Chennai: India’s chief coach PR Sreejesh feels his side failed to execute its plans and committed silly mistakes, which cost it dearly against seven-time champions and title holders Germany in the semifinal of the FIH Men’s Junior World Cup here on Sunday.
India, who won the title last time in Lucknow in 2016, were hammered 1-5 by the mighty Germans.
India will now play Argentina in the bronze-medal match on Wednesday, while Germany will be up against Spain in the title clash.
Sreejesh highlighted that India’s failure to execute their plans and committing unnecessary errors led to their downfall. “We didn’t play well, that’s it. We gave them easy opportunities, silly mistakes, conceded goals and it is quite hard for these guys after conceding easy goals in a Junior World Cup semifinal,” he stated. The coach emphasised that failing to implement strategies made it easier for Germany to dominate.
The coach stressed the importance of collective effort in both defence and attack. He noted that India struggled to convert chances while allowing Germany easy opportunities to score. “It’s all about collective effort. You need to defend well first and then you need to attack and create opportunities,” Sreejesh explained. He urged his players to focus on preventing easy goals in future matches.
In high-pressure games like semifinals, Sreejesh pointed out that there is no room for mistakes. “We can’t commit easy, silly mistakes. You can’t give them space and that’s really important,” he said. He advised his players not to let opponents penetrate the centre, which was a significant issue against Germany.
Sreejesh also mentioned the mental aspect of playing in semifinals, where conceding goals and making errors can increase pressure on players. He encouraged his team to play their unique style rather than imitating others. “I just want my players to play our game, we can’t copy-paste,” he remarked, adding that sticking to their own style would make it harder for opponents to match them.
Despite the setback, Sreejesh remains hopeful about securing a medal in the tournament. “There is one more match left which can help you to win at least one medal and that is really important other than crying about today’s match,” he concluded. Winning a medal would be crucial for the team as returning without one would be more disheartening.
