Having lost seven-out-of-eight games in their FIH Pro League trip to Europe reflects poorly on an Indian team that has bagged back-to-back bronze medals at the prestigious Olympic Games. 

Worse still, conceding as many as 26 goals en route, is in stark contrast to chief coach Craig Fulton’s well publicised defend-to-win strategy, because clearly, it is defensive lapses that have cost Harmanpreet Singh’s Men in Blue this time. And a 4-3 win in their final outing, against Belgium on Sunday, hardly makes up for this poor show on the road. 

Forwards have done well

While India’s attacking midfielders and forwards like Hardik Singh, Dilpreet Singh and Abhishek have been, both creative and aggressive in the opposition circle, the defence has faltered time and again.