Hockey World Cup 2018: India vs Netherlands - 5 talking points

#4 Vulnerability in big-match situations proven beyond doubt

India needs to handle big-match pressure in a better way

To put things into perspective, it may be worthwhile to rewind a wee bit and remember for a moment the utterly-forgettable semifinal of the Asian Games.

The same Indian side which had captured the imagination of fans worldwide by successfully challenging the best teams in the world at the Champions Trophy failed to overcome Malaysia, who have now had a miserable World Cup, just about managing to avoid the wooden spoon.

The Indians were so much under the Malaysian spell that they were uncharacteristically cautious, and played out a goalless draw against a somewhat depleted Malaysian team at the Asian Champions Trophy.

Amit Rohidas made a couple of crucial errors in the quarterfinals, but the Sundargarh lad has never hesitated to put his body on the line for team and country, and it was largely due to his efforts that the Indians have successfully defended several PCs at Bhubaneswar.

Amit was penalized as he charged down before he should have after the Dutch were about to take a PC, and Mink van der Weeden found the back of the net as the Indians had to defend with one runner less.

A disastrous yellow card for an obstruction soon followed, and the Indian defender had to leave the pitch for ten minutes with his team trailing by a goal at the end of the last quarter.

Incidents, such as these, have now become routine for the Indians especially in the knockouts.

Manpreet's crucial miss at the goalmouth which could have well have earned India a gold in the Champions Trophy, and a disastrous wrong pass which resulted in New Zealand's second goal in the Commonwealth Games semifinal, are proof enough that the Indians, as a team, are vulnerable under pressure and the loss against the Dutch has highlighted an age-old issue.