The 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup concluded this month with Belgium becoming the new world champions after winning a nail-biting penalty shootout against the Netherlands.&nbsp;

Organized by the FIH, it was the 14th edition of the Hockey World Cup, held from 28 November to 16 December 2018, at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A total of 16 teams participated in the tournament with each team being drawn into four groups, each containing four teams. Each team played each other team in its group once. The first-placed team in each group advanced to the quarter-finals, while the second- and third-placed teams in each group went into the crossover matches. From there on a single-elimination tournament was played.

Having won back-to-back World Cups in 2010 and 2014, Australian hockey team, fondly known Kookaburras, came into the tournament as firm favourites but they were far from impressive.

Though Australia grew in grew in confidence as the days passed, but it was the Netherlands that shattered Kookaburras's dreams of completing a hat-trick of hockey World Cup when the world No.4 knocked out the two-time defending champions in the semi-final game.

The match went into shoot-out after both the Netherlands and Australia were locked 2-2 at the end of regulation 60 minutes.&nbsp; But it was not to be Australia’s day, as Daniel Beale’s attempt was saved by Dutch goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak after Jeroen Hertzberger scored to take the Netherlands to their second consecutive World Cup final.

Belgium, on the other hand, scripted history by making their maiden appearance in the tournament's summit clash, thrashing England 6-0 in a lopsided first semi-final. Prior to this, the Red Lions’ best performance in the World Cup was a fifth-place finish in 2014's tournament at The Hague, Netherlands.

And the rest is history, as on December 16, 2018, Belgium edged past the three-time champions the Netherlands to be crowned the new hockey world champions.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the hosts India led by Manpreet Singh finished top of Pool C after defeating South Africa 5-0, and Canada 5-1, while also managing a draw against Belgium to earn direct qualification berth for the Quarterfinal.

They faced an unfortunate 1-2 defeat against the Netherlands in the quarters to crash out of the Hockey World Cup. However, the overall performance of the young side was praised by the hockey experts.

The 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup concluded this month with Belgium becoming the new world champions after winning a nail-biting penalty shootout against the Netherlands.

The 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup concluded this month with Belgium becoming the new world champions after winning a nail-biting penalty shootout against the Netherlands. Organized by the FIH, it was the 14th edition of the Hockey World Cup, held from 28 November to 16 December 2018, at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India. A total of 16 teams participated in the tournament with each team being drawn into four groups, each containing four teams. Each team played each other team in its group once. The first-placed team in each group advanced to the quarter-finals, while the second- and third-placed teams in each group went into the crossover matches. From there on a single-elimination tournament was played. Having won back-to-back World Cups in 2010 and 2014, Australian hockey team, fondly known Kookaburras, came into the tournament as firm favourites but they were far from impressive. Though Australia grew in grew in confidence as the days passed, but it was the Netherlands that shattered Kookaburras's dreams of completing a hat-trick of hockey World Cup when the world No.4 knocked out the two-time defending champions in the semi-final game. The match went into shoot-out after both the Netherlands and Australia were locked 2-2 at the end of regulation 60 minutes. But it was not to be Australia’s day, as Daniel Beale’s attempt was saved by Dutch goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak after Jeroen Hertzberger scored to take the Netherlands to their second consecutive World Cup final. Belgium, on the other hand, scripted history by making their maiden appearance in the tournament's summit clash, thrashing England 6-0 in a lopsided first semi-final. Prior to this, the Red Lions’ best performance in the World Cup was a fifth-place finish in 2014's tournament at The Hague, Netherlands. And the rest is history, as on December 16, 2018, Belgium edged past the three-time champions the Netherlands to be crowned the new hockey world champions. Meanwhile, the hosts India led by Manpreet Singh finished top of Pool C after defeating South Africa 5-0, and Canada 5-1, while also managing a draw against Belgium to earn direct qualification berth for the Quarterfinal. They faced an unfortunate 1-2 defeat against the Netherlands in the quarters to crash out of the Hockey World Cup. However, the overall performance of the young side was praised by the hockey experts.

Top teams and their performance in Hockey World Cup 2018

In pictures: Belgium clinch maiden Hockey World Cup in style

Olympic Silver medalists Belgium defeated the Netherlands on Sunday to clinch its maiden FIH Hockey World Cup title at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

As both teams failed to score in the regulation time followed by a penalty shootout which also ended with a score of 2-2, Belgium reached its first World Cup final after defeating three-time champions Netherlands 3-2 via sudden death.

The Belgians started celebrating after Arthur de Sloover netted in their fifth chance in the penalty shootout, which they thought had ended 3-2 in their favour. But the goal was disallowed after the TV umpire found that the ball hit his foot.&nbsp;

The game had to resume.

In the sudden death, Florent van Aubel scored for Belgium and the Netherlands’ Jeroen Hertzberger missed. Belgium celebrated again and this time for real.

Earlier, Belgium and the Netherlands played out a goalless draw in regulation time.

The Dutch had two penalty corners within the last three minutes of the first half but couldn’t score off them.

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Champions of the World! 👏🙌<a href="https://twitter.com/BELRedLions?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BELRedLions</a> lift the amazing cup. What a moment! 
Odisha <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HWC2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HWC2018</a> Bhubaneswar 
📸FIH/<a href="https://twitter.com/GettySport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GettySport</a> <a href="https://t.co/MhheKCn1Kp">pic.twitter.com/MhheKCn1Kp</a>
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No words needed !!!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoarForGold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoarForGold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldChampion?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldChampion</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hockey?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hockey</a> <a href="https://t.co/CPR0tODdXm">pic.twitter.com/CPR0tODdXm</a>
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Earlier in the day, last edition champions Australia secured a consolation bronze medal after mauling England 8-1. Three goals came from the stick of Tom Craig while Jeremy Hayward struck twice for Australia in the bronze medal play-off.&nbsp;

Olympic Silver medalists Belgium defeated the Netherlands on Sunday to clinch its maiden FIH Hockey World Cup title at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. As both teams failed to score in the regulation time followed by a penalty shootout which also ended with a score of 2-2, Belgium reached its first World Cup final after defeating three-time champions Netherlands 3-2 via sudden death.

Olympic Silver medalists Belgium defeated the Netherlands on Sunday to clinch its maiden FIH Hockey World Cup title at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. As both teams failed to score in the regulation time followed by a penalty shootout which also ended with a score of 2-2, Belgium reached its first World Cup final after defeating three-time champions Netherlands 3-2 via sudden death. The Belgians started celebrating after Arthur de Sloover netted in their fifth chance in the penalty shootout, which they thought had ended 3-2 in their favour. But the goal was disallowed after the TV umpire found that the ball hit his foot. The game had to resume. In the sudden death, Florent van Aubel scored for Belgium and the Netherlands’ Jeroen Hertzberger missed. Belgium celebrated again and this time for real. Earlier, Belgium and the Netherlands played out a goalless draw in regulation time. The Dutch had two penalty corners within the last three minutes of the first half but couldn’t score off them. Champions of the World! 👏🙌@BELRedLions lift the amazing cup. What a moment! Odisha #HWC2018 Bhubaneswar 📸FIH/@GettySport pic.twitter.com/MhheKCn1Kp — International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) December 16, 2018 × No words needed !!!#RoarForGold #WorldChampion #Hockey pic.twitter.com/CPR0tODdXm — Belgian Red Lions (@BELRedLions) December 16, 2018 × Earlier in the day, last edition champions Australia secured a consolation bronze medal after mauling England 8-1. Three goals came from the stick of Tom Craig while Jeremy Hayward struck twice for Australia in the bronze medal play-off.

Belgium beat Netherlands in dramatic shootout to win Hockey World Cup 2018

Last edition champions Australia secured a consolation bronze medal after mauling England 8-1 at the men's hockey World Cup at the Kalinga Stadium here on Sunday.

Tom Craig (9th, 19th, 34th minute) scored a hat-trick while Jeremy Hayward (57th, 60th) struck twice for Australia in the bronze medal play-off. Blake Govers (8th), Trent Mitton (32nd) and Tim Brand (34th) were the other goal getters for Australia.

World number 7 England's lone goal in the lop-sided match came from the stick of Barry Middleton in the 45th minute.

This was Australia's fifth bronze medal in the history of the tournament. The last time the Kookaburras had to be satisfied with a third-place finish was way back in 1994 in front of their home crowd in Sydney.

The two teams met in the pool stage earlier in the tournament with Australia winning 3-0.

The victory also enabled Australia to further increase their head-to-head record against England. The two sides have faced each other 28 times earlier with Australia winning 21 matches as against four by England while the remaining games ended in draws.

After sitting back in the initial minutes, Australia secured their first penalty corner in the sixth minute but Govers' flick was deflected well over the post.

However, it did not take long for Govers to register his name in the scoresheet. He scored his seventh goal of the tournament with a reverse hit after receiving a through ball.

A minute later, the Kookaburras doubled their lead when Craig scored from close range with a rebound from Brand's pass after his initial try was saved by England goalkeeper Harry Gibson.

Australia keeper Tyler Lovell then made a good block to deny Liam Ansell from close quarters.

Australia made the scoreline 3-0 in their favour four minutes into the second quarter through another fine field goal by Craig, following a brilliant link-up play with Jake Harvie and Govers.

Australia went into the half time break with a comfortable 3-0 lead.

Just seconds into the third quarter, England secured a penalty corner but Luke Taylor's attempt was easily saved by Charter.

Mitton then extended Australia's lead in the 32nd minute with a rebound after Hayward's try from a penalty corner was saved by Gibson.

Before England could settle down from the setback, Australia pumped in two more goals within a minute to make the contest a completely one-sided affair.&nbsp;

First, Brand finished off a fine Mitton pass for the fifth goal and then Craig got the sixth one for Australia and completed his hat-trick with another field strike.

England scored a consolation goal just seconds before the end of third quarter with Middleton finishing off into an empty goal from a Phil Roper pass.

Australia scored their seventh goal in the 57th minute when Hayward converted a penalty corner. Australia then secured back-to-back penalty corners in the final minute, the second of which was converted by Hayward to seal a convincing win.

Last edition champions Australia secured a consolation bronze medal after mauling England 8-1 at the men's hockey World Cup at the Kalinga Stadium here on Sunday.

