India Vs Spain Hockey World Cup 2023: The teams of India and Spain last played against each other in the World Cup in the year 2014. Then the match was drawn 1-1
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Hockey World Cup 2023: Indian hockey team on Friday hockey world cup I will play my first match against Spain. Team India would like a good start in this tournament by winning in front of their loved ones in a stadium full of fans. India has not won the World Cup since 1975. This time he has entered the tournament as a big contender. He won the bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics and ended the wait of 41 years. Now she wants to end the wait of 48 years in the World Cup.
The Indian team, captained by Harmanpreet Singh, is one of the strong medal contenders on its own soil this time. India, ranked sixth in the world rankings, recently performed well in the five-match series against Australia, though they lost 1-4. Graham Reid’s team defeated a strong team like Australia in a match and won against them after six years. India also secured the third position in the FIH Pro League in the 2021-22 season.
Many big players included in the Indian team
India’s stature has increased in international hockey since Reid became the coach in 2019. Reid has managed to get the best out of the players. FIH Player of the Year and India captain Harmanpreet Singh is one of the best drag-flickers in the world. Apart from them, experienced goalkeepers PR Sreejesh, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh and Mandeep Singh will be responsible for success. Defender Amit Rohidas is also very experienced and is also a penalty corner specialist. Everyone’s eyes will also be on forward Akashdeep Singh.
India would like to start with a win
India will face Spain on Friday, January 13 and the hosts will aim to start with a win to make it straight to the quarter-finals. The top team from each group will directly advance to the quarter-finals and there will be crossover matches between the second and third placed teams. On reaching the last eight through crossover, they can face tough teams like defending champions Belgium.
Spain’s team lacks experience
Spain was runner-up in 1971 and 1998 and won the bronze medal in 2006. Under the coaching of Argentina’s Max Caldas and the captaincy of Alvaro Iglesias, Spain defeated India 3-2 in the first match of the Pro League matches held in Bhubaneswar in October last year. The second match had reached the penalty shootout. In the Pro League matches in February last year, Spain won the first match 5-3 while India won the second 5-4. India has won 13 out of 30 matches against Spain since 1948 while Spain won 11 matches and six matches were drawn. Alvaro said, most of our players are playing the World Cup for the first time but we are not afraid of anyone. We will play in our style and are ready for the World Cup.