Desperate to be No.7

When India take on Argentina on Friday,they will not only be seeking their best-ever finish in the World Cup since 1994,but will also be hoping...

When India take on Argentina on Friday,they will not only be seeking their best-ever finish in the World Cup since 1994,but will also be hoping to record a win their first World Cup match against the Pan-American powerhouses,whom they had beat 4-1 in penalty strokes in that Sydney edition.

India are desperate for a win for more than one reason. It will help them finish seventh,a jump of four spots from their previous standing in 2006. It will also reaffirm coach Jose Brasas faith in his bunch of players he considers among the most talented in the world. Most importantly,it will revive the hope that Indian hockey is,despite the results,on an upward curve.

But it wont be easy for the hosts,who do not enjoy a great record against Argentina. Despite the relative lack of hype around them,Argentina have an impressive 4-2 win record against India in World Cups,with one drawn match. They were also responsible for ending Indian hopes of finishing in the top 10 in 2006,winning 3-2 in the playoff for the 9-12 positions.

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With a shaky defence and a misfiring attack,India have their hands full against a team who prefer taking an early lead and then packing the defence. That strategy will be Indias concern,who have repeatedly let in early,soft goals.

The run the two teams have had in the tournament could not have been more different. India started with a bang but kept repeating their defensive errors and finishing failures inside the circle. Argentina,on the other hand,lost their first three games but won the next two,progressively improving with every match. With a tight man-to-man marking and solid defence,the Argentines will be looking to yield no space.

Argentina will be a tough team. They have been in a similar position as us in the other group,playing some close games and fighting till the end, coach Brasa said.

The key to Indias success will be the midfield yet again. Not only will it have to create goals but,perhaps,also try and score them,given that the designated strikeforce has,with the exception of Shivendra Singh,come a cropper. The only similarity between the teams is their inability to capitalise on their penalty corners.

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India can take heart from their most recent performance against their opponents the Champions Challenge in Salta where they came back from being 2-1 down to winning 3-2. On Friday,Brasa will hope for an encore.

Live on Ten Sports 6:05 pm