Last edition champions Australia secured a consolation bronze medal after mauling England 8-1 at the men's hockey World Cup at the Kalinga Stadium here on Sunday. Tom Craig (9th, 19th, 34th minute) scored a hat-trick while Jeremy Hayward (57th, 60th) struck twice for Australia in the bronze medal play-off. Blake Govers (8th), Trent Mitton (32nd) and Tim Brand (34th) were the other goal getters for Australia. World number 7 England's lone goal in the lop-sided match came from the stick of Barry Middleton in the 45th minute. This was Australia's fifth bronze medal in the history of the tournament. The last time the Kookaburras had to be satisfied with a third-place finish was way back in 1994 in front of their home crowd in Sydney. The two teams met in the pool stage earlier in the tournament with Australia winning 3-0. The victory also enabled Australia to further increase their head-to-head record against England. The two sides have faced each other 28 times earlier with Australia winning 21 matches as against four by England while the remaining games ended in draws. After sitting back in the initial minutes, Australia secured their first penalty corner in the sixth minute but Govers' flick was deflected well over the post. However, it did not take long for Govers to register his name in the scoresheet. He scored his seventh goal of the tournament with a reverse hit after receiving a through ball. A minute later, the Kookaburras doubled their lead when Craig scored from close range with a rebound from Brand's pass after his initial try was saved by England goalkeeper Harry Gibson. Australia keeper Tyler Lovell then made a good block to deny Liam Ansell from close quarters. Australia made the scoreline 3-0 in their favour four minutes into the second quarter through another fine field goal by Craig, following a brilliant link-up play with Jake Harvie and Govers. Australia went into the half time break with a comfortable 3-0 lead. Just seconds into the third quarter, England secured a penalty corner but Luke Taylor's attempt was easily saved by Charter. Mitton then extended Australia's lead in the 32nd minute with a rebound after Hayward's try from a penalty corner was saved by Gibson. Before England could settle down from the setback, Australia pumped in two more goals within a minute to make the contest a completely one-sided affair. First, Brand finished off a fine Mitton pass for the fifth goal and then Craig got the sixth one for Australia and completed his hat-trick with another field strike. England scored a consolation goal just seconds before the end of third quarter with Middleton finishing off into an empty goal from a Phil Roper pass. Australia scored their seventh goal in the 57th minute when Hayward converted a penalty corner. Australia then secured back-to-back penalty corners in the final minute, the second of which was converted by Hayward to seal a convincing win.

Australia thrash England 8-1 to clinch bronze medal in hockey WC

Belgium will meet the Netherlands in the summit clash of the &nbsp;Men's Hockey World Cup at&nbsp;Bhubaneswar on Sunday.&nbsp;

Belgium and the Netherlands marched into the final of the tournament after emerging victorious in their respective semi-final clashes today.&nbsp;

While Olympic silver medallist Belgium routed England 6-0 in the first semi-final, the Dutch defeated two times World champion Australia 4-3 in the penalty shootout.

At full time, Australia and Netherlands were tied 2-2.&nbsp;

The Dutch would now be looking to join Pakistan as the only team to win four world titles but would have to get past first-time finalist Belgium in the title clash.

Besides the summit clash, a match to determine the 3rd and 4th place will be played tomorrow between England and Australia, before the final clash.&nbsp;

Belgium will meet the Netherlands in the summit clash of the Men's Hockey World Cup at Bhubaneswar on Sunday. Belgium and the Netherlands marched into the final of the tournament after emerging victorious in their respective semi-final clashes today.

Belgium will meet the Netherlands in the summit clash of the Men's Hockey World Cup at Bhubaneswar on Sunday. Belgium and the Netherlands marched into the final of the tournament after emerging victorious in their respective semi-final clashes today. While Olympic silver medallist Belgium routed England 6-0 in the first semi-final, the Dutch defeated two times World champion Australia 4-3 in the penalty shootout. At full time, Australia and Netherlands were tied 2-2. The Dutch would now be looking to join Pakistan as the only team to win four world titles but would have to get past first-time finalist Belgium in the title clash. Besides the summit clash, a match to determine the 3rd and 4th place will be played tomorrow between England and Australia, before the final clash.

It's Netherlands vs Belgium in the Hockey World Cup final

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar will be at the gallery to watch the Hockey World Cup final match between Belgium and Netherland in the Kalinga Stadium here on Sunday.

In a tweet, Tendulkar confirmed his visit to extend support to the tournament being hosted by India.

He also congratulated Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the world-class arrangements.

"Heartwarming to see the entire nation supporting the Men's #HockeyWorldCup2018. Congrats @Naveen_Odisha @TheHockeyIndia for the world class arrangements. To extend my support, I'll be coming to the spectacular Kalinga Stadium tomorrow. See you there! @sports_odisha @FIH_Hockey," Sachin said in his twitter handle.

Earlier, former cricket veterans like Anil Kumble and Virender Sehwag have visited Bhubaneswar for hockey matches.

The inaugural ceremony of the world cup was attended by Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, A R Rahman and Salman Khan.

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar will be at the gallery to watch the Hockey World Cup final match between Belgium and Netherland in the Kalinga Stadium here on Sunday.

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar will be at the gallery to watch the Hockey World Cup final match between Belgium and Netherland in the Kalinga Stadium here on Sunday. In a tweet, Tendulkar confirmed his visit to extend support to the tournament being hosted by India. He also congratulated Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the world-class arrangements. "Heartwarming to see the entire nation supporting the Men's #HockeyWorldCup2018. Congrats @Naveen_Odisha @TheHockeyIndia for the world class arrangements. To extend my support, I'll be coming to the spectacular Kalinga Stadium tomorrow. See you there! @sports_odisha @FIH_Hockey," Sachin said in his twitter handle. Earlier, former cricket veterans like Anil Kumble and Virender Sehwag have visited Bhubaneswar for hockey matches. The inaugural ceremony of the world cup was attended by Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, A R Rahman and Salman Khan.

Sachin Tendulkar to be at gallery for Hockey World Cup final

World no. 4 Netherlands broke Australia's dream of clinching a hat-trick of World Cup titles, beating the two-time defending champions 4-3 in sudden death in a pulsating semi-final of men hockey's showpiece tournament here on Saturday.

The Dutch thus took a sweet revenge of their 1-6 loss to the Kookaburras in the summit clash of the 2014 World Cup at the Hague.

The match went into shoot-out after both Netherlands and Australia were locked 2-2 at the end of regulation 60 minutes.

Glenn Schuurman (9th minute) and Seve van Ass (20th) scored for the Dutch before Tim Howard (45th) converted a penalty corner and Eddie Ockenden (60th) found the equaliser for Australia just 26 seconds from the final hooter.

In the shoot-off, Daniel Beale, Tom Craig and Jake Whetton scored for Australia while Jeroen Hertzberger, Van Ass and Thijs van Dam were on target for the Dutch to take the encounter into sudden death.

But it was not to be Australia's day, as Beale's attempt was saved by Dutch goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak after Hertberger scored to take Netherlands to their second consecutive World Cup final.

The Netherlands will face Olympic silver medallist Belgium in Sunday's summit clash after the Red Lions spanked England 6-0 in the other semi-final earlier in the day.

World no.1 Australia will look for a consolation bronze medal when they take on England in the third-fourth place play-off match on Sunday.

The Netherlands took time to get off the blocks as Australia did all the attacking in the initial few minutes but without much success.

After sitting back initially, the Dutchmen got into the groove slowly and had the first real scoring chance in the fourth minute through a penalty corner but Mink van der Weerden's flick was kept away by Australia goalkeeper Andrew Charter.

The Netherlands kept up the pressure on the Australian defence and minutes later took the lead through Schuurman, who scored from close range after being set up by Jonas de Gues' brilliant run down the right flank.

Three minutes from the end of first quarter, Mirco Pruijser's deflection from Netherlands skipper Billy Bakker's long ball down the middle hit the post.

Three minutes into the second quarter, Australia earned their first penalty corner but wasted it.

Netherlands and Australia traded one more penalty corner each in the next few minutes but both the teams failed to convert the chances.

Van Ass doubled Netherlands' lead after his shot from right corner of the box went into the goal following a deflection from Australian Tim Howard's stick.

Trailing by two goals, the Australians came out with purpose after the change of ends as they attacked in numbers in search of breakthroughs.

The Dutch too matched their rivals stick for stick as the game witnessed an end-to-end battle.

Australia pulled a goal back just at the stroke of third quarter through Howard who scored from a penalty corner after their variation went wrong.

Netherlands goalkeeper Blaak had a wonderful match, inflicting brilliant saves now and then to deny the Australians.

In the 53rd minute, an alert Blaak came up with a wonderful reflex save to keep out Flynn Ogilivie's diving effort and then five minutes later the Dutch keeper made another stunning save to deny Blake Govers from Australia's fourth penalty corner.

But the Australians did not give up hope and fought till their last breath, which resulted in getting the equaliser just 26 seconds from full time through Ockenden and take the match into the shoot-out.&nbsp;

World no. 4 Netherlands broke Australia's dream of clinching a hat-trick of World Cup titles, beating the two-time defending champions 4-3 in sudden death in a pulsating semi-final of men hockey's showpiece tournament here on Saturday.

World no. 4 Netherlands broke Australia's dream of clinching a hat-trick of World Cup titles, beating the two-time defending champions 4-3 in sudden death in a pulsating semi-final of men hockey's showpiece tournament here on Saturday. The Dutch thus took a sweet revenge of their 1-6 loss to the Kookaburras in the summit clash of the 2014 World Cup at the Hague. The match went into shoot-out after both Netherlands and Australia were locked 2-2 at the end of regulation 60 minutes. Glenn Schuurman (9th minute) and Seve van Ass (20th) scored for the Dutch before Tim Howard (45th) converted a penalty corner and Eddie Ockenden (60th) found the equaliser for Australia just 26 seconds from the final hooter. In the shoot-off, Daniel Beale, Tom Craig and Jake Whetton scored for Australia while Jeroen Hertzberger, Van Ass and Thijs van Dam were on target for the Dutch to take the encounter into sudden death. But it was not to be Australia's day, as Beale's attempt was saved by Dutch goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak after Hertberger scored to take Netherlands to their second consecutive World Cup final. The Netherlands will face Olympic silver medallist Belgium in Sunday's summit clash after the Red Lions spanked England 6-0 in the other semi-final earlier in the day. World no.1 Australia will look for a consolation bronze medal when they take on England in the third-fourth place play-off match on Sunday. The Netherlands took time to get off the blocks as Australia did all the attacking in the initial few minutes but without much success. After sitting back initially, the Dutchmen got into the groove slowly and had the first real scoring chance in the fourth minute through a penalty corner but Mink van der Weerden's flick was kept away by Australia goalkeeper Andrew Charter. The Netherlands kept up the pressure on the Australian defence and minutes later took the lead through Schuurman, who scored from close range after being set up by Jonas de Gues' brilliant run down the right flank. Three minutes from the end of first quarter, Mirco Pruijser's deflection from Netherlands skipper Billy Bakker's long ball down the middle hit the post. Three minutes into the second quarter, Australia earned their first penalty corner but wasted it. Netherlands and Australia traded one more penalty corner each in the next few minutes but both the teams failed to convert the chances. Van Ass doubled Netherlands' lead after his shot from right corner of the box went into the goal following a deflection from Australian Tim Howard's stick. Trailing by two goals, the Australians came out with purpose after the change of ends as they attacked in numbers in search of breakthroughs. The Dutch too matched their rivals stick for stick as the game witnessed an end-to-end battle. Australia pulled a goal back just at the stroke of third quarter through Howard who scored from a penalty corner after their variation went wrong. Netherlands goalkeeper Blaak had a wonderful match, inflicting brilliant saves now and then to deny the Australians. In the 53rd minute, an alert Blaak came up with a wonderful reflex save to keep out Flynn Ogilivie's diving effort and then five minutes later the Dutch keeper made another stunning save to deny Blake Govers from Australia's fourth penalty corner. But the Australians did not give up hope and fought till their last breath, which resulted in getting the equaliser just 26 seconds from full time through Ockenden and take the match into the shoot-out.

Netherlands beat Australia in thrilling shootout to enter second straight hockey WC final

India's hockey coach Harendra Singh has apologised after a 2-1 quarter-final defeat by the Netherlands ended their hopes of winning the World Cup on home soil.

"First of all, I like to tender my apology to the people in India for not giving the results what they deserve. But, I am not going to take it very easily," Harendra told reporters at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.

