Hockey World Cup: India's semifinal hopes end after 1-3 loss to Netherlands

India’s men's hockey team fell short of advancing to the semifinals of the FIH World Cup after suffering a 1-3 defeat to the Netherlands in their second-round match on Saturday. The loss effectively ends their hopes of progressing further in the tournament, despite a valiant effort in the early stages of the game. The Dutch, reigning Olympic champions, secured their spot in the semifinals with a composed performance, scoring twice in the final 10 minutes to seal the result. India had entered the match needing a win to stay in contention for the semifinals, having already lost to England in the first round. A draw or a win against Argentina in their upcoming second-round fixture would have given them three points, but even that would not be sufficient to qualify for the last four. Instead, the team will now compete in the fifth-eighth place classification matches following their final group-stage encounter against Argentina on Monday. The match began with India asserting dominance in the opening half, controlling possession and limiting the Dutch to few clear opportunities. The Indian defense was particularly effective, thwarting several attempts by the Netherlands to build sustained attacks. In the third minute, India created a promising chance when Rajinder Singh received a pass from Hardik Singh and advanced toward the Dutch circle, though the move was swiftly neutralized by the defenders. Five minutes later, another opportunity arose when Rajinder Singh was in possession, but again, the Dutch managed to repel the threat. Despite India’s efforts, the Netherlands struggled to convert their early chances. In the 11th minute, Thijs van Dam attempted a reverse hit from a left-side pass but failed to connect properly. The Dutch earned their first penalty corner in the 13th minute, but Jip Janssen’s drag-flick was denied by Indian goalkeeper Manpreet Singh, who made a crucial rushing block. The Netherlands then dominated the next few minutes, earning three penalty corners within the first minute of the second quarter but failing to capitalize on any of them. India also posed a threat on the counterattack, with Dilpreet Singh coming close to scoring in the 24th minute. His shot was blocked by Dutch goalkeeper Meijer Derk, and although Rajinder Singh had a chance to follow up, the Indian team could not convert the opportunity. Neither side managed to score before halftime, leaving the scoreline at 0-0. The momentum shifted in the second half as the Netherlands broke the deadlock in the 41st minute. A defensive lapse allowed Tijman Reyanga to receive the ball inside the circle, and his shot deflected off Duco Telgenkamp’s stick before finding the net. Indian goalkeeper Mohit had little chance to stop the goal. India responded quickly, earning a penalty corner but failing to convert Harmanpreet Singh’s drag-flick, which was saved by the Dutch keeper. The Netherlands extended their lead in the 51st minute when Tjep Hoedemakers scored from a field goal, capitalizing on India’s inability to maintain defensive cohesion. Just five minutes later, Thijs van Dam added a third goal, sealing the outcome. Despite these setbacks, India fought hard throughout the match, with captain Harmanpreet Singh scoring the lone goal in the 52nd minute from a penalty corner. However, the damage had already been done, and the result confirmed India’s exit from the semifinal race. The loss marks yet another defeat for India against the Netherlands in major tournaments, with the Dutch having previously eliminated them in the 1973 World Cup final via a penalty shootout. With the tournament format favoring teams that secure wins in the group stage, India’s path forward now lies in the lower-tier classification matches, where they will face Argentina in their final group game on Monday. The outcome of that match, along with results involving other teams, will determine India’s placement in the final standings.