India's youthful hockey squad aims to break 30-year World Cup losing streak vs England

Coach Craig Fulton’s Indian men’s hockey team, composed mainly of players born after 1994, will meet England in a pivotal World Cup group game, seeking their first victory over the Europeans since a 1994 win in Sydney that featured Mohammad Riaz’s goal. Apart from veterans Manpreet Singh and Amit Rohidas, the squad has no members who were alive for that historic match. India has suffered three defeats to England in World Cups since then, with the best result a goalless draw in the previous tournament in Bhubaneswar.

The Indians opened the competition with a 3-1 victory against Wales, while England posted a 4-1 win over Pakistan. Fulton noted that while the Pro League has been evenly contested, the World Cup demands a higher level of focus, especially against the pool’s highest-ranked opponent. He warned that a dip in intensity in the final ten minutes could be costly.