JOIN US India will have revenge on mind but injuries remain a worry for the team as it takes on Belgium in the quarterfinal clash of the Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Thursday.
After topping Pool A courtesy their two wins and the number of goals they scored in the preliminary league, India will play Pool B’s bottom-placed side Belgium as the new format devised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) allows all eight teams to move from the preliminary league into the knockout rounds.
India and Germany finished on six points each, but India took the top slot due to better goal-difference.
India are still rankled by the Champions Challenge final of last year when they blew away a two-goal lead in the closing stages to lose the contest and pave the way for Belgium to make their maiden appearance in the elite Champions Trophy.
Belgium went on to repeat their victory when the two teams met again in the preliminary group of this year’s Olympic Games at London, where eight-time gold medallists India finished at the bottom of the 12-team competition.
“We are eager to win this match to settle a score,” said India coach Michael Nobbs, whose outfit is playing in the Champions Trophy after getting one of the two wildcards handed by the FIH.
Nobbs said the Indian players want to get over the shattering loss at the Champions Challenge, which would have secured India a place in the Champions Trophy by right, instead of depending on the wildcard gifted by the FIH.
“Belgium did not win the Champions Challenge final, we lost it. The match was all but ours before we blew it up in the last couple of minutes,” said Nobbs.
Australia, gold medal winners of the last four Champions Trophy, will be seeking to stay on course when they meet England in the quarterfinals, while Olympic champions Germany take on Pakistan. Olympic silver medallists Netherlands are pitted against New Zealand in the other quarterfinal.