The visitors benefited from a disputed penalty corner that resulted in the decisive goal being scored in the 50th minute.

India defender Amit Rohidas was given a 10-minute suspension in the fourth quarter and the Indian coach was critical of the officials.

"It was not 11 players against 11. It was 11 against 13," Harendra said.

"If they (umpires) don't want to improve, we will continue to face these type of results."

India, who won six Olympic hockey golds in a row between 1928 and 1956, secured their lone World Cup triumph in 1975 in Kuala Lumpur.

Following their last Olympic gold in 1980, India's performances declined over the next three decades as the game moved from natural grass to synthetic surfaces.

The current squad produced glimpses of their glorious past during their run to the Champions Trophy final this year but their World Cup exit proves there is still plenty of work to be done.

Indian captain Manpreet Singh said there was little point in contesting umpiring decisions after the match

"What's the use of appealing now? We have lost the World Cup anyway," he said.

"We have to accept the defeat gracefully. The federation, players and coaches invest so much of time for a tournament. But you could ruin the 4-6 years' hard work with one wrong decision."

India's hockey coach Harendra Singh has apologised after a 2-1 quarter-final defeat by the Netherlands ended their hopes of winning the World Cup on home soil. "First of all, I like to tender my apology to the people in India for not giving the results what they deserve.

India's hockey coach Harendra Singh has apologised after a 2-1 quarter-final defeat by the Netherlands ended their hopes of winning the World Cup on home soil. "First of all, I like to tender my apology to the people in India for not giving the results what they deserve. But, I am not going to take it very easily," Harendra told reporters at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. The visitors benefited from a disputed penalty corner that resulted in the decisive goal being scored in the 50th minute. India defender Amit Rohidas was given a 10-minute suspension in the fourth quarter and the Indian coach was critical of the officials. "It was not 11 players against 11. It was 11 against 13," Harendra said. "If they (umpires) don't want to improve, we will continue to face these type of results." India, who won six Olympic hockey golds in a row between 1928 and 1956, secured their lone World Cup triumph in 1975 in Kuala Lumpur. Following their last Olympic gold in 1980, India's performances declined over the next three decades as the game moved from natural grass to synthetic surfaces. The current squad produced glimpses of their glorious past during their run to the Champions Trophy final this year but their World Cup exit proves there is still plenty of work to be done. Indian captain Manpreet Singh said there was little point in contesting umpiring decisions after the match "What's the use of appealing now? We have lost the World Cup anyway," he said. "We have to accept the defeat gracefully. The federation, players and coaches invest so much of time for a tournament. But you could ruin the 4-6 years' hard work with one wrong decision."

India coach Harendra Singh apologises to fans after World Cup exit

Olympic silver medallist Belgium created history by making their maiden appearance in the men's hockey World Cup summit clash, thrashing England 6-0 in a lopsided first semi-final here Saturday.

Alexander Hendrickx (45th, 50th minutes) converted two penalty corners, while Tom Boon (8th), Simon Gougnard (19th), Cedric Charlier (42nd) and Sebastien Dockier (53rd) were the other goal scorers for the world number three at the Kalinga Stadium.

Prior to this, the Red Lions' best performance in the World Cup was a fifth-place finish in the last edition of the tournament at The Hague, Netherlands in 2014.

The Belgium players, who wore black armbands to pay respect to their teammate Gougnard whose father passed away before the match, dominated possession in the first two quarters and created a couple of promising chances, two of which resulted in goals.

It didn't take long for Belgium to take the lead as Boon deflected in Florent van Aubel's measured cross from the left in the eighth minute.

Just seconds from the end of first quarter, Boon again came close but his deflection from a long ball hit the post.

Belgium doubled their lead in the 19th minute through Gougnard, who scored from a rebound after Hendrickx's flick from their first penalty corner was saved by England captain and goalkeeper George Pinner.

The Red Lions missed a sitter three minutes from half-time when an unmarked Dockier pushed wide Van Aubel's pass, with only Pinner to beat.

Just a minute after the change of ends, England secured their first penalty corner, but the world number seven failed to capitalise on the opportunity.

Belgium extended their lead in the 42nd minute through Charlier, who scored with a fierce shot from a close range.

Minutes later, England earned another penalty corner but Belgium goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch was up to the task and thwarted the danger with a fine save.

Seconds from the end of the third quarter, Belgium made it 4-0 when Hendrickx found the back of the English net from his team's second penalty corner.

Belgium continued to toy with the English defence and pumped in two more goals in the fourth and final quarter to make the last-four contest a thoroughly one-sided affair.

Another penalty corner resulted in another goal through Hendrickx, in the 50th minute, before Dockier scored from a field effort three minutes later to complete the rout.

Towards the end of the match, England secured two more penalty corners but lack of execution let them down, as they rounded off a disappointing outing.&nbsp;

Olympic silver medallist Belgium created history by making their maiden appearance in the men's hockey World Cup summit clash, thrashing England 6-0 in a lopsided first semi-final here Saturday.

Olympic silver medallist Belgium created history by making their maiden appearance in the men's hockey World Cup summit clash, thrashing England 6-0 in a lopsided first semi-final here Saturday. Alexander Hendrickx (45th, 50th minutes) converted two penalty corners, while Tom Boon (8th), Simon Gougnard (19th), Cedric Charlier (42nd) and Sebastien Dockier (53rd) were the other goal scorers for the world number three at the Kalinga Stadium. Prior to this, the Red Lions' best performance in the World Cup was a fifth-place finish in the last edition of the tournament at The Hague, Netherlands in 2014. The Belgium players, who wore black armbands to pay respect to their teammate Gougnard whose father passed away before the match, dominated possession in the first two quarters and created a couple of promising chances, two of which resulted in goals. It didn't take long for Belgium to take the lead as Boon deflected in Florent van Aubel's measured cross from the left in the eighth minute. Just seconds from the end of first quarter, Boon again came close but his deflection from a long ball hit the post. Belgium doubled their lead in the 19th minute through Gougnard, who scored from a rebound after Hendrickx's flick from their first penalty corner was saved by England captain and goalkeeper George Pinner. The Red Lions missed a sitter three minutes from half-time when an unmarked Dockier pushed wide Van Aubel's pass, with only Pinner to beat. Just a minute after the change of ends, England secured their first penalty corner, but the world number seven failed to capitalise on the opportunity. Belgium extended their lead in the 42nd minute through Charlier, who scored with a fierce shot from a close range. Minutes later, England earned another penalty corner but Belgium goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch was up to the task and thwarted the danger with a fine save. Seconds from the end of the third quarter, Belgium made it 4-0 when Hendrickx found the back of the English net from his team's second penalty corner. Belgium continued to toy with the English defence and pumped in two more goals in the fourth and final quarter to make the last-four contest a thoroughly one-sided affair. Another penalty corner resulted in another goal through Hendrickx, in the 50th minute, before Dockier scored from a field effort three minutes later to complete the rout. Towards the end of the match, England secured two more penalty corners but lack of execution let them down, as they rounded off a disappointing outing.

Belgium maul England 6-0 to make maiden Hockey WC final

A rare history awaits two-time defending champions Australia as they chase a record hat-trick of titles, taking on the Netherlands in the semi-finals of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/hockey-world-cup">men's hockey World Cup</a> at the Kalinga Stadium here on Saturday.&nbsp;

The world number one Australia is second only to four-time champions Pakistan, having won the world title thrice before, which includes back-to-back gold medals in the last two editions of the tournament in 2010 and 2014.&nbsp;

Come Saturday, the Kookaburras will be chasing their third consecutive world crown. But it would be easier said than done as in world no.4 Netherlands a tough contest awaits Australia.&nbsp;

The Dutch, who have won the title thrice before - the last time being in 1998, too would be desperate to break their 20-year-old jinx.&nbsp;

The Netherlands would be high on confidence especially after their hard-fought 2-1 win over home favourites India in the quarter-finals on Thursday.&nbsp;

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Amazing Australia takes on the formidable Netherlands in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OdishaHockeyWorldCup2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OdishaHockeyWorldCup2018</a> Semi-Final 2! Gear up for a nail-biting phenomenon on 15th December, 6:30 PM tonight! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Odisha2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Odisha2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HWC2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HWC2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KalingaStadium?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KalingaStadium</a> &nbsp; 
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Going by form and world ranking, it is expected to be an edge of the seat thriller between the two teams, who prefer to play a totally contrasting style of hockey.&nbsp;

While attacking hockey is the backbone of Australia, the Dutch mostly prefer to play waiting for the game with a compact defence and relying more on counters to surprise their opponents.&nbsp;

There is hardly anything to differentiate between the two sides going by recent head-to-head record.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Since 2013, Australia and Netherlands have played each other 11 times with the Kookaburras winning five and losing four while two ended in draws.&nbsp;

The Australians made a slow start but grew in confidence as the tournament progressed.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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After a hard-fought 2-1 win over Ireland in their opener, Australia stepped on the gas and registered convincing wins over England (3-0), China (11-0) and France (3-0).&nbsp;

The Dutch, on the other hand, started with a bang and mauled Malaysia 7-0 before losing 1-4 to Germany.&nbsp;

They defeated Pakistan 5-1 in their last pool match before beating Canada 5-0 in the cross-overs and eking out a close 2-1 win over India in the quarter-finals.&nbsp;

The Australia-Netherlands match has all the makings of a classic. In 2014 at The Hague, Australia came out on top against Netherlands 6-1 in front of home crowd to lift their second consecutive World Cup.&nbsp;

And Saturday's encounter will provide the Dutch an opportunity to avenge their loss four years ago.&nbsp;

But in the last four years since they met in the final of 2014, much has changed.&nbsp;

The likes of Jamie Dwyer, Mark Knowles and Glenn Turner have retired but the Kookaburras have rebuilt brilliantly under coach Colin Batch since the disappointment of Rio Olympics and have returned to the top of the world rankings.&nbsp;

The Dutch, on the other hand, are unquestionably much tougher under Max Caldas now than they were four years ago.&nbsp;

Australia's Daniel Beale too agreed that it would be a tough, exciting battle on Saturday for a place in Sunday's summit clash.&nbsp;

"We are into the crucial stage of the tournament. We got to watch last night's match between Holland and India. So we have learnt a lot from that. We are expecting a very tough match tomorrow," he said.&nbsp;

"We have very proud history. There is no special formula. We work hard, we train hard. We are fiercely competitive. Every tournament we go we go to win."&nbsp;

Beale said what happened four years ago will hardly have any impact in Saturday's must-win game.&nbsp;

"In 2014 Australia had great success in the final but that was a long time ago and this group has changed immensely. So we are looking to create a bit of history," Beale said.&nbsp;

"Holland are a very tough team. They have quality players. Billy (Bakker), (Robert) Kemperman, (Valentin) Verga. We wil do our homework and try to nullify them."&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Olympic silver medallist Belgium too would be looking to create history by making their maiden World Cup final appearance when they take on England in the first semi-final earlier in the day.

A rare history awaits two-time defending champions Australia as they chase a record hat-trick of titles, taking on the Netherlands in the semi-finals of the men's hockey World Cup at the Kalinga Stadium here on Saturday.

