PARIS: "We have played two top teams in the group stage, Belgium and Australia. This will help us in the knockouts," India's South African coach Craig Fulton had said. It surely did. The fighting win over Great Britain on Sunday showed the desire, the passion of this Indian hockey team. It showed that this bunch is not only skillful and fit, but these men are also mentally tough as nails.
India will take on Germany in the semifinals at the Yves du-Manoir Stadium on Tuesday. It looked highly unlikely when Amit Rohidas was shown the red with 43 minutes still to play against Great Britain. The Indians scored a famous win, rarely seen in international hockey. It is tough to play with 10 men for almost three quarters, in a game which is played at breakneck speed on a wet artificial turf and is very hard on the knees.
