Germany take home the bilateral series trophy, but Indian hockey team gains valuable lessons

When India conceded a goal in just the seventh minute against Germany on Thursday, it seemed like a repeat of the previous day’s outcome might be on the cards.

On Wednesday, international hockey made a much-anticipated return to the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi after almost a decade, but the start was far from ideal. “No excuses,” was coach Craig Fulton’s verdict after India’s 2-0 loss to reigning world champions Germany, a team that featured several Junior World Cup winners from 2023. Despite being the better side in the opening minutes, India found themselves behind after Henrik Mertgens scored in the fourth minute while Lukas Windfeder completed the win for the Germans. The Indian players struggled with rhythm , creativity, and finishing skills, and missed penalty corner opportunities.

On Thursday, in the second and final match of the bilateral series, fans hoped for a spirited farewell from the Paris Olympic bronze medallists. But once again, Elian Mazkour put Germany ahead early (7’) with a goal against the run of play.

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Fortunately for Indian fans, the home team showed more intent and improved work rate in that game. While the equaliser came only in the third quarter, India created chances from the start. Abhishek’s shot was saved by Jean Danneberg, and India earned five penalty corners in the first two quarters, but Danneberg — who won silver with Germany in Paris — kept them at bay.

Things shifted quickly in the third quarter, as India began converting chances. In the 34th minute, Shilanand Lakra’s backhand pass was deflected into the goal by Sukhjeet Singh, opening the floodgates. With an eye on the future, India had been giving opportunities to Sanjay, Varun Kumar, and Amit Rohidas on penalty corners, but that changed in the third quarter.

Relive all the action from the PFC India vs Germany Bilateral Hockey Series 2024! 🇮🇳🇩🇪

A thrilling contest between two giants of hockey, filled with incredible moments and unforgettable plays.
From start to finish, the series delivered non-stop excitement that had everyone… pic.twitter.com/GmZTUEYtqs

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 24, 2024

Captain Harmanpreet Singh took charge of penalty corners and scored back-to-back goals in the 42nd and 43rd minutes, dramatically altering the game’s momentum. The score soon became 4-1 in India’s favor when Vishnukant Singh’s pass from the half-line was intercepted by Abhishek, who turned and struck past Danneberg.

With a 4-1 lead and two field goals, the Indian men’s hockey team found themselves in control. The excitement reached a new level when Sukhjeet’s solo run in the 48th minute sealed a five-star performance for India .

Germany responded to India’s blistering 14-minute stretch with two late goals — Mazkour in the 57th minute and Mertgens in the 60th — but it was too little, too late. India won the match 5-3, much to the delight of the Delhi crowd.

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Though India split the series, with Germany taking the trophy after a 3-1 shootout win, the bilateral matches provided coach Fulton with the perfect opportunity to experiment with new players and strategies. He gave debuts to midfielder Rajinder Singh and striker Aditya Lalage, while younger players like Mohammed Raheel and Lakra gained valuable playing time. Varun, Sajay, and Rohidas were given multiple chances to take penalty corners against the world’s second-ranked team, and India even tried different drag-flick variations.

“Giving the new players an opportunity was really good. I mean, we played well yesterday, but it wasn’t sharp. And then today we improved, and we were full of energy, pressed well, and scored some really good goals. The younger players contributed too, which was helpful,” coach Fulton reflected after the match.

“He (Raheel) did well. Vishnu did well. So, it’s nice. Like I said, we have to give these players an opportunity and today they did well.”

Reflecting on the comeback and the result, Fulton emphasised the importance of the field goals.

“I think we were playing well. We had really good turnover stats. We just couldn’t find it (the goal). But it was good pressure. The pressing worked well. And it was nice to score some field goals.”

These are the key takeaways for the Indian men’s hockey team from the bilateral series against Germany. While they may not have taken home the trophy, the lessons learned will prove valuable in the long run.