A rare history awaits two-time defending champions Australia as they chase a record hat-trick of titles, taking on the Netherlands in the semi-finals of the men's hockey World Cup at the Kalinga Stadium here on Saturday. The world number one Australia is second only to four-time champions Pakistan, having won the world title thrice before, which includes back-to-back gold medals in the last two editions of the tournament in 2010 and 2014. Come Saturday, the Kookaburras will be chasing their third consecutive world crown. But it would be easier said than done as in world no.4 Netherlands a tough contest awaits Australia. The Dutch, who have won the title thrice before - the last time being in 1998, too would be desperate to break their 20-year-old jinx. The Netherlands would be high on confidence especially after their hard-fought 2-1 win over home favourites India in the quarter-finals on Thursday. Amazing Australia takes on the formidable Netherlands in the #OdishaHockeyWorldCup2018 Semi-Final 2! Gear up for a nail-biting phenomenon on 15th December, 6:30 PM tonight! #Odisha2018 #HWC2018 #KalingaStadium Visit: https://t.co/YQG4YTcYvs for the latest info! pic.twitter.com/CXHJZwsFuK — Hockey World Cup 2018 - Host Partner (@sports_odisha) December 14, 2018 × Going by form and world ranking, it is expected to be an edge of the seat thriller between the two teams, who prefer to play a totally contrasting style of hockey. While attacking hockey is the backbone of Australia, the Dutch mostly prefer to play waiting for the game with a compact defence and relying more on counters to surprise their opponents. There is hardly anything to differentiate between the two sides going by recent head-to-head record. Since 2013, Australia and Netherlands have played each other 11 times with the Kookaburras winning five and losing four while two ended in draws. The Australians made a slow start but grew in confidence as the tournament progressed. The #OdishaHockeyWorldCup2018 Semi-Final 1 between England and Belgium promises an adrenaline rush like no other! Tune in tomorrow for an incredible game of hockey! #Odisha2018 #HWC2018 #KalingaStadium Visit https://t.co/YQG4YTcYvs for exclusive highlights.#HWC2018 #Odisha2018 pic.twitter.com/e31wWRfjwN — Hockey World Cup 2018 - Host Partner (@sports_odisha) December 14, 2018 × After a hard-fought 2-1 win over Ireland in their opener, Australia stepped on the gas and registered convincing wins over England (3-0), China (11-0) and France (3-0). The Dutch, on the other hand, started with a bang and mauled Malaysia 7-0 before losing 1-4 to Germany. They defeated Pakistan 5-1 in their last pool match before beating Canada 5-0 in the cross-overs and eking out a close 2-1 win over India in the quarter-finals. The Australia-Netherlands match has all the makings of a classic. In 2014 at The Hague, Australia came out on top against Netherlands 6-1 in front of home crowd to lift their second consecutive World Cup. And Saturday's encounter will provide the Dutch an opportunity to avenge their loss four years ago. But in the last four years since they met in the final of 2014, much has changed. The likes of Jamie Dwyer, Mark Knowles and Glenn Turner have retired but the Kookaburras have rebuilt brilliantly under coach Colin Batch since the disappointment of Rio Olympics and have returned to the top of the world rankings. The Dutch, on the other hand, are unquestionably much tougher under Max Caldas now than they were four years ago. Australia's Daniel Beale too agreed that it would be a tough, exciting battle on Saturday for a place in Sunday's summit clash. "We are into the crucial stage of the tournament. We got to watch last night's match between Holland and India. So we have learnt a lot from that. We are expecting a very tough match tomorrow," he said. "We have very proud history. There is no special formula. We work hard, we train hard. We are fiercely competitive. Every tournament we go we go to win." Beale said what happened four years ago will hardly have any impact in Saturday's must-win game. "In 2014 Australia had great success in the final but that was a long time ago and this group has changed immensely. So we are looking to create a bit of history," Beale said. "Holland are a very tough team. They have quality players. Billy (Bakker), (Robert) Kemperman, (Valentin) Verga. We wil do our homework and try to nullify them." Meanwhile, Olympic silver medallist Belgium too would be looking to create history by making their maiden World Cup final appearance when they take on England in the first semi-final earlier in the day.

Hockey World Cup 2018, Semi-final: Australia vs Netherlands, Belgium vs England

India's chief coach Harendra Singh Thursday blamed poor umpiring for his <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/hockey-world-cup-2018-india-crash-out-after-losing-to-netherlands-in-quarter-final-183831">team's early ouster</a> from the ongoing men's hockey World Cup.&nbsp;

He said the International Hockey Federation (FIH) needs to seriously address the issue as his side has been on the receiving end of poor on-field decisions twice this year.&nbsp;

Aiming to rewrite history after a hiatus of 43 years, India lost 1-2 to the Netherlands in the fourth and last quarterfinal, crashing out in front of a packed Kalinga Stadium.&nbsp;

Harendra said it's high time the FIH reviews the performance of umpires.&nbsp;

"I would like to tender my apologies. We haven't given what we had to. I am not going to stop today. If they (umpires) don't want to improve, we will continue to face these type of results," he said at the post-match press conference.&nbsp;

"Can anyone define Amit Rohidas's 10-min yellow card? What about this gentleman (pointing at Manpreet Singh), when he was pushed from behind? Why not a yellow card there? We have lost two major tournaments (Asian Games) this year because of umpiring.&nbsp;

"Two times we got a card when we hadn't done anything. But when it happened against us, they (umpires) said nothing. They need to improve. We have lost two major tournaments," he added.&nbsp;

The India coach, however, said he will not lodge any protest and accept the result.&nbsp;

"99.8 percent the referral goes in favour of players. The outcome of a protest has never been good in my career. We accept this gracefully. We want neutral umpiring. I except both teams to be treated equally. One wrong decision can ruin your preparation of 4-6 years," he said.&nbsp;

India captain Manpreet Singh too was utterly disappointed with the outcome and said there is no point in lodging a protest now.&nbsp;

"What is the use? We lost. We are out of the tournament," he said.&nbsp;

"The team had put in all the effort, but it didn't happen. I am happy that all boys gave their 100 per cent and were not short on confidence." 
Harendra said it was an equal contest but missed chances hurt India badly.&nbsp;

"We had a couple of open chances. We missed, so did Holland. That was because both teams were playing high-tempo game. Sometimes your position is not there, or your stick is not there (in the right place). The way the boys fought without the goalkeeper, in front of you I want to salute my players."&nbsp;

"We played well in patches but I will give 7 out of 10 on temperament to my team."&nbsp;

Criticising the on-field umpires, Harendra further said he didn't think the penalty corner from which Netherlands scored their winner, was right.&nbsp;

"The penalty corner which they got, I don't agree with it," he said. 
Netherlands coach Max Caldas, however, disagreed with his Indian counterpart and said it is not wise to blame the umpires after a defeat.&nbsp;

"The team with most chances wins the game. We won the game. That's the bottom line. In the end, the umpires didn't play the game. We never discuss umpires after a game, we talk about our own performance," he said.&nbsp;

"We review games, not umpires. We review our own performance. It happened with us at the Champions Trophy when the call went against us and we had a draw against India. Umpires do their job. It's a very fast-paced game," Caldas added.&nbsp;

The Dutch captain Billy Bakker too agreed with his coach on the umpiring issue.&nbsp;

"I think we are pretty happy with the officials. In the end, India were asking for a penalty corner. It doesn't matter if they had the referral.&nbsp;

Sometimes in sports things don't go like you want. Something you have to deal with it," he said.&nbsp;

"I think the umpires did a good job."

India's chief coach Harendra Singh Thursday blamed poor umpiring for his team's early ouster from the ongoing men's hockey World Cup. He said the International Hockey Federation (FIH) needs to seriously address the issue as his side has been on the receiving end of poor on-field decisions twice this year.

India's chief coach Harendra Singh Thursday blamed poor umpiring for his team's early ouster from the ongoing men's hockey World Cup. He said the International Hockey Federation (FIH) needs to seriously address the issue as his side has been on the receiving end of poor on-field decisions twice this year. Aiming to rewrite history after a hiatus of 43 years, India lost 1-2 to the Netherlands in the fourth and last quarterfinal, crashing out in front of a packed Kalinga Stadium. Harendra said it's high time the FIH reviews the performance of umpires. "I would like to tender my apologies. We haven't given what we had to. I am not going to stop today. If they (umpires) don't want to improve, we will continue to face these type of results," he said at the post-match press conference. "Can anyone define Amit Rohidas's 10-min yellow card? What about this gentleman (pointing at Manpreet Singh), when he was pushed from behind? Why not a yellow card there? We have lost two major tournaments (Asian Games) this year because of umpiring. "Two times we got a card when we hadn't done anything. But when it happened against us, they (umpires) said nothing. They need to improve. We have lost two major tournaments," he added. The India coach, however, said he will not lodge any protest and accept the result. "99.8 percent the referral goes in favour of players. The outcome of a protest has never been good in my career. We accept this gracefully. We want neutral umpiring. I except both teams to be treated equally. One wrong decision can ruin your preparation of 4-6 years," he said. India captain Manpreet Singh too was utterly disappointed with the outcome and said there is no point in lodging a protest now. "What is the use? We lost. We are out of the tournament," he said. "The team had put in all the effort, but it didn't happen. I am happy that all boys gave their 100 per cent and were not short on confidence." Harendra said it was an equal contest but missed chances hurt India badly. "We had a couple of open chances. We missed, so did Holland. That was because both teams were playing high-tempo game. Sometimes your position is not there, or your stick is not there (in the right place). The way the boys fought without the goalkeeper, in front of you I want to salute my players." "We played well in patches but I will give 7 out of 10 on temperament to my team." Criticising the on-field umpires, Harendra further said he didn't think the penalty corner from which Netherlands scored their winner, was right. "The penalty corner which they got, I don't agree with it," he said. Netherlands coach Max Caldas, however, disagreed with his Indian counterpart and said it is not wise to blame the umpires after a defeat. "The team with most chances wins the game. We won the game. That's the bottom line. In the end, the umpires didn't play the game. We never discuss umpires after a game, we talk about our own performance," he said. "We review games, not umpires. We review our own performance. It happened with us at the Champions Trophy when the call went against us and we had a draw against India. Umpires do their job. It's a very fast-paced game," Caldas added. The Dutch captain Billy Bakker too agreed with his coach on the umpiring issue. "I think we are pretty happy with the officials. In the end, India were asking for a penalty corner. It doesn't matter if they had the referral. Sometimes in sports things don't go like you want. Something you have to deal with it," he said. "I think the umpires did a good job."

