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A stern test awaits India as they are slated to face world number four Great Britain in the quarterfinals of the Hockey World League Final Round at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel International Stadium in Raipur.
The 6th-ranked home side don’t have any inspiration to derive from their last meeting against the same opponents five months back when they were handed a 1-5 schooling in the penultimate round of the Hockey World League Semifinal.
It was a contest in which Great Britain did not allow India to settle down to any kind of rhythm, slamming two first half goals through Alastair Brogdon and Chris Griffiths to hold the advantage at half-time.
Any semblance of an Indian fightback in the second half were nowhere to be seen as seasoned campaigners – Ashley Jackson and Barry Middleton – joined the party along with Adam Dixon in what it appeared to turn into a rout before Rupinder Pal Singh scored a last minute goal to make the scoreline 1-5.
India have faced Great Britain only four times in last three years and their last win came at the 2012 FIH Champions Trophy in Melbourne, where they won 3-1 with Danish Mujtaba, Yuvraj Walmiki and Gurwinder Singh Chandi scoring for the country.
Since that win in December 2012, India have lost to Great Britain (as England in some tourneys) three times – they lost 0-2 to England in the 2014 Hockey World League Final Round in New Delhi and again went down narrowly 1-2 (down in by a final minute goal) in the 2014 World Cup in The Hague. Clearly, the recent 1-5 defeat will be on India’s mind when they take on Great Britain in Raipur.
Recent Head-to-Head Record
Result Tournament Venue
Lost 1-5 2015 Hockey World League Semifinal Round Brasschaat
Lost 1-2 2014 World Cup The Hague
Lost 0-2 2014 Hockey World League Final Round New Delhi
Won 3-1 2012 Champions Trophy Melbourne
