'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Indian men’s hockey team have been drawn against hosts Belgium in the semi-final of the Hockey World League (HWL) semis. India won their quarter-final match against Malaysia by the narrowest of margins in a 3-2 scoreline.
Jasjit Singh converted two penalty corners in the final 5 minutes of the final quarter of the game to put India through to the semis.
Belgium, on the other hand, won their hard-fought quarter-final game against France in a thriller of a match by 5-4. They had had over 20 shots on goal, but the French custodian was at par with them and despite conceding 5 could hold his head up high after the match.
The Belgian coach Joreon Delmee is a well-known proponent of attacking hockey and quick counter-attacks. Paul van Ass’s India will do well to negate the dangerous Belgian attackers and PR Sreejesh is expected to be busy between the sticks.
World Ranking
India: 9th
Belgium: 4th
Squad
India
PR Sreejesh (GK), Harjot Singh (GK), Manpreet Singh, Birendra Lakra, Jasjit Singh Kular, Gurmail Singh, Gurbaj Singh, Dharamvir Singh, Sardar Singh (C), Chinglensana Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, Devindar Walmiki, Rupinder Pal Singh, SV Sunil, Nikkin Thimmaiah, Yuvraj Walmiki, Akashdeep Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Satbir Singh
Belgium
Jeremy Gucassoff, Vincent Vanasch, Arthur van Doren, Dorian Thiery, John-John Dohmen (C), Amaury Keusters, Florent van Aubel, Sebastien Dockier, Gauthier Boccard, Emmanuel Stockbroekx, Thomas Briels, Felix Denayer, Simon Gougnard, Loick Luypaert, Tom Boon, Jerome Truyens Elliot van Strydonck, Tanguy Cosyns
Key Players
Ramandeep Singh
The prolific Indian forward is the highest scorer in the Indian squad in this campaign with 4 goals to his name. Known for his positioning and exceptional finishing, Ramandeep has made sure India do not miss SV Sunil.
If India wants to progress to the final stage of the HWL, then much would depend on how this forward plays in the opposition circle.
PR Sreejesh
The Indian team custodian has improved a lot between the posts and will be under heavy pressure from the Belgian forwards. He has to be on his toes at all times to give the Indian forwards a fighting chance to get the team in the semis.
John-John Dohmen
The skipper of the Belgian side and their penalty corner specialist is the joint lead goal scorer in this tournament for them with 3 goals. Being a defender, the team will rely on him to provide a solid backbone against the Indian side, who has scored in every match in the tournament so far.
Amaury Keusters
The Belgian forward has already scored 3 field goals in the campaign and is also the joint lead goal scorer for the Belgian side. Having already been booked twice in the last 5 matches, Keusters will have to be careful with the referees keeping a close eye on his physicality.
Recent head to head
The Indian side have been on the receiving end of the results when it comes to playing against Belgium, losing 3 while winning just once in their last 4 encounters.
The first loss came in January last year in the HWL finals when India were defeated 2-1. The Indian team again faced off with the Belgians in the European Tour in April last year and once again it was the Belgians who came at the top with the same score.
The Indians met the Belgians at the Robobank Hockey World Cup where India huffed and puffed but were defeated by the narrowest of margins – 3-2. However, India got their revenge in the last tournament of the year – The Champions Trophy when they beat their European counterparts 4-2.
Form Guide
India: W-L-D-W-W
Belgium: W-W-W-W-D
Recent result first
Prediction
It would be a tough game for the Indians as Belgium are ranked higher and are playing on home turf. Having got the better of the Indians in their earlier encounters and in the warm-up game to the tournament, the Belgians go into the game as favourites to make the finals.
I am going for: India 2-3 Belgium
The match will be telecast LIVE on 3rd July on Star Sports at 22:00 IST.
