India will face New Zealand in a crossovers match to advance to the quarter-finals. The match is scheduled for January 22nd.
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The FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 group stage concluded on Friday. The top four teams in each Pool advanced to the quarter-finals. The remaining eight teams—the second and third-placed teams from each group—will compete in four crossover matches on January 22 and 23 to determine the remaining four quarter-finalists. After defeating Wales, India will face New Zealand in a crossovers match to advance to the quarter-finals. The match is scheduled for January 22nd. India and New Zealand have played each other 44 times. India leads the head-to-head record with 24 triumphs to New Zealand’s 15, with five games ending in draws.
Harmanpreet Singh and the company face a team that has struggled to find its feet during the group rounds. New Zealand has plainly failed to score after receiving the ball close to the goal throughout the competition. Greg Nicol’s team had to work hard to win against Chile 3-1 before succumbing to an 0-4 setback against the Netherlands. The Black Sticks had multiple chances against Malaysia, but poor finishing allowed the Asian Tigers to win 3-2. Kane Russell’s famous drag-flick talents have yet to be seen at the 2023 Hockey World Cup, despite the fact that New Zealand failed to convert any of their PCs in their first two games against Chile and the Netherlands.
In terms of the Indians, Harmanpreet Singh has been off target with his short corners, even as most teams are still coming to terms with the tournament’s great PC defence. Hardik Singh, who injured his hamstring against England, has been replaced by Raj Kumar Pal, while Connor Greentree has taken the place of the injured Jake Smith ahead of New Zealand’s game against the Netherlands. The Indians will be under pressure to capitalise on their home edge in front of a noisy Odisha crowd.
India leads the entire head-to-head series 24-15, with both teams drawing five times since their first meeting at the Rome Olympics in 1960.
The match will be live on Star Sports First, Star Sports Select 2 HD, Star Sports Select 2 SD, and on the Disney + Hotstar App across the Star Sports Network from 7:00 pm IST.
So far in The Hockey World Cup, Akashdeep Singh has been India’s top attacker. His pace against Wales proved decisive in the match. Akashdeep has been in excellent form since making his comeback last year in a five-match Test series against Australia. He has continued his outstanding form in this tournament. The veteran Blair Tarrant will be the most difficult test for Akashdeep and the Indian forward line in general against New Zealand. Akashdeep will have to overwhelm or dodge the Black Sticks defender when he attempts to enter the circle or take a shot.
India
Abhishek, Surender Kumar, Manpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, Krishan Pathak, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, PR Sreejesh, Nilakanta Sharma, Shamsher Singh, Varun Kumar, Akashdeep Singh, Amit Rohidas, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Sukhjeet Singh
New Zealand
Dom Dixon, Dane Lett, Simon Child, Nick Ross, Sam Hiha, Kim Kingston, Jake Smith, Sam Lane, Simon Yorston, Aidan Sarikaya, Nic Woods, Joe Morrison, Leon Hayward, Kane Russell, Blair Tarrant, Sean Findlay, Hayden Phillips, Charlie Morrison
FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2023: How to watch, schedule, participating nations, groups and more
