India’s hopes of making it to the semi-finals of the men’s hockey World Cup 2026 is all but over as Netherlands delivered heartbreak again for them. The reigning Olympic champions beat Craig Fulton’s side 3-1 to put India almost on the verge of exiting from medal contention.

Goals from Duco Telgenkamp, Tjep Hoedemaekers and Thjis van Dam ensured that the home team made it to the semi-finals of the World Cup. India got a goal back through captain Harmanpreet Singh, and showed a lot of heart and quality for most of the first three quarters.

INDIA VS NETHERLANDS HIGHLIGHTS

But once the Dutch found a way to break through the defence, the game quickly unravelled for India. Adding to this, captain Harmanpreet spent most of the time trying to nurse a back issue and in the dugout.

For India, they will get some confidence that Argentina were able to England 3-1. But they will have a mountain to climb on Monday, August 24, when they face Argentina in the final group game and will have to hope for a favour from Netherlands.

INDIA SHOW DEFIANCE AND RESISTANCE

Before India went onto the field, they knew what needed to be done. Their main mission was to not just keep Netherlands at bay, but also silence the crowd at the Wagener stadium. They had some cricketing royalty to help with that as former India coach Rahul Dravid was present alongside Steve Waugh to watch the match.

Dravid was known for his defiance at times in Test cricket to defend and put the opposition to submission. And right from the start, it felt like the Indian had embodied the spirit of the Wall of Indian cricket in their game.

But instead of sitting back, it was India who applied all the pressure early on. Right from the get-go, India’s ball distribution and attacking intent was evident for everyone inside the stadium.

Within the seventh minute, India had possession of close to 78 percent, but were struggling to find a way through the Dutch defence and into the D.

Netherlands gave some warning signs and earned the first set of PCs of the game. If anyone needed to see how penalty corners are defended, then Manpreet Singh was putting on a clinic at that point in Amstelveen.

He rushed three times and defended sensationally well to leave Jip Jansen looking for answers up in heaven. By the end of the first quarter, India had done well to reduce the party atmosphere inside the stadium.

In the second quarter, the silence started to keep on growing and slowly turned into irritation, with the home crowd even booing some of the decisions that weren’t going their way.

India almost piled on to it as Dilpreet Singh had a golden chance in the 24th minute, as he was staring eye-to-eye with the goalkeeper, only for his shot to be blocked. As the half-time hooter went off, it seemed like the job was done.

Or at least part of it was sorted out.

Unlike their previous three games, India maintained discipline in defence, ensured things were tight through the middle of defence and showed that they can be a threat to the home side.

DUTCH COME BACK TO HAUNT INDIA AGAIN

In 2018, India came close to ending their semi-final jinx. Infront of a loud Bhubaneshwar crowd, they were leading against the Dutch and flying. But Netherlands turned things around and dumped them out in the quarterfinals.

Now, India were hoping there wouldn’t be a repeat this time around and found some confidence when they earned their first PC of the match.

But this is where the Netherlands showed their true class. Not only were they able to minimise the number of PCs given away, but they also ensured that Harmanpreet was a non-factor through their defending. Right when India thought they were in control of things, like a magician, the Dutch showed that it was they who actually were in command.

In the 41st minute, they launched another attack that left India cut open. This time, the frustrated passes were gone and the precision returned. Pieters and Telgenkamp had started the move and the ball went to Reyenga after a big melee inside the D.

Telgenkamp came infront of Karkera and did enough to bounce the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net to send the fans into delirium.

This is when India’s concentration and resistance completely ended.

They had to push people forward looking for the equaliser. Something that the Dutch were wanting to see.

It was now India feeling the irritation of being kept at bay and their PCs were also being stopped. Adding to this, captain Harmanpreet spent most of the time getting treatment, meaning India were left with a disadvantage from PCs.

And in the 51st minute, the game changed. And in the matter of three passes.

The Dutch moved the ball ahead and Hoedemakers finished off a sensational move that left everyone in the Indian camp stunned.

India were able to find a PC and a goal through Harmanpreet, but the joy lasted just four minutes. With all of their men doing a high press, the last thing India need was an error and an easy transition being allowed.

That happened with Manpreet losing the ball and allowing a counter, which Van Dam saw off to put the game well beyond India.

More than anything, what was frustrating to see was how India didn’t capitalise on their chances and unraveled the moment that the Dutch scored the goal. The same mistakes and issues resurfaced and left India chasing shadows at the end.

“In the first three quarters, I think we played very well. We managed the ball and defensively, we did some good things. But yeah, again, I think, we’ve been talking about the 60 minutes only, but we have to stay focused and stay consistent till the 60 minutes are done. So I think, the last quarter, again, we did the same mistakes. They have picked that mistakes and they scored the goal from our mistakes only. So, yeah, nothing to say,” said Harmanpreet after the loss.

Now India may shift focus to the Asian Games with the World Cup dreams all but over. But the wait to make the semis will now go on for another four years, making you wonder how this side can end the jinx for good.

– Ends

Published On:

Aug 22, 2026 21:34 IST