Hockey World Cup: Coach Harendra Singh blames poor umpiring for India's early ouster

Standing on the verge of creating history, Indian hockey coach Harendra Singh said his team is ready to take on any challenge thrown by the Netherlands in the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/hockey-world-cup">World Cup</a> quarter-final here.&nbsp;

World number five India are set to take on Netherlands in the last quarter-final on Thursday, and Harendra said they have left no stones unturned and their preparation for the crucial clash are spot on.&nbsp;

"Hoga to wahi jo hum chahenge (Eventually, it is what we want that is going to happen)," Harendra declared when asked about Thursday's vital encounter.&nbsp;

"We want what 1.3 billion people want. Indian team is mentally and physically ready. We have done our homework on Dutch aggression.&nbsp;

Whatever challenge they throw, we are ready to solve that, not just accept it," he added.&nbsp;

India has never defeated Netherlands in the history of the World Cup, but Harendra refused to dwell on the past.&nbsp;

"History is only to read, not to understand," he quipped.&nbsp;

"They (Netherlands) have come prepared, Every team comes to win.&nbsp;

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Goalkeeper <a href="https://twitter.com/16Sreejesh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@16Sreejesh</a> says his experience dictates that the team should not dwell on past setbacks, but instead look forward and continue to perform as they have at the OHMWC Bhubaneswar 2018.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaKaGame?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaKaGame</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HWC2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HWC2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DilHockey?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DilHockey</a> <a href="https://t.co/beFtFmXSRe">pic.twitter.com/beFtFmXSRe</a>
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Indian team has made history in the last six months. You have to face every team, it is the&nbsp;World cup. You are bound to play the top team," he added.&nbsp;

Harendra said it will be an equal contest on Thursday and whoever takes their chances will come out winners.&nbsp;

"We won't do anything different. There are some minor adjustments.&nbsp;

They love to play attacking hockey, so do India. It is an equal contest. In tomorrow's match, you can't afford to miss even 25 per cent chances," he said.&nbsp;

Harendra said penalty corner conversions is an area of concern for the Netherlands which they will try to explore.&nbsp;

"When we analyse a match, we study grey areas of the opponents. Penalty corners is their grey area. We don't ignore Holland outright.&nbsp;

From 1971 to 2018, their base of hockey is penalty corners. We can't ignore that. India is ready to solve that challenge," he said.&nbsp;

It is expected to be a full house on Thursday at the Kalinga Stadium like any other India match, and Harendra said "crowd support" will provide India extra motivation to go for the kill.&nbsp;

"I think they are forgetting that whenever the crowd is behind us, it becomes 12th man, extra energy. As a coach I like that," he said.&nbsp;

"There is no chance that opponents can easily sit on their back. I think it's not pressured, it's your thought how you enjoy it. So far in any tournament, not just the World Cup, we have learned how to go with the crowd. We are enjoying."&nbsp;

Harendra said India cannot afford to drop their intensity at any point of time during the match.&nbsp;

"I agree that we have dropped our intensity during the course of a game, which we cannot afford against a team like Holland," he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"I have told them to keep that intensity not just for 60 minutes but 74 minutes, including half-time and quarter-breaks. We have discussed and they have agreed."&nbsp;&nbsp;

India captain Manpreet Singh said they are determined to create a history.&nbsp;

"If you talk about Olympics it was two years ago. The team has improved, especially since Harry sir (Harendra) has come. We are playing attacking hockey. We want to change history. The focus is that we don't leave out even the 50:50 chances."

Standing on the verge of creating history, Indian hockey coach Harendra Singh said his team is ready to take on any challenge thrown by the Netherlands in the World Cup quarter-final here.

Standing on the verge of creating history, Indian hockey coach Harendra Singh said his team is ready to take on any challenge thrown by the Netherlands in the World Cup quarter-final here. World number five India are set to take on Netherlands in the last quarter-final on Thursday, and Harendra said they have left no stones unturned and their preparation for the crucial clash are spot on. "Hoga to wahi jo hum chahenge (Eventually, it is what we want that is going to happen)," Harendra declared when asked about Thursday's vital encounter. "We want what 1.3 billion people want. Indian team is mentally and physically ready. We have done our homework on Dutch aggression. Whatever challenge they throw, we are ready to solve that, not just accept it," he added. India has never defeated Netherlands in the history of the World Cup, but Harendra refused to dwell on the past. "History is only to read, not to understand," he quipped. "They (Netherlands) have come prepared, Every team comes to win. Goalkeeper @16Sreejesh says his experience dictates that the team should not dwell on past setbacks, but instead look forward and continue to perform as they have at the OHMWC Bhubaneswar 2018.#IndiaKaGame #HWC2018 #DilHockey pic.twitter.com/beFtFmXSRe — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) December 12, 2018 × Indian team has made history in the last six months. You have to face every team, it is the World cup. You are bound to play the top team," he added. Harendra said it will be an equal contest on Thursday and whoever takes their chances will come out winners. "We won't do anything different. There are some minor adjustments. They love to play attacking hockey, so do India. It is an equal contest. In tomorrow's match, you can't afford to miss even 25 per cent chances," he said. Harendra said penalty corner conversions is an area of concern for the Netherlands which they will try to explore. "When we analyse a match, we study grey areas of the opponents. Penalty corners is their grey area. We don't ignore Holland outright. From 1971 to 2018, their base of hockey is penalty corners. We can't ignore that. India is ready to solve that challenge," he said. It is expected to be a full house on Thursday at the Kalinga Stadium like any other India match, and Harendra said "crowd support" will provide India extra motivation to go for the kill. "I think they are forgetting that whenever the crowd is behind us, it becomes 12th man, extra energy. As a coach I like that," he said. "There is no chance that opponents can easily sit on their back. I think it's not pressured, it's your thought how you enjoy it. So far in any tournament, not just the World Cup, we have learned how to go with the crowd. We are enjoying." Harendra said India cannot afford to drop their intensity at any point of time during the match. "I agree that we have dropped our intensity during the course of a game, which we cannot afford against a team like Holland," he said. "I have told them to keep that intensity not just for 60 minutes but 74 minutes, including half-time and quarter-breaks. We have discussed and they have agreed." India captain Manpreet Singh said they are determined to create a history. "If you talk about Olympics it was two years ago. The team has improved, especially since Harry sir (Harendra) has come. We are playing attacking hockey. We want to change history. The focus is that we don't leave out even the 50:50 chances."

Hockey World Cup: India vs Netherlands an 'equal contest,' says coach Harendra Singh

India crash out of Men's Hockey World Cup 2018 after losing to the Netherlands in the quarter-final on Thursday at Kalinga Stadium and&nbsp;let history slip out of its hands.

The Dutch outplayed the hosts and defeated them 2-1 in a high-octane and neck-to-neck match.

The Netherlands will play against defending champions Australia in the semi-finals to a place in the finals.

The last time India won the world cup was in 1975.

Despite losing, Surender Kumar was given Player of the Match award for his splendid tactics.

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🏑 | POTM | Surender Kumar | <a href="https://twitter.com/TheHockeyIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheHockeyIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HWC2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HWC2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Odisha2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Odisha2018</a> 
🇮🇳 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvNED?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvNED</a> 🇳🇱 <a href="https://t.co/Bqknzk4ybM">pic.twitter.com/Bqknzk4ybM</a>
— Hockey World Cup 2018 - Host Partner (@sports_odisha) <a href="https://twitter.com/sports_odisha/status/1073235185301258240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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India started on a high as Akashdeep Singh scored the first goal in the 12th minute to give India a 1-0 lead against the Dutch.

However, the gain was equalised within three minutes by Thierry Brinkman in the first quarter.

The crucial game entered in the fourth and final quarter with a 1-1 score but The Dutch came out with a plan in the fourth quarter and didn't give India any leeway into their citadel.

Mink van der Weerden scored in the 50th minute and claimed the lead through a Penalty Corner which proved decisive in the game.

The defeat ended India's long cherished dream of lifting the trophy only for the second time after its lone triumph in 1975 at Kuala Lumpur.

In search of a match-saving goal, India withdraw goalkeeper Sreejesh for an extra player but the move didn't pay any dividend.&nbsp;

Two minutes from time, Netherlands secured another penalty corner but the Indian defence, without a goalkeeper, did well to keep Netherlands at bay.&nbsp;

The hosts failed to get the equaliser as the packed stadium backed the Men in Blue until the very last second only to return home disappointed.&nbsp;

Netherlands will take on two-time defending champion Australia while Belgium will take on England on Saturday.

India crash out of Men's Hockey World Cup 2018 after losing to the Netherlands in the quarter-final on Thursday at Kalinga Stadium and let history slip out of its hands.

India crash out of Men's Hockey World Cup 2018 after losing to the Netherlands in the quarter-final on Thursday at Kalinga Stadium and let history slip out of its hands. The Dutch outplayed the hosts and defeated them 2-1 in a high-octane and neck-to-neck match. The Netherlands will play against defending champions Australia in the semi-finals to a place in the finals. The last time India won the world cup was in 1975. Despite losing, Surender Kumar was given Player of the Match award for his splendid tactics. 🏑 | POTM | Surender Kumar | @TheHockeyIndia #HWC2018 #Odisha2018 🇮🇳 #INDvNED 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/Bqknzk4ybM — Hockey World Cup 2018 - Host Partner (@sports_odisha) December 13, 2018 × India started on a high as Akashdeep Singh scored the first goal in the 12th minute to give India a 1-0 lead against the Dutch. However, the gain was equalised within three minutes by Thierry Brinkman in the first quarter. The crucial game entered in the fourth and final quarter with a 1-1 score but The Dutch came out with a plan in the fourth quarter and didn't give India any leeway into their citadel. Mink van der Weerden scored in the 50th minute and claimed the lead through a Penalty Corner which proved decisive in the game. The defeat ended India's long cherished dream of lifting the trophy only for the second time after its lone triumph in 1975 at Kuala Lumpur. In search of a match-saving goal, India withdraw goalkeeper Sreejesh for an extra player but the move didn't pay any dividend. Two minutes from time, Netherlands secured another penalty corner but the Indian defence, without a goalkeeper, did well to keep Netherlands at bay. The hosts failed to get the equaliser as the packed stadium backed the Men in Blue until the very last second only to return home disappointed. Netherlands will take on two-time defending champion Australia while Belgium will take on England on Saturday.

Hockey World Cup 2018: India crash out after losing to Netherlands in quarter-final

England, Australia enter hockey World Cup semis

India hockey team captain Manpreet Singh has replied to an incident that embarrassed the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/hockey-world-cup">World Cup</a> organisers ahead of their crucial quarter-final clash against Netherlands.&nbsp;

Indian team players including captain Manpreet Singh were accused of entering the VIP lounge of the Kalinga Stadium during the match between Netherlands and Canada.

As per the media reports, Hockey India official 'yelled at' the Indian players for entering the restricted zone.&nbsp;

As per the protocol of the tournament, the players were not entitled to be present at the VIP lounge. But on the request of a few near and dear ones, Manpreet and a few players entered the area and was busy in signing autographs and clicking pictures with their fans.

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Goalkeeper <a href="https://twitter.com/16Sreejesh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@16Sreejesh</a> says his experience dictates that the team should not dwell on past setbacks, but instead look forward and continue to perform as they have at the OHMWC Bhubaneswar 2018.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaKaGame?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaKaGame</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HWC2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HWC2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DilHockey?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DilHockey</a> <a href="https://t.co/beFtFmXSRe">pic.twitter.com/beFtFmXSRe</a>
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheHockeyIndia/status/1072822156159987714?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Supporters and fans took to Twitter and other social media forums to express anger. They criticised the treatment of players by the officials.

Soon the social media went ablaze with several people criticising the treatment of players.

When asked India captain Manpreet about the episode, he said: "It was our own mistake that we went to the restricted area without our knowledge. It is not that we were taken there forcibly by someone. Anyways, when we realised our mistake we just came out."

Manpreet further added, "These are minor episodes which will have no effect on our performance against Netherlands tomorrow."

World number five India are set to take on Netherlands in the last quarter-final on Thursday.

India has never defeated Netherlands in the history of the World Cup, but the players and coach Harendra Singh refused to dwell on the past.&nbsp;

India hockey team captain Manpreet Singh has replied to an incident that embarrassed the World Cup organisers ahead of their crucial quarter-final clash against Netherlands.

