India finished second in Pool D behind England after all their group stage matches and will need to beat New Zealand on Sunday to make it to the quarterfinals. If he wins this match, he will face the current world champion in the last eight.
New Delhi: The Indian hockey team needed a big win in their last Pool D matches against Wales on Friday. They needed to win by a margin of at least seven goals for direct qualification to the quarterfinals.
The hosts registered a 4-0 win against the underdogs in the match at Bhubaneswar. Now to reach the quarterfinals, they will have to beat New Zealand, the number three-ranked team in Pool C, in a crossover match. India's problems do not end here. If he wins, then the world champion team will stand to challenge him in the last eight.
Will have to beat New Zealand to reach the quarterfinals
Hosts India will face defending champions Belgium in the quarter-finals of the Hockey World Cup if they beat New Zealand in the crossover match to be held in Bhubaneswar on Sunday. India finished second in Pool D, trailing England on goal difference, due to which they will have to go through the crossover round. The top four teams from each pool advanced directly to the quarter-finals, while the second and third-placed teams would play crossover matches to reach the last eight.
Will compete with Belgium after reaching the quarterfinals
India's challenge against Belgium, who are in fine form after reaching the quarter-finals, will not be an easy one. In the last match of Pool B played at the Birsa Munda Stadium on Saturday, Belgium beat Japan 7-1 to top their group and make it to the quarterfinals. Tom Boon scored five goals for Belgium.
He scored field goals in the 22nd, 27th, 28th and 51st minutes apart from converting a penalty stroke in the 56th minute. Apart from them, Cedric Charlier scored in the 18th minute and Sebastien Dockier scored in the 52nd minute for Belgium. Earlier, Belgium played a 2-2 draw against Germany. This European team defeated Korea 5-0 in their first match.