Women Hockey World Cup: Can India women hockey team qualify for quarterfinals?: It has been a disappointing show by India in the first two matches of the Women Hockey World Cup. After draw against England and China, India’s direct route to the quarterfinal has become complicated. Savita Punia and co need to win the India vs New Zealand game and the result of China vs England also need to go in their favour.
India have been better defensively, but their game in front of goals has been found wanting. They have not been able to score much in the World Cup. They have just managed one each against England and China with Vandana Katariya scoring both.
But, India need to get their A game going against New Zealand, who currently top Pool B. If New Zealand manage to beat India, the former will automatically reach the quarterfinal directly. A loss for India could be catastrophic as they would be on two points. In order to finish in second or third place, which can help them secure a place in the crossovers for the quarterfinals, India need China to beat England.
Format to qualify for quarterfinal
- Only one team from four pools can reach quarterfinals directly
- Pool toppers are the only automatic entrant to last eight
- Teams finishing in second and third place in group gets one more chance to qualify for the crossovers
- Fourth team in eliminated
- Eight teams in cross overs, two from each group, will be involved in four knockout matches for four remaining slots in quarterfinals
Things are going to be a whole lot simple if India beat New Zealand. They will finish on five points. And if England beat China, India will top the group and can directly qualify for the quarterfinals. However, if China emerge victorious, they will be tied on points with India and it is goal difference, which will decide the table topper. At present China are ahead of India in goal difference.
Follow InsideSport on GOOGLE NEWS
Editors pick