India hockey team captain Manpreet Singh has replied to an incident that embarrassed the World Cup organisers ahead of their crucial quarter-final clash against Netherlands. Indian team players including captain Manpreet Singh were accused of entering the VIP lounge of the Kalinga Stadium during the match between Netherlands and Canada. As per the media reports, Hockey India official 'yelled at' the Indian players for entering the restricted zone. As per the protocol of the tournament, the players were not entitled to be present at the VIP lounge. But on the request of a few near and dear ones, Manpreet and a few players entered the area and was busy in signing autographs and clicking pictures with their fans. Goalkeeper @16Sreejesh says his experience dictates that the team should not dwell on past setbacks, but instead look forward and continue to perform as they have at the OHMWC Bhubaneswar 2018.#IndiaKaGame #HWC2018 #DilHockey pic.twitter.com/beFtFmXSRe — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) December 12, 2018 × Supporters and fans took to Twitter and other social media forums to express anger. They criticised the treatment of players by the officials. Soon the social media went ablaze with several people criticising the treatment of players. When asked India captain Manpreet about the episode, he said: "It was our own mistake that we went to the restricted area without our knowledge. It is not that we were taken there forcibly by someone. Anyways, when we realised our mistake we just came out." Manpreet further added, "These are minor episodes which will have no effect on our performance against Netherlands tomorrow." World number five India are set to take on Netherlands in the last quarter-final on Thursday. India has never defeated Netherlands in the history of the World Cup, but the players and coach Harendra Singh refused to dwell on the past.

Manpreet Singh responds after Indian players 'yelled at' for entering restricted area

Australia cruised into the semi-finals of the ongoing Hockey World Cup for a record 11th consecutive time as they continue to display their on-field brilliance to defeat France in Bhubaneshwar on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Despite a valiant fight, the lowest-ranked side of the tournament lost 3-0 to the World no 1.&nbsp;

Jeremy Hayward (4’), Blake Govers (19’) and Aran Zalewski (37’) scored to put Australia into their semi-final.&nbsp;

The Australians, most often, burst into the French penalty circle from the middle. The French, at times, couldn’t keep up with the pace of the defending champions.

The incessant attacks yielded Australia several penalty corners. Some of them were converted while some were deflected.

France got their sole penalty corner of the first half in the last minute of the second quarter. But captain Victor Charlet’s drag-flick was blocked by an onrushing Trent Mitton.&nbsp;

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📸 | Glimpses from the game featuring <a href="https://twitter.com/Kookaburras?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Kookaburras</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FF_Hockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FF_Hockey</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HWC2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HWC2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Odisha2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Odisha2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/1xI6nuHWQy">pic.twitter.com/1xI6nuHWQy</a>
— Hockey World Cup 2018 - Host Partner (@sports_odisha) <a href="https://twitter.com/sports_odisha/status/1072872473949925376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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By virtue of this win, the defending champions, in Saturday’s semi-final will take on the winners of the India versus Netherlands match.

Australia cruised into the semi-finals of the ongoing Hockey World Cup for a record 11th consecutive time as they continue to display their on-field brilliance to defeat France in Bhubaneshwar on Wednesday.

Australia cruised into the semi-finals of the ongoing Hockey World Cup for a record 11th consecutive time as they continue to display their on-field brilliance to defeat France in Bhubaneshwar on Wednesday. Despite a valiant fight, the lowest-ranked side of the tournament lost 3-0 to the World no 1. Jeremy Hayward (4’), Blake Govers (19’) and Aran Zalewski (37’) scored to put Australia into their semi-final. The Australians, most often, burst into the French penalty circle from the middle. The French, at times, couldn’t keep up with the pace of the defending champions. The incessant attacks yielded Australia several penalty corners. Some of them were converted while some were deflected. France got their sole penalty corner of the first half in the last minute of the second quarter. But captain Victor Charlet’s drag-flick was blocked by an onrushing Trent Mitton. 📸 | Glimpses from the game featuring @Kookaburras and @FF_Hockey #HWC2018 #Odisha2018 pic.twitter.com/1xI6nuHWQy — Hockey World Cup 2018 - Host Partner (@sports_odisha) December 12, 2018 × By virtue of this win, the defending champions, in Saturday’s semi-final will take on the winners of the India versus Netherlands match.

Hockey World Cup: Australia thump France to reach semi-finals

The Netherlands defeated Canada in the fourth Crossover match on Tuesday in the ongoing Hockey World Cup 2018 at Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium.&nbsp; The Dutch mauled Canada 5-0 in the final scoreline.

By the virtue of this win, Netherlands proceed into the quarterfinals wherein they will face hosts India.&nbsp;

The Netherlands dominated the first quarter after netting two brilliant goals. While they were behind in ball possession, they made up for it in terms of pass accuracy. Their goalscorers were Lars Balk and Robbert Kemperman respectively.&nbsp;

The second half of the encounter was about the Netherlands holding onto the lead and further dominate the game.&nbsp;

The penultimate quarter brought more shock for the Canadian side. They were just no match to the Dutch and the latter slammed two more goals to stretch the lead to 4-0.

The deal was sealed long back but ended the game with their fifth goal on Canada's goalpost.&nbsp;

The Dutch, however, will face a litmus test against hosts and hot favourites India in the next clash on on December 13

The Netherlands defeated Canada in the fourth Crossover match on Tuesday in the ongoing Hockey World Cup 2018 at Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium. The Dutch mauled Canada 5-0 in the final scoreline.

The Netherlands defeated Canada in the fourth Crossover match on Tuesday in the ongoing Hockey World Cup 2018 at Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium. The Dutch mauled Canada 5-0 in the final scoreline. By the virtue of this win, Netherlands proceed into the quarterfinals wherein they will face hosts India. The Netherlands dominated the first quarter after netting two brilliant goals. While they were behind in ball possession, they made up for it in terms of pass accuracy. Their goalscorers were Lars Balk and Robbert Kemperman respectively. The second half of the encounter was about the Netherlands holding onto the lead and further dominate the game. The penultimate quarter brought more shock for the Canadian side. They were just no match to the Dutch and the latter slammed two more goals to stretch the lead to 4-0. The deal was sealed long back but ended the game with their fifth goal on Canada's goalpost. The Dutch, however, will face a litmus test against hosts and hot favourites India in the next clash on on December 13

Hockey World Cup: Netherlands beat Canada to face India in quarterfinals

Belgium thrashed Pakistan 5-0 in the third crossover match of the Hockey World Cup to qualify for the quarter-finals on Tuesday. With his loss, Pakistan's campaign at the men's hockey World Cup finally came to an end.&nbsp;

Staring the match as favourites, the Red Lions toyed with the Pakistani defence which somehow managed to hold on in the opening 10 minutes.&nbsp;

But soon, Belgium scored in each quarter with Alexander Hendrickx (10th minute), Thomas Briels (13th), Cédric Charlier (27th), Sébastien Dockier (35th) and Tom Boon (53rd) finding the target.&nbsp;

Down by four goals, Pakistan knew it was the end of the road for them. It was a one way thereafter as Belgium made all the forays and earned two more penalty corners in the process.&nbsp;

The last penalty corner resulted in a penalty stroke as the ball hit the body of a Pakistani defender and Boon made no mistake in converting the chance.

Belgium will now face Germany in the quarters. 
&nbsp;

Belgium thrashed Pakistan 5-0 in the third crossover match of the Hockey World Cup to qualify for the quarter-finals on Tuesday. With his loss, Pakistan's campaign at the men's hockey World Cup finally came to an end.

Belgium thrashed Pakistan 5-0 in the third crossover match of the Hockey World Cup to qualify for the quarter-finals on Tuesday. With his loss, Pakistan's campaign at the men's hockey World Cup finally came to an end. Staring the match as favourites, the Red Lions toyed with the Pakistani defence which somehow managed to hold on in the opening 10 minutes. But soon, Belgium scored in each quarter with Alexander Hendrickx (10th minute), Thomas Briels (13th), Cédric Charlier (27th), Sébastien Dockier (35th) and Tom Boon (53rd) finding the target. Down by four goals, Pakistan knew it was the end of the road for them. It was a one way thereafter as Belgium made all the forays and earned two more penalty corners in the process. The last penalty corner resulted in a penalty stroke as the ball hit the body of a Pakistani defender and Boon made no mistake in converting the chance. Belgium will now face Germany in the quarters.

Pakistan's Hockey WC campaign ends after crushing 0-5 defeat to Belgium

Expecting the Netherlands to be their quarterfinal opponents in the World Cup, India captain Manpreet Singh Tuesday said they will continue to play attacking hockey in a game where there will be no margin for error.

India's quarterfinal opponents will be decided later in the evening after the conclusion of the fourth cross-over match between world no. 4 Netherlands and Canada.

Like everyone else, Manpreet too expects the Dutch to sail into the last-eight round.

"We are expecting Holland to come through because they are a much better team. But whoever goes through our aim would be to give our best. It is a knockout, do-or-die match and there is no second chance. We can't afford to miss chances. At the same time, we need to be cautious and give less chances," the midfielder said.

"We need to play attacking hockey, our strength. When we try to play defensive, we tend to be too much defensive which provides more chances to opponents. We need to put pressure on them (from the start)," Manpreet explained.

The skipper said utilising chances would be crucial to success in the quarter-final.

"But it will be a very tough match and whichever team utilises its chances will win," he said.

"If you progress to the semi-finals you always have an option of finishing in the podium. You are just one match away from a medal. But if you lose in the quarterfinals, you don't get a second option.

"In the end it all boils down to how we play. If we get good chances and miss them and obviously the opposition team will take advantage of it," he added.

Manpreet listed out a series of dos and don'ts if they are pitted against three-time champions Netherlands.

"In the past we had good matches against Holland. In the Champions Trophy we drew with Holland. We have also defeated them in the past.

"Our aim would be to strengthen our defence. Holland has very good and experienced midfield. They also have good strikers. So, our aim would be to break their moves early. We can't give them easy chances and also need to convert our chances," he said.

Manpreet said the Hockey India League played a big part in the progress of the Indian team.

"Before HIL we didn't knew these players of Holland, Australia etc. But since HIL started we all know each other having played against them and shared the dressing room with them. The team has improved a lot after HIL," he said.

Manpreet didn't play the entire match against Canada in their last pool match because of fever but he has since recovered and will be a key figure in India's midfield on Thursday.

"I am fine now. In the last match I had fever so I couldn't play the full match. But I am feeling better now," he said.&nbsp;

Expecting the Netherlands to be their quarterfinal opponents in the World Cup, India captain Manpreet Singh Tuesday said they will continue to play attacking hockey in a game where there will be no margin for error.

