New Delhi: India will face a tough challenge in their third match of the Olympic Qualifiers when they take on France on Tuesday at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, here. France who won both their previous matches just like India would give a tough challenge and look to derail the host.
Indian strikers had an easy outing against Singapore in their first match as they scored 15 goals, France did the same. They scored nine goals against the same opposition on Sunday with Martin Genestet pumping five out of the tally.
India will fancy their chances against the 18th ranked team but the fact would be doing rounds in their minds that they would to play exceptionally well and it won’t be as easy as their previous outing in the tournament. Indians did most of the things right in their match against Italy as their drag-flickers came to party and converted 4 out of five chances that they got.
Indian stand-in captain Sardar Singh said, “We knew that the first two matches were going to be easy. The challenge will begin from the France match as we know that it will be a difficult team to beat. After France we play Canada and Poland and the real challenge begins now.”
India also look to have all the areas covered as both their strikers and drag-flickers look to be in rhythm.
France Hockey team last participated in the Olympics way back in 1972 in the Munich Olympics. They would be looking to change that and upset the in-form Indian team.
By Indian Sports News
