We are improving with each game: Nobbs

Indian men’s hockey team coach Michael Nobbs was happy with the clinical performance against France here Tuesday and said a different game will be played Wednesday against Canada in the 2012 London Olympics qualifiers.

“It was almost perfect and a clinical performance, I am happy. It is roughly the score I was looking for before the match. Of course we could have scored more goals, we had more opportunities and we need to be more thorough in finishing the goals,” Nobbs told reporters after India beat France 6-2.

Nobbs said India were improving with every match and have also cut down the number of errors.

“We are improving with each game, we are forcing the opponents in committing errors and cutting down on our unforced errors. Every match is important for us and we need to win all of them, if we don’t win, we don’t go to London,” he added.

Nobbs also said that he was happy with the pace of the team.

“We are playing a very pacy game and we have maintained the pace all through out the match, infact we have looked to raise the tempo when necessary midway in the match,” he said.

Nobbs said in 18 months he will have a sensational team.

“I have started coaching just for the last six months, we have a very young bunch of players and I know in 18 months time we will be a sensational team,” he said.

Indian women’s hockey coach C.R. Kumar Tuesday was happy with the team’s 3-0 win over Poland but was concerned at the team not earning enough penalty corners.

“We are getting better with each match and with this win we have reached the top of the table and I am happy with the efforts of the girls. A 3-0 is a satisfying result, of course we could have scored more but they outnumbered our forwards inside the circle,” said Kumar at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

India earned just two penalty corners against Poland and failed to convert both.

A worried Kumar said: “We are more balanced in the attack, we are trying to penetrate from all avenues. But the penalty corners remains an area of concern, we are not earning enough penalty corners and not even converting them. We need to work on this area.”

Kumar said India’s unbeaten run in the tournament will give them the much needed boost when they face tournament favourites and World No.12 South Africa here Wednesday.

“South Africa is a very good team and we are naturally looking for a win. It will give us a psychological boost. We are looking forward to the match and trying to keep all options open. We have to be as unpredictable as possible before crucial matches,” he said.

Kumar also said that forward Anuradha Devi Thokchom, who suffered a hamstring pull against Canada, will be out for the next two matches.

“Anuradha may be available for the last game but the physio said she is out at least for the next two matches. It is not a big problem because we have back up for her but she is a very good striker and she obviously if she is there she would have some influence on the game,” he said.