WHEN INDIA and the Netherlands walked out for the anthems in a sun-kissed Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, you may have been forgiven for thinking something was up with your eyes. The hosts were lining up in blue while India came out wearing saffron. But that actually happened.
However, that was the only unexpected thing to occur before or during the match. The Dutch women's hockey team, one of the most storied and decorated sides across all sports in the world over the 21st century, kept their date with destiny with a comfortable x-x win. Netherlands, whose last loss at the World Cup came in 2010, were a slick attacking machine but their profligacy cost them in front of goal as they spurned a number of chances when well placed to score, either from set pieces or via open play.
That profligacy, though, has allowed the Indian team an opportunity to still make the semifinals of the quadrennial event. Remember, the last they finished fourth had come in 1974. When coach Sjoerd Marijne was interviewed before this second phase Pool match, he said they had nothing to lose.
A few minutes into the game, one would have feared for the women's team as they had already conceded from a penalty corner. But Salima Tete & Co are made up stern tough. The missed chances notwithstanding, India's set-up was clear. Aim to frustrate their opponents, and break at pace whenever they get the opportunity. And as long as the match stayed at 1-0, they were always in with a chance of engineering the mother of all upsets.
They almost levelled the game minutes after half-time when they pounced on the loose ball following an unsuccessful Dutch penalty corner. The women in saffron broke at pace and ventured deep into opposition territory with the hosts chasing the ball in desperation. The chance, though, came to not; it was one of several close chances Marijne's charges had managed but the execution let them down.
You don't give a side like Netherlands chances like that and they went up the other end to double the advantage, from another penalty corner. In the terraces, the local Dutch fans, who were clad in Orange, were dancing but it was the team in blue that had scored the goal (yep, it made for some confusing viewing).
India, the World No. 9, kept at it but they were also firm at the back, knowing full well that this Pool could still be decided by goal difference.
In the earlier match on Friday, Australia and China drew. It now means that India, who already have a point courtesy of their draw against China in the first of the two pool stages, could go through as long as they beat Australia on Sunday.