Hockey World Cup 2026: Had our chances but didn’t take them, says India coach Fulton after England loss

FILE PHOTO: With India’s goal difference dented, coach Craig Fulton will hope his team can find the right motivation for the game against Pakistan. | Photo Credit: R V Moorthy

Indian men’s team head coach Craig Fulton lamented his side’s missed opportunities and its poor defensive display in the 4-2 defeat to England in a Pool D World Cup game here on Monday.

Its defensive vulnerabilities once again came to the fore through Nicholas Bandurak’s opening goal and Henry Croft’s go-ahead strike. The four goals from England took the number of goals conceded by India to 44 in 18 games this year. But this was the first time it conceded four goals or more since the Rourkela leg of the Pro League, where it shipped 19 in four.

“The first half was good, but we got caught out on the counter attack [Bandurak’s goal] and we came back nicely with a bit of control. In the third quarter, we still had some big moments in the game that we didn’t take. Unfortunately, our defence didn’t do as well as we had hoped. But they are a good team and they played like a world no. 3 team,” Fulton said after the game.

Midfielder Manpreet Singh, also, echoed the coach’s sentiment. “Overall, the performance was very good. In such matches, it is important that whenever you play with a good team, you keep your defense strong. And whenever you get an opportunity, you convert it into a goal,” said India’s most-capped international.

READ | Qualification scenarios: How can India advance after England loss?

There has been a lot of attention over India’s lack of goals from field play in recent times, but India managed one through Dilpreet Singh after a good combination play by Hardik Singh and Abhishek Nain.

However, India’s goal difference has now been dented and Fulton will hope his team can find the right motivation for the game against Pakistan. A win there will take India through to the second round.

“We had our chances and didn’t take them. The second goal was nice, but we need to score more than three goals now [vs Pakistan]. We need to come out firing against Pakistan and the boys will be motivated. We have to do the job in the third game. We have to be better on the ball in the final third and bring a bit of composure,” said the South African.