Hockey World League Semi-Finals 2017, highlights: India lose 1-3 to dominant Netherlands

India lose their first game in Hockey World League Semi-Finals and it looks like they have some thinking and planning to do ahead of the quarter-finals.

Indian team in a huddle following the 1-3 defeat vs NED. The difference was evident. #HWL2017 #Hockey pic.twitter.com/onjT0DMaGL

— Jaspreet Singh Sahni (@JaspreetSSahni) June 20, 2017

India will now have to wait for the Malaysia Vs China match to find out who they play in the QF. That’s it from the Hockey Centre here at the Olympic Park. Once again, Holland have beaten India 3-1. It was India’s first defeat in the tournament.

Final scoreline

#HWL2017 @TheHockeyIndia v @oranjehockey https://t.co/xLgdQWpmQn pic.twitter.com/UlhSRbMgzE

— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) June 20, 2017

But the referral has been rejected. Netherlands top Pool B with 12 points and India are second with nine. It’s been total domination by the Dutch in the 1st 2 quarters. India did make a comeback. But couldn’t hold a powerful Dutch side.

India have asked for a referral after the hooter has gone. Scores are 3-1 for Netherlands.

The Dutch goalkeeper Sam van der Ven who came in place of Pirmin saves a hard flick from Harmanpreet. Probably the flicks are too direct and not angles in. Holland still lead 3-1.

India get their 3rd PC of the match. Can they get the goal here?

It’s 3-1 to Holland with five minutes to go. India need to push harder. One more goal will give them space. Can they get another goal?

Holland try an indirect but Jonas Geus can’t connect as he dives towards the ball.

An agitated Oltmans banging on fence. But Holland find their 5th PC. Dangerous for India.

India for the first time in the match playing up and with urgency. They are finding space. But they need to find the goals or create pressure with penalty corners.

Great save by the Dutch GK Pirmin Blaak. Harmanpreet’s flick was low and powerful and the Dutch keeper fell in time to deflect it off.

And that is India’s 2nd PC. India need to score here.

Important 4th quarter and India have it’s task cut out. Dutch still dominating and taking a big slice of the attacks into Indian territory.

At the end of the 3rd quarter, India are down 1-3. Probably India’s best quarter in the match. They had an opportunity with Mandeep but couldn’t create and convert. Dahiya saved a stiff Dutch shot. Holland lead 3-1 and we have the 4th quarter coming up.

Holland want a referral. They are looking for their 4th PC of the match and the first in the 3rd Q. But no PC there for Holland.

India trying flat crosses into the Dutch striking circle. Will not do. The Dutch are too good at trapping and positional play. India has to come through the middle.

India losing possession in the midfield. That’s where the Dutch have dominated. Sardar, Manpreet, Chinglensana, Satbir have not created an impression. Only Harjeet to an extent has played to potential.

The Dutch at the moment in complete control. Even on a man-to-man situation, getting past the Indians. Mandeep had a great chance. But takes too much time to swivel and create a reverse hit.

India has changed it’s goalkeeper. Vikas Dahiya is in for Chikte. India pressing hard on the flanks. But it would take some doing to get past the Dutch. Holland lead 3-1.

Sardar gets a yellow card. Slightly harsh. Because he fell and didn’t bring his stick down. But India are down to ten men.

It will be a tough 3rd quarter for India. Holland are going to come all guns blazing to increase the score and snuff out any resistance that India plan to offer. India need a draw to top Pool B. Holland need an outright win. And they are on course.

Akashdeep Singh with skills that could dazzle scored a brilliant goal as instead of shooting straight to the Dutch goalkeeper, he popped the ball between his legs. With the scores at 1-3, India need to find some space in the 3rd quarter to put pressure on the Dutch.

Score at half-time

#HWL2017 @TheHockeyIndia v @oranjehockey https://t.co/xLgdQWpmQn pic.twitter.com/jxIypJH7lR

— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) June 20, 2017

Sander Wijn, Mirco Pruijser, Billy Bakker have completely decimated the Indian defence. Brilliant play. Fast breaks. Fast paced game from the Dutch. India came into the match in the 2nd quarter.

And that’s the break. Netherlands lead 3-1. Domination from the Dutch and only towards the end of the 2nd quarter that India came back slightly into the match.

And that was close. Sumit cross from the right flank but Sunil can’t follow up cleanly. Holland lead 3-1.

What skill from Akashdeep. Sunil cross. Skashdeep pops the ball between his legs to beat Dutch GK. India have scored. The scores are 1-3.

Tough for India now. They have to survive the Dutch attacks and also score a few to bring parity. Unless they score, the Dutch defence will play up. That’s cutting off all Indian passes from the midfield. Brilliant play by Holland.

3-0. Mirco Pruijser controls superbly and pushes past an advancing Chikte. Netherlands 3-0.

The Dutch are playing a brilliant man-to-man marking. They started fast and now are suffocating India. Almost 70 percent of the possession has been with the Dutch.

India need to follow-up with three men in the Dutch striking circle. Can’t beat a 4-man Dutch wall with two strikers.

India needs to settle down. The Dutch pace has caught them off guard. Holding the ball and cutting the pace is the only option. Holland lead 2-0.

Can India up the ante and find a way back against an aggressive Netherlands side?