Expecting the Netherlands to be their quarterfinal opponents in the World Cup, India captain Manpreet Singh Tuesday said they will continue to play attacking hockey in a game where there will be no margin for error. India's quarterfinal opponents will be decided later in the evening after the conclusion of the fourth cross-over match between world no. 4 Netherlands and Canada. Like everyone else, Manpreet too expects the Dutch to sail into the last-eight round. "We are expecting Holland to come through because they are a much better team. But whoever goes through our aim would be to give our best. It is a knockout, do-or-die match and there is no second chance. We can't afford to miss chances. At the same time, we need to be cautious and give less chances," the midfielder said. "We need to play attacking hockey, our strength. When we try to play defensive, we tend to be too much defensive which provides more chances to opponents. We need to put pressure on them (from the start)," Manpreet explained. The skipper said utilising chances would be crucial to success in the quarter-final. "But it will be a very tough match and whichever team utilises its chances will win," he said. "If you progress to the semi-finals you always have an option of finishing in the podium. You are just one match away from a medal. But if you lose in the quarterfinals, you don't get a second option. "In the end it all boils down to how we play. If we get good chances and miss them and obviously the opposition team will take advantage of it," he added. Manpreet listed out a series of dos and don'ts if they are pitted against three-time champions Netherlands. "In the past we had good matches against Holland. In the Champions Trophy we drew with Holland. We have also defeated them in the past. "Our aim would be to strengthen our defence. Holland has very good and experienced midfield. They also have good strikers. So, our aim would be to break their moves early. We can't give them easy chances and also need to convert our chances," he said. Manpreet said the Hockey India League played a big part in the progress of the Indian team. "Before HIL we didn't knew these players of Holland, Australia etc. But since HIL started we all know each other having played against them and shared the dressing room with them. The team has improved a lot after HIL," he said. Manpreet didn't play the entire match against Canada in their last pool match because of fever but he has since recovered and will be a key figure in India's midfield on Thursday. "I am fine now. In the last match I had fever so I couldn't play the full match. But I am feeling better now," he said.

Attacking hockey is India's strength and we will not deviate, says skipper Manpreet

France eked out a narrow 1-0 win over debutants China in the second cross-over match to advance to the quarterfinals of the men's hockey World Cup here on Monday.&nbsp;

The lone goal of the match came in the 36th minute from the stick of Timothee Clement.

France might be the lowest ranked team in the tournament at 20, but they had already shown the world that rankings hardly have any significance by stunning Olympic champions Argentina 5-3 in the pool stages.

France will face two-time defending champions and world number 1 Australia in the second quarterfinal on Wednesday.

The Frenchmen started on a bright note against world number 17 China and took the early initiative by earning four back-to-back penalty corners as early as in the second minute but wasted all the opportunities.

China made a subdued start to the game and allowed France to dominate the possession, relying mostly on their counter-attacking ability to stun their opponents.

In the 19th minute, a selfish play from Charles Masson denied France a great opportunity. After cutting inside the box from the right flank, Masson, instead of passing the ball to his teammate, went for glory and hit straight at the body of Chinese goalie Caiyu Wang from a tight angle.

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📽️ | Skipper <a href="https://twitter.com/CharletVictor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CharletVictor</a> believes the Chinese brought their A-game to the turf but <a href="https://twitter.com/FF_Hockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FF_Hockey</a> found spaces to dictate the game.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HWC2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HWC2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Odisha2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Odisha2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/TyQfx4GquR">pic.twitter.com/TyQfx4GquR</a>
— Hockey World Cup 2018 - Host Partner (@sports_odisha) <a href="https://twitter.com/sports_odisha/status/1072162985211191296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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China came close to scoring in the 21st minute but E Wenhui missed from close range after Ao Suozhu controlled a long ball over the French defence and made his way into the circle showcasing 3D skills.

Two minutes from half-time, France were unlucky as Etienne Tynevez's deflection from a Jean-Baptiste Forgues pass hit the crossbar.

In the never next move, the Chinese goalkeeper once again came to his side's rescue by keeping out Blaise Rogeau's reverse hit from the top of the box as the Frenchmen failed to break the 'Great Wall of China' in the opening two quarters.

China came out with more purpose after halftime and came tantalisingly close to breaking the deadlock in the 33rd minute but a sliding E Wenhui's deflection from Zixiang Guo pass was parried away by an alert France goalie Arthur Thieffry.

France finally broke the resolute Chinese defence in the 36th minute through Clement.

The move was started by Viktor Lockwood, who got to the baseline with a blazing run down the left flank and cut back to Maximilien Branicki in the centre.

Branicki unleashed a fierce reverse stick at the far post which was deflected by Clement into the net.

A minute later, China secured their first penalty corner of the match but failed to capitalise on it.

The third quarter witnessed three penalty corners -- one to France and two to China.

In a desperate need for a goal to take the match into a shoot-out, China pressed hard and earned two penalty corners in succession minutes away from full time but the French goalkeeper Thieffry was upto to the task on both occasions to keep a clean slate and ensure a last eight berth for his side.&nbsp;

France eked out a narrow 1-0 win over debutants China in the second cross-over match to advance to the quarterfinals of the men's hockey World Cup here on Monday.

France eked out a narrow 1-0 win over debutants China in the second cross-over match to advance to the quarterfinals of the men's hockey World Cup here on Monday. The lone goal of the match came in the 36th minute from the stick of Timothee Clement. France might be the lowest ranked team in the tournament at 20, but they had already shown the world that rankings hardly have any significance by stunning Olympic champions Argentina 5-3 in the pool stages. France will face two-time defending champions and world number 1 Australia in the second quarterfinal on Wednesday. The Frenchmen started on a bright note against world number 17 China and took the early initiative by earning four back-to-back penalty corners as early as in the second minute but wasted all the opportunities. China made a subdued start to the game and allowed France to dominate the possession, relying mostly on their counter-attacking ability to stun their opponents. In the 19th minute, a selfish play from Charles Masson denied France a great opportunity. After cutting inside the box from the right flank, Masson, instead of passing the ball to his teammate, went for glory and hit straight at the body of Chinese goalie Caiyu Wang from a tight angle. 📽️ | Skipper @CharletVictor believes the Chinese brought their A-game to the turf but @FF_Hockey found spaces to dictate the game.#HWC2018 #Odisha2018 pic.twitter.com/TyQfx4GquR — Hockey World Cup 2018 - Host Partner (@sports_odisha) December 10, 2018 × China came close to scoring in the 21st minute but E Wenhui missed from close range after Ao Suozhu controlled a long ball over the French defence and made his way into the circle showcasing 3D skills. Two minutes from half-time, France were unlucky as Etienne Tynevez's deflection from a Jean-Baptiste Forgues pass hit the crossbar. In the never next move, the Chinese goalkeeper once again came to his side's rescue by keeping out Blaise Rogeau's reverse hit from the top of the box as the Frenchmen failed to break the 'Great Wall of China' in the opening two quarters. China came out with more purpose after halftime and came tantalisingly close to breaking the deadlock in the 33rd minute but a sliding E Wenhui's deflection from Zixiang Guo pass was parried away by an alert France goalie Arthur Thieffry. France finally broke the resolute Chinese defence in the 36th minute through Clement. The move was started by Viktor Lockwood, who got to the baseline with a blazing run down the left flank and cut back to Maximilien Branicki in the centre. Branicki unleashed a fierce reverse stick at the far post which was deflected by Clement into the net. A minute later, China secured their first penalty corner of the match but failed to capitalise on it. The third quarter witnessed three penalty corners -- one to France and two to China. In a desperate need for a goal to take the match into a shoot-out, China pressed hard and earned two penalty corners in succession minutes away from full time but the French goalkeeper Thieffry was upto to the task on both occasions to keep a clean slate and ensure a last eight berth for his side.

Hockey WC: France struggle past China 1-0 to enter quarter-finals, to play Australia on Wednesday

Considered as the cornerstone of field hockey for so long, drag-flicks are fast becoming a "dying art" because of technological advancement of the game and experts feel it is time to infuse a new life to the scoring technique before it diminishes further.

The danger is lurking over the art even though it is still not on life support. With the usage of modern technology which includes video analysis, improved coaching methods and upgraded protective gears for first-rushers, scoring with a drag-flick is becoming more and more difficult nowadays.

A statistical assessment of the matches till the pool stages of the ongoing men's World Cup here will give a fair idea about the diminishing effect of penalty corner conversions.

A total&nbsp;of 167 penalty corners were earned by the 16 participating teams in the 24 matches played so far at the end of the pool stages of the World Cup. But the conversion rate provides a threatening picture.

Out of the 167 chances, only 40 resulted in goals, which put the conversion rate at a poor 23.95 per cent.

Ask former India captain Sandeep Singh, a lethal drag-flicker in his playing days, about the concern and he sums it up beautifully.

"It is getting tougher and tougher to score from drag-flicks nowadays because every team's defence has got smarter. With protective gears in place, the first runners are not afraid today to rush in and take a hit," Sandeep told PTI.

"But there are still some flickers like Gonzalo Peillat who can beat any defence with his power and accuracy. We need variations, variations in not just attempt but in flickers' attempts as well. I mean a flicker needs to use different angles, pace to keep the opposition defence guessing," he said.

But it is not a concern that came to fore overnight. The game is witnessing low conversion rate from penalty corners since the 2016 Rio Olympics and it is decreasing with every International Hockey Federation (FIH) event.

Argentina's Peillat, considered as the best drag-flicker of the world currently, feels "surprise element" is the need of the hour.

"It's all about how the other team defend. You cannot expect the flickers to score from every corner. Every drag-flicker tries to study the defence of other teams. You have to find a way how to beat the defence," he said.

"Every team is working on variations but every time you cannot go for variations or direct hit. You have to play with both the styles. It has to be a mix and match to keep the opposition defence guessing. You need to have surprise element," Peillt said in his assessment.

Two-time defending champions Australia has so far earned 15 penalty corners and converted just five.

Australia chief coach Colin Batch said the ever-increasing decline in conversion rate is a cause of concern.

"Yeah, it is a concern. It is getting harder and harder to score from short corners. The defence are very good now. We need to get the push out really quick to give our flickers the best opportunity," Batch said.

India's analytical coach Chris Ciriello, who was a potent drag-flicker for Australia and scored three goals in the final of the last World Cup in 2014, said the use of varied types of protective gears have made defenders fearless now while defending penalty corners.

"Defending a penalty corner is safe now because of different equipments. The guys wear ice hockey gloves, thicker knee pads and shin pads. So the risk of injuries have subsided and the rushers have become fearless," Ciriello said.

But all said and done, the experts are of one opinion while giving their concluding remarks&nbsp;drag-flicks still and will remain a key component of field hockey but the execution of the art need to change with time.

Considered as the cornerstone of field hockey for so long, drag-flicks are fast becoming a "dying art" because of technological advancement of the game and experts feel it is time to infuse a new life to the scoring technique before it diminishes further.

