Hockey World League as it happened: India edge France 3-2
Live updates of the HWL match between India and Belgium
 "Hockey World League as it happened: India edge France 3-2")
Final whistle and India edge past France. It was a thrilling encounter… certainly much closer than we expected.
GOAL!! Sardar cuts past two midfielders and splits the defence with a fine pass — it results in chaos in the French box and a shot from India — the rebound from the save is to Ramandeep and he doesn’t make any mistake with 100 seconds left. 3-2!
PC to India with 5 minutes left but Jasjit has put it just past the top corner! Phew that was close!
Eight minutes to go before full time and France are playing on the break. India have assumed a more patient probing approach as they look for a winner.
Q4 has started…
France getting deservedly level! Signs of jitters among the Indians @hockeyind #FRAvsIND pic.twitter.com/NVgOCj9yyL
— FCPUI 🇮🇳 (@Rnb129) June 20, 2015
GOAL! Tell you what! France have levelled with a shot as Martin Brisac reacts quickly to a loose ball after a France attacker was challenged at the edge of the scoring area. 2-2 now! Two minutes left in Q3.
Oh my word Sreejesh! He comes off the line to block the marker on the left channel and when the challenge misses, he dives to the right to block a goalward shot. Superb.
At halftime, @TheHockeyIndia lead France 2-1 But France are NO pushovers. It's surely not a team we beat 7-1 in Delhi years ago #DilSeHockey
— Rajesh Kalra (@rajeshkalra) June 20, 2015
Nine minutes to go in Q3 and Davindar concedes a PC by pushing the ball into the feet of his own player – France get two as Manpreet blocks the first one with his feet but neither go in. The second one was pushed wide.
Q3 is up and running.
What a fine debut for Davindar in a senior tournament, right? India were pushing and the attacks were thick and fast – it’s just that the right man in the right place was missing. Davindar was that man and he marks the occasion with a fine goal. 2-1 at HT.
Half-time now.
GOAL!!!! Davindar with an unstoppable shot that goes in and off the post. Dharamvir squared and Davindar didn’t take more than a second to react to that ball. 2-1 to India now!
GOAL! Manpreet again – and this time he goes low and hard and to the keeper’s right. That’s in. 1-1. Three minutes left in Q2.
PC! Sardar waits but Manpreet gets it and it’s saved. Howeve, another PC is awarded.
Wow, Sanchez is at the receiving end of a rebound off Sreejesh but he cannot divert it in. Great chance for France to double their lead. Five minutes left in Q2.
More than 50 percent of India’s attacks have come down the right and this time Satbir gets forward and pumps in a low hard cross but there’s no one to stick it into the net. 7 minutes to go in Q2.
Manpreet runs away down the right and puts it square for Ramandeep – the striker takes a look and is getting closed down quickly as he shoots – it’s just wide and high. 11 minutes to go in Q2
Ooh Jasjit has the ball in the goal but it takes no deflection – Indian fans at the stadium make a lot of noise before it dies down in realisation of the rule. 13 minutes of Q2 remain.
That’s the end of the first quarter. France have been surprisingly good – maybe taken India by surprise.
Just less than a minute left and Lyon gets a loose ball in his path near goal – his attempt is ridiculously miscued and the chance goes to waste. It’s still France 1-0 India.
India getting frustrated by the amount of men behind for France. They’re penetrating, yes, but that final pass seems to either get intercepted or a runner goes too far with the ball. India are playing an urgent, short passing game to get back into this one. 5 minutes to go in this quarter
Akashdeep crosses in and India get a shot off but France’s keeper is on hand to cut the danger out. Half chance certainly. Eight minutes to go in the first quarter.
France SCORE! Sanchez the man who gets a lucky flick back and smacks it in without any pressure at all. Who is closing him down?
And we’re off!!
India line up in a 4-3-3. The two teams have just walked out.
This team is the most professional Indian team that I’ve been part of, says skipper Sardar Singh
India will look to experiment in this match — Rupinder Pal Singh is sitting this match out. However, that’s not something Van Ass is trying — the player slipped during training and is out due to injury.
Indian hockey players are camera shy. Look at them when the coach introduces them
— Give Me Hockey (@hockeyind) June 20, 2015
The Indian women have lost their first match against Belgium 0-1
Hockey World League: With Rio 2016 berth secured, India’s men look to build on recent form – Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com
If there is one place Pulasta Dhar wanted to live, it would be next to the microphone. He writes about, plays and breathes football. With stints at BBC, Hallam FM, iSport, Radio Mirchi, The Post and having seen the World Cup in South Africa, the Manchester United fan and coffee addict is a Mass Media graduate and has completed his MA in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Sheffield." see more
Find us on YouTube
Top Shows
 "Hockey India's Bholanath Singh: 'If Schopman was removed after Asian Games, we might have qualified for Paris Olympics'")
 "Hockey India refutes allegations made by Elena Norman, Janneke Schopman in a statement")
 "Elena Norman follows Janneke Schopman out of the door: India's sports ecosystem remains a tough place for women")
 "Why has Elena Norman resigned as Hockey India CEO?")
 "Hockey India's Bholanath Singh: 'If Schopman was removed after Asian Games, we might have qualified for Paris Olympics'")
 "Hockey India refutes allegations made by Elena Norman, Janneke Schopman in a statement")
 "Elena Norman follows Janneke Schopman out of the door: India's sports ecosystem remains a tough place for women")
 "Why has Elena Norman resigned as Hockey India CEO?")