India hold firm in Rourkela
Amit Rohidas was the hero and man of the match award after scoring India’s opener in front of his home fans with a fine smash into the top right corner as the hosts beat Spain 2-0. The impressive Hardik Singh doubled India’s lead, while Spain remained firm at the back and in goal as they India at bay.
A card in the final quarter for Abhishek meant India had to scrap for the final 10 minutes and coach Graham Reid said their defensive display was the best he’d seen since the Tokyo Olympics.
Number: 200
Rohidas’ goal was India’s 200th in World Cups.
Lions fail to roar
Argentina were made to work by world No.14 South Africa in a 1-0 win as the World Cup opened in Bhubaneswar. Scoreless until the third quarter, Casella Maico got the ball rolling after Lucas Toscani’s pass.
Keeping to the Messi tune
“We are inspired by Leo Messi and by our soccer team that has won the World Cup in Qatar. They did a magnificent job and we will try to repeat it in this hockey World Cup. It will be difficult but we are motivated and we want to win, make our country proud”, Los Leones captain Matías Rey
Australia put down marker
Forward Tom Craig and drag-flicker Jeremy Hayward both bagged hat-tricks as world No. 1 Australia showed their class in an 8-0 mauling over France. Australia were a class apart against the French and pieced together several brilliant team moves on the attack, none more so than a four-pronged close circle passing move ended by Craig.
What they said…
“Good to get the goals but better feeling winning. We haven’t played tournament hockey since July last year, but we prepared well for this and hopefully we get even better going forward.”
Tom Craig
