India will take on Canada in their final Pool C clash of the Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
Here are the live-match updates:
India are currently placed on top of Pool C and will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run in their last clash against Canada.
The hosts are placed ahead of Belgium on account of a better goal difference (+4) with the latter taking on South Africa at the same time.
The table toppers from each of the four pools will quality for the quarterfinals directly while the second and third-placed sides play the cross-overs in order to land a spot in the quarterfinals.
“We interpret a picture as we see it. Our target is to top the pool irrespective of the result of Belgium versus South Africa game. Our fate is in our own hands,” said India coach Harendra Singh.
“We are still on the second floor, they (Canada) are in the basement (in terms of position in the pool and goal difference). Let them come up to our level, then we will see. Our goal average is a lot better.
“We expect two things. One, I need to finish on top. The other, I want a clean sheet and no goals scored against India,” he added.
Canada coach Paul Bundy on the other hand stated that work ethics will play a key role in determining his side’s qualification.
“The last couple of results (against India) have been in favour of both teams. Lost won, drew one and won one. I think our work ethics is key. If we stick to our game plan I think we are hard to break,” he said.
“We are very opportunistic as well. We have a good penalty corner unit. We have strikers who are very dangerous as well. I think that creates a little doubt in the higher ranked teams,” he added.
The two squads are as follows:
India: Manpreet Singh (C), PR Sreejesh (GK), Krishna Bahadur Pathak (GK), Harmanpreet Singh, Birendra Lakra, Varun Kumar, Kothajit Singh Khadangbam, Surender Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Nilakanta Sharma, Hardik Singh, Sumit, Akashdeep Singh, Mandeep Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and Simranjeet Singh.
Canada: Scott Tupper (C), David Carter (GK), Antoni Kindler (GK), Brandon Pereira, Gordon Johnston, Keegan Pereira, Matthew Sarmento, Iain Smythe, James Kirkpatrick, Oliver Scholfield, Mark Pearson, Sukhi Panesarbc, Gabe Ho-Garcia, John Smythe, Richard Hildreth, Brednen Bissett, Jamie Wallace, Balraj Panesar
Source: Zee News