Amazing aggressive hockey by Netherlands. Absolutely fearless #HWL2017

— Gaurav Pandey (@GauravPandey71) June 20, 2017

The 2nd quarter starts. India need to do something different. They either need to slow the pace. As the Dutch are coming up in waves.

Massive 1st quarter for Netherlands. Completely dominated India. They lead 2-0. Chikte saved at least three more shots.

As the hooter goes, the umpire points for the 3rd PC. And that’s the end of the 1st quarter.

And that’s the 2nd PC for Holland.

The Dutch defence playing well. Mandeep Singh had an opportunity. But can’t get past the tall Dutch.

Harmanpreet’s flick doesn’t come off. And the Dutch straight away into an attack. The Dutch are fast. Dominating the midfield and the flanks.

And that’s India’s 1st PC. They need to convert and cut the scores here. Can they?

That’s 2-0. Sander Baart, Perfect flick under Chikte. India reeling a bit now.

Another Holland attack and they get their first PC of the quarter and match.

Chikte saves again as Dutch captain Billy Bakker’s sweep is taken on the pads. India under huge pressure. They have to control the midfield now. Rotate the ball to ensure that moves happen.

India pushing but not finding the exact length in their passes and crosses. Those errors are giving Holland the breaks.

Easily could have been Holland’s 2nd goal. But Chikte saves off Jonas Geus. India survive. Holland playing all over the pitch. Flank to flank and cutting through the middle.

Oltmans, the Indian coach very vocal on the sidelines trying to egg on the Indian side. India on the back foot need a move to find some fluidity.

India needs to wake up fast. At the moment, whatever the Dutch are doing is putting India on the backfoot. India needs to control and get a feel. Holland lead 1-0.

The Dutch have scored. Huge errors from Sardar. The Dutch snatch and score through Thiery Brinkman. Netherlands lead 1-0.

And there they go. India in Blue. Holland in Grey and Black. Holland into the attack. And they have a goal chance but Chikte takes the shot on the helmet. Kellerman almost scored there. The Dutch starting strongly.

The players shake hands. Seconds remaining for the match to start. It’s India Vs Holland.

“Who will finish top of Pool B?” is the question as India and Holland get ready to clash. It’s the World No.4 against the World No. 6, India.

Pakistan make it to the quarter-finals of Hockey World League Semi-Finals after the Scotland-Canada game ends in a draw.

#HWL2017 @Blue_Sticks v @FieldHockeyCan https://t.co/xLgdQWpmQn pic.twitter.com/s7xw5KZiN4

— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) June 20, 2017

It’s going to be a cracker of a match. The Dutch play fast and stretch the flanks hoping to break the opposition defence with some great crosses. India will look to control and rely on the forward line to cash in on their chances inside the Dutch striking circle. The Dutch over the years have been great finishers. Also at the moment, the Indian team is looking in good form.

Sardar Singh is playing. His name was just announced in the team line-up.

But at the moment, we wait for India and Holland to arrive.

Till then have a look at the stats: India and Holland have played 101 matches. India winning 31 and losing 47. 23 matches have been drawn.

The last time, India played Holland was in Rio where the Indian national team lost 1-2.

Over there in Pool A, Olympic Champions Argentina lead with 10 points followed by England with 7 points and a game against Korea in hand. 3rd and 4th in that Pool are Malaysia and China and it’s possible that one of those teams will be playing India in the QF. Korea have to beat England to be in contention and at the moment that is a tall task.

Here are the line-ups for today’s clash

Here's how the teams will line up as India takes on @oranjehockey in the Hero Men's #HWL2017 SF in London on 20th June.#IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/kf62OafWqp

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) June 20, 2017

Today’s first match of the day had Canada playing Scotland with the Scots needing a victory to stay in contention for a QF place. But a 1-1 draw rules them out and ensures that Canada and Pakistan go through to the QF. Yes, Pakistan is in as their victory over Scotland ensured that. Pakistan finishes 4th in Pool B with three points. Canada is 3rd in Pool B. Pool B’s No.1 and No.2 teams will be decided after the India Vs Holland game.

Welcome to the Lee Valley Hockey Centre. It’s India Vs Holland in a little while.

India sitting comfortably on top of Pool B with nine points and followed by the Dutch also with nine points but India’s goal difference compared to Holland is 12 to 9. For India to top Pool B, they will, of course, have to beat the Dutch, not the easiest of sides in world competition. On form, it should be close and competitive and as usual when it comes to India, it’s their finish that counts. Hopefully, the rich vein of form that the forwards have displayed continues.

The other matches scheduled for today are:

Pool A: China vs Malaysia
Pool A: England vs South Korea

The Pool B match between Scotland and Canada is currently underway. Canada lead 1-0 at half-time.

#HWL2017 @Blue_Sticks v @FieldHockeyCan https://t.co/xLgdQWpmQn pic.twitter.com/PfoKdX51LC

— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) June 20, 2017

Here’s how the Pool B points table looks like as of now.

Image courtesy: Twitter/@TheHockeyIndia

India has enjoyed three victories on the trot at the Hockey World League Semi-Finals. They beat Scotland 4-1 and Canada 3-0 and then recorded their biggest victory against Pakistan comprehensively defeating them 7-1 on Sunday.

Now, they face their toughest challenge yet in the higher ranked Netherlands. Will India continue their unbeaten streak at the tournament?

Stay tuned to find out.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Pool B match between India and Netherlands in the Hockey World League Semi-Finals in London.