JOIN USIndia don't have a great record against the premier teams assembled here for the World League Final. Be it Australia, Germany, Netherlands and even Belgium in the recent past, India have been found wanting time and again.
India coach Sjoerd Marijne, addressing the media on the eve of the event at the Kalinga Stadium here, felt the team has learnt it's lessons from the past. "What happened in the past we can't change but what will happen in the future we can change. We have to learn things from the past to get better in the future and that's our goal. It's about mindset and belief. You have to believe that you can win and the team is doing that. We will have to show that on the pitch. It will not be easy but we are up for the challenge.
"The team is realistic and I am also a very realistic person. That's really good that we are in one line. That means that we really want to raise the bar every time and that is what we want to do tomorrow. We won the Asia Cup but we now have an opportunity to do better than the Asia Cup. We know we have to do better to perform well here," said the Dutchman.
India have a solid bunch of youngsters for whom facing Australia on Friday could be their first major senior level test. Marijne said his wards are experienced enough to tackle the big guns. "The final of the Junior World Cup was the most important thing in their life. So they had the experience there. They had the Holland tour, they competed in the Asia Cup where they also played the final. In one year they have experienced a lot things. Of course in the beginning they will be nervous but it's normal and that's what I am teaching them. You have to embrace them (nervousness) than fight against them. It's about how you deal with things individually."
Skipper Manpreet Singh will be turning up for his 200th international . "It's been a long journey for me. I am completing my 200th international match tomorrow and I am very excited that it is happening in front of my home crowd," he said.