India lost to Japan 0-1 in the Olympic Qualifiers third-place play-off, ending their hopes of making it to the Olympics. After the game, when the Indian squad was having trouble adjusting to a powerful Japanese team, Jude Menezes, the Japan coach who was born in India, thanked his Indian counterparts.
Japan's Victory:
Japan triumphed over India when it mattered most, despite losing their prior five meetings. India needed to perform well in order to guarantee their spot in the Olympics, as there were only three spaces left in the competition. That being said, they did not perform up to par compared to Japan.
Challenges Faced by India:
Coach Janneke Schopman alternated between stoicism and sadness on the sidelines as her team failed to impress on the pitch. In addition to lacking cohesiveness, the squad had trouble striking a balance between defence and attack. Throughout the first half, Japan dominated the match, and in the second half, India made an effort to change tactics and apply intense pressure.
Lost Chances:
During the second half, India was awarded multiple penalty corners but was unable to make any of them. They made no attempt that was strong enough, varied enough, or cunning enough to overcome the Japanese defence. Menezes acknowledged that the team's strategy—which was successful against India—was to score the opening goal and then guard.
India performed erratically, making simple mistakes in passing and trapping. Instead of relying on bold attempts to overcome the Japanese defence, they were ready to give up quickly. Individual skill was lacking, and the team did not make use of the left flank.
Coach's unhappiness:
Admitting that the squad struggled defensively early on, Coach Janneke Schopman conveyed her unhappiness with the outcome. The team's tenacity in the closing stages of the match was commendable, but she also said that the lack of goals was disappointing. She voiced her opinion that the team had the quality to make it to the Olympics and accepted responsibility for the team's performance.
Germany defeated the USA 2-0 in the tournament's final match. The win confirmed Germany's status as the top team in the competition, and both teams had already guaranteed their spots at the Olympics.
India's poor performance against Japan in the third-place play-off dashed their hopes of competing at the Olympics. The squad finally lost against a strong Japanese team because they were unable to find their rhythm and take advantage of opportunities. While acknowledging her displeasure, coach Janneke Schopman accepted accountability for the group's output. As all of this was going on, Germany was the clear winner of the competition and established themselves as the best squad.
(With inputs from agencies)
(Image Source : Multiple agencies )
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