India chief coach Rajinder Singh is a crestfallen man. Not because his much-hyped team suffered its third defeat in the Champions Trophy, but because it succumbed so meekly.
"What pains is the way we lost those matches," Singh told rediff.com on telephone from Amsterdam, Holland, on Thursday night. "There was no passion in the boys' play.
"In the forward line there was no lightning; physically, they had nothing to show," moaned the former Olympian who has fond memories of the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, near Amsterdam, venue of the current tournament. This was the same stadium where Rajinder Singh scored a hat-trick to help India beat Pakistan 5-4 in the fourth edition of the Champions Trophy way back in 1982.
The coach, however, refused to single anyone out for blame. "I won't say the defence or midfield played badly," he said. "Rather, I would say we all are responsible for what has happened; everyone, even myself." Then he hastened to add, "Except the goalkeeper [Devesh Chauhan]."
When reminded that the forward line has not been able to force as many penalty corners as it used to in the recent past, Singh said, "Yes, I must say our forward line was just not there; they failed to deliver. What can the midfield or defence do when upfront the forwards are not able to make a single good move?
"I won't say [captain] Dhanraj [Pillay] didn't play well or [Baljit Singh] Dhillon was no good. All I can say is the forwards just did not perform."
So what could the reason be for their sloppy showing?
"I don't know," the coach admitted. "Maybe they [the boys] peaked a bit early and are tired now. I fail to understand why they are unable to get going."
Asked if he shouldn't have tried his bench strength when the seniors failed to perform, he shot back: "It's not a matter of bench strength; the team just failed to function. It did not happen in just one match; all the matches we failed to play like a team... like we did in practice and in Australia and Hamburg."
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India now has just one match left in the league phase, against arch-rivals Pakistan on Friday, August 22. While this match can do nothing for India's medal chances, a lot of prestige still rides on a game against Pakistan.
"I am praying that we win this one at least," the coach said. "Then we will have something to show. Winning against Pakistan is always special and I hope we beat them.
"I have told the boys to forget what has happened and give it their best. At least then I will have something to be happy about."
Indeed, Rajinder Singh has never had it so bad. Since he became a national coach, he has always enjoyed some measure of success at tournaments abroad. He guided the junior team to the World Cup in 2001 and since taking over the senior team has seen it win tournaments in Sydney and Hamburg.
"Yes, it's a big disappointment for me," he admitted. "This is the first time I'll be returning with such a bad show. I am feeling very low. Let us hope we beat Pakistan and then try and finish among the top five."
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