Considered as the cornerstone of field hockey for so long, drag-flicks are fast becoming a "dying art" because of technological advancement of the game and experts feel it is time to infuse a new life to the scoring technique before it diminishes further. The danger is lurking over the art even though it is still not on life support. With the usage of modern technology which includes video analysis, improved coaching methods and upgraded protective gears for first-rushers, scoring with a drag-flick is becoming more and more difficult nowadays. A statistical assessment of the matches till the pool stages of the ongoing men's World Cup here will give a fair idea about the diminishing effect of penalty corner conversions. A total of 167 penalty corners were earned by the 16 participating teams in the 24 matches played so far at the end of the pool stages of the World Cup. But the conversion rate provides a threatening picture. Out of the 167 chances, only 40 resulted in goals, which put the conversion rate at a poor 23.95 per cent. Ask former India captain Sandeep Singh, a lethal drag-flicker in his playing days, about the concern and he sums it up beautifully. "It is getting tougher and tougher to score from drag-flicks nowadays because every team's defence has got smarter. With protective gears in place, the first runners are not afraid today to rush in and take a hit," Sandeep told PTI. "But there are still some flickers like Gonzalo Peillat who can beat any defence with his power and accuracy. We need variations, variations in not just attempt but in flickers' attempts as well. I mean a flicker needs to use different angles, pace to keep the opposition defence guessing," he said. But it is not a concern that came to fore overnight. The game is witnessing low conversion rate from penalty corners since the 2016 Rio Olympics and it is decreasing with every International Hockey Federation (FIH) event. Argentina's Peillat, considered as the best drag-flicker of the world currently, feels "surprise element" is the need of the hour. "It's all about how the other team defend. You cannot expect the flickers to score from every corner. Every drag-flicker tries to study the defence of other teams. You have to find a way how to beat the defence," he said. "Every team is working on variations but every time you cannot go for variations or direct hit. You have to play with both the styles. It has to be a mix and match to keep the opposition defence guessing. You need to have surprise element," Peillt said in his assessment. Two-time defending champions Australia has so far earned 15 penalty corners and converted just five. Australia chief coach Colin Batch said the ever-increasing decline in conversion rate is a cause of concern. "Yeah, it is a concern. It is getting harder and harder to score from short corners. The defence are very good now. We need to get the push out really quick to give our flickers the best opportunity," Batch said. India's analytical coach Chris Ciriello, who was a potent drag-flicker for Australia and scored three goals in the final of the last World Cup in 2014, said the use of varied types of protective gears have made defenders fearless now while defending penalty corners. "Defending a penalty corner is safe now because of different equipments. The guys wear ice hockey gloves, thicker knee pads and shin pads. So the risk of injuries have subsided and the rushers have become fearless," Ciriello said. But all said and done, the experts are of one opinion while giving their concluding remarks drag-flicks still and will remain a key component of field hockey but the execution of the art need to change with time.

Is drag-flick a dying art in field hockey?

England defeated New Zealand 2-0 in the first crossover of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/hockey-world-cup">Men's Hockey World Cup 2018</a> on Monday at Odisha's Kalinga Stadium.

England will meet Argentina in the first quarter-final which is scheduled to happen on December 12.

England dominated the majority of the game but a big shout out for New Zealand's goalkeeper Richard Joyce as he made several brilliant saves in the game.

Will Calnan scored England's first goal with a perfect-mid-air deflection. Phil Roper pushed the ball from the left corner and set a perfect chance at the goalmouth for Calnan, which he scored without making any mistake.

Liam Sanford was given the player of the match for his tremendous effort in England's victory.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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FT: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 2-0 🇳🇿 
Into the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HWC2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HWC2018</a> quarter-finals we go! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThePride?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThePride</a> 🦁 <a href="https://t.co/ynhazD3xWC">pic.twitter.com/ynhazD3xWC</a>
— England Hockey (@EnglandHockey) <a href="https://twitter.com/EnglandHockey/status/1072109066267385857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The move was initiated by Liam Sanford then Phil Roper pushed it and Calnan timed it directly into the goal.

The second goal was scored by Luke Taylor in the concluding minutes of the third quarter.

Taylor scored after a penalty corner rebounded off and he grabbed the opportunity to extend the lead to 2-0.

England defeated New Zealand 2-0 in the first crossover of the Men's Hockey World Cup 2018 on Monday at Odisha's Kalinga Stadium. England will meet Argentina in the first quarter-final which is scheduled to happen on December 12.

England defeated New Zealand 2-0 in the first crossover of the Men's Hockey World Cup 2018 on Monday at Odisha's Kalinga Stadium. England will meet Argentina in the first quarter-final which is scheduled to happen on December 12. England dominated the majority of the game but a big shout out for New Zealand's goalkeeper Richard Joyce as he made several brilliant saves in the game. Will Calnan scored England's first goal with a perfect-mid-air deflection. Phil Roper pushed the ball from the left corner and set a perfect chance at the goalmouth for Calnan, which he scored without making any mistake. Liam Sanford was given the player of the match for his tremendous effort in England's victory. FT: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 2-0 🇳🇿 Into the #HWC2018 quarter-finals we go! #ThePride 🦁 pic.twitter.com/ynhazD3xWC — England Hockey (@EnglandHockey) December 10, 2018 × The move was initiated by Liam Sanford then Phil Roper pushed it and Calnan timed it directly into the goal. The second goal was scored by Luke Taylor in the concluding minutes of the third quarter. Taylor scored after a penalty corner rebounded off and he grabbed the opportunity to extend the lead to 2-0.

Hockey World Cup: England defeat New Zealand to face Argentina in quarter-final

Chief India coach Harendra Singh on Saturday said for him the pool matches were a four-nation event and the real World Cup begins now after the hosts grabbed a direct entry into the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/hockey-world-cup-india-maul-canada-5-1-to-book-quarte-final-berth-182506">quarter-final with a 5-1 thrashing of Canada</a>.

India topped Pool C with seven points on account of a better goal difference than Olympic silver medallist Belgium and will play their quarter-final game on December 13.&nbsp;

"Those who have visited my room know I have already written who we will play in the quarter-finals and who in the semifinals. For me a four-nation tournament has finished and the World Cup starts now," Harendra said.&nbsp;

"From quarter-finals, you can smell a medal. The actual tournament starts with the next game."&nbsp;

Harendra said India were guilty of running too much with the ball in search of goals in the opening two quarters.&nbsp;

"We are missing in the final pass, we were running for goals. We have to wait for our moment, can't rush towards the ball. I think the first half, we did too much running," he said.

"We were too much in a hurry. We were lacking in the final execution. I think we have to throw out the childish instinct."

He, however, rued the fact that India failed to keep a clean slate.

"We were running for the ball. I want the players to tackle irrespective of their position. We failed to keep a clean-sheet and I feel bad about it," Harendra said.&nbsp;

"By conceding you give away the momentum to opponents. It puts pressure on the (future) opponents when they see the team has kept a clean sheet.

"This team doesn't look into any other team's bedroom. Our target was 6-0, we won 5-1. This team is working on that for the last 4-5 years. We have a target and we know if we achieve that we will reach where we want to," he added.

Despite leading 5-1, India removed goalkeeper PR Sreejesh for a kicking back with three minutes remaining and Harendra said it was a premeditated tactic.

"I should have done (removed goalkeeper) 3 minutes ago. It was decided that in the 8th minute we will remove, but we missed that somehow. Irrespective of the result, we had decided we will take out the keeper (shortly before the end)," he said.

The coach informed that skipper Manpreet Singh didn't play the full match as he was unwell.&nbsp;

"We knew Manpreet was having cough and sore throat. We could not use him for the entire match. So, we had one less midfielder. That's why Lalit's (Upadhyay) role changed. I pulled Lalit back a little," Harendra said.&nbsp;

Man-of-the-match Lalit, who scored two goals on Saturday, said their main focus was to maintain the structure.&nbsp;

"As the coach told us, our structure and energy should be the focus. We were going all out. He (coach) knows each and every player, how to use them. He wants us to play fearlessly," he said.

Chief India coach Harendra Singh on Saturday said for him the pool matches were a four-nation event and the real World Cup begins now after the hosts grabbed a direct entry into the quarter-final with a 5-1 thrashing of Canada.

Chief India coach Harendra Singh on Saturday said for him the pool matches were a four-nation event and the real World Cup begins now after the hosts grabbed a direct entry into the quarter-final with a 5-1 thrashing of Canada. India topped Pool C with seven points on account of a better goal difference than Olympic silver medallist Belgium and will play their quarter-final game on December 13. "Those who have visited my room know I have already written who we will play in the quarter-finals and who in the semifinals. For me a four-nation tournament has finished and the World Cup starts now," Harendra said. "From quarter-finals, you can smell a medal. The actual tournament starts with the next game." Harendra said India were guilty of running too much with the ball in search of goals in the opening two quarters. "We are missing in the final pass, we were running for goals. We have to wait for our moment, can't rush towards the ball. I think the first half, we did too much running," he said. "We were too much in a hurry. We were lacking in the final execution. I think we have to throw out the childish instinct." He, however, rued the fact that India failed to keep a clean slate. "We were running for the ball. I want the players to tackle irrespective of their position. We failed to keep a clean-sheet and I feel bad about it," Harendra said. "By conceding you give away the momentum to opponents. It puts pressure on the (future) opponents when they see the team has kept a clean sheet. "This team doesn't look into any other team's bedroom. Our target was 6-0, we won 5-1. This team is working on that for the last 4-5 years. We have a target and we know if we achieve that we will reach where we want to," he added. Despite leading 5-1, India removed goalkeeper PR Sreejesh for a kicking back with three minutes remaining and Harendra said it was a premeditated tactic. "I should have done (removed goalkeeper) 3 minutes ago. It was decided that in the 8th minute we will remove, but we missed that somehow. Irrespective of the result, we had decided we will take out the keeper (shortly before the end)," he said. The coach informed that skipper Manpreet Singh didn't play the full match as he was unwell. "We knew Manpreet was having cough and sore throat. We could not use him for the entire match. So, we had one less midfielder. That's why Lalit's (Upadhyay) role changed. I pulled Lalit back a little," Harendra said. Man-of-the-match Lalit, who scored two goals on Saturday, said their main focus was to maintain the structure. "As the coach told us, our structure and energy should be the focus. We were going all out. He (coach) knows each and every player, how to use them. He wants us to play fearlessly," he said.

Our World Cup begins now, says India coach after sealing QF berth

Pakistan lost a must-win match to the Netherlands at the Hockey World Cup 2018 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.

The clinical Dutch side beat Green Shirts 5-1 to finish 2nd in Group D. However, Pakistan has still made the crossover, having finished 3rd.

India will face the winner of the crossover between Netherlands &amp; Canada, while Germany face the winner of Belgium &amp; Pakistan in quarter-finals.

According to the current standings of Pool D, Pakistan’s goal difference is -1 whereas Malaysia’s goal difference is -6.

Pakistan have won five times (including a shootout), while Netherlands have won thrice and two games have ended in a draw.

Netherlands, currently ranked fourth in the world, thumped Malaysia 7-0 in their opening game while Pakistan, ranked 13, went down fighting 0-1 to Germany.

The men in green were held by Malaysia 1-1 in their next game, while Netherlands were beaten 4-1 by Germany.

Captain Mohammad Rizwan Senior has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to a fractured finger. He will be replaced by Arslan Qadir.

Pakistan lost a must-win match to the Netherlands at the Hockey World Cup 2018 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Sunday. The clinical Dutch side beat Green Shirts 5-1 to finish 2nd in Group D.

Pakistan lost a must-win match to the Netherlands at the Hockey World Cup 2018 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Sunday. The clinical Dutch side beat Green Shirts 5-1 to finish 2nd in Group D. However, Pakistan has still made the crossover, having finished 3rd. India will face the winner of the crossover between Netherlands & Canada, while Germany face the winner of Belgium & Pakistan in quarter-finals. According to the current standings of Pool D, Pakistan’s goal difference is -1 whereas Malaysia’s goal difference is -6. Pakistan have won five times (including a shootout), while Netherlands have won thrice and two games have ended in a draw. Netherlands, currently ranked fourth in the world, thumped Malaysia 7-0 in their opening game while Pakistan, ranked 13, went down fighting 0-1 to Germany. The men in green were held by Malaysia 1-1 in their next game, while Netherlands were beaten 4-1 by Germany. Captain Mohammad Rizwan Senior has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to a fractured finger. He will be replaced by Arslan Qadir.

Hockey World Cup: Netherlands thrash Pakistan 5–1

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