne and Doha.
FIH Hockey World League Round 2 event (February 28-24, 2013):
India won the FIH Hockey World League Round 2 event held in New Delhi in emphatic fashion. Save for a tense 3-2 win over Ireland, India made a mockery of most other teams en route to their passage in the HWL Round 3.
India inflicted two big defeats on Fiji and Oman – 16-0 and 9-1 to prove that they were without a shadow of doubt the best team in the event
22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (March 7-17, 2013): India rested three key players – Sardar Singh, Vokkaliga Raghunath and SV Sunil for the 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. Danish Mujtaba was handed the captaincy responsibilities of a side which feature several youngsters.
India finished fifth in the tournament beating Pakistan 4-2 after earlier beating them 3-1 in the league stage. They even ran Australia close losing to 3-4 in their opening game.
FIH Hockey World Hockey League Round 3 event (June 13-22, 2013):
A full-strength Indian side dented the hopes of the hockey fans, coming up with a hugely disappointing performance and failing to seal its 2014 World Cup berth. India did not win a single game in the league phase, which cost them dearly as they finished sixth among eight teams.
Calls for Nobbs’s sacking became more pronounced, something which happened in due course as he resigned after SAI and Hockey India expressed their unhappiness over his non-performance.
Michael Nobbs’ win-loss record as coach
Matches coached: 81 | Wins: 38 | Losses: 32 | Draws: 11
