Australia match was the tough one but India matched Australia very well. Goalkeeper Adrian, Dilip Tirkey, Viren, the defense was good but the gaps left by the other defenders let us down. The whole tournament is marked by the defensive lapses by Indian players and very poor trapping. Lot of long balls were wasted and opportunites lost due to poor trapping. The umpiring was not up to the mark in this match and Yellow Card for Dhanraj was uncalled for. All in all india lost the match and Athens 2004 hockey score card will read like this only. But India team should keep on working and practicing on their weaknesses because we want to see hockey and India win more and more.
I am surprised why nobody is raising an issue about the level of refereeing in the match...each time any Indian Players scooped it was considered dangerous irrespective of the fact whether any Austrailian was nereby...they went over the sideline one more than two occassions and got away with it without any card ...whereas Dhanraj was punished severily for a crime much lesser in severity what Austrailians did throught the match and that too at a crucial time. It is the responcibility of the Manager and coach to raise and issue with the organizers. Media should also highlight this as to why Asians are suffering in every game...
Dhanraj Pillai,s newsletter on the match vs Australia.
The Aussies ,time and again, fed to the person lurking near the Indian behind the Indians and not even once was he covered by the defence. This is sheer suicide specially with the modern day hockey where shots fly like sixers in Cricket. There is no law on Sticks or dangerous play. The second goal by the Aussies was a flying shot which should have been disallowed. But then, the world body, in the pursuit of fast hockey, has completely changed the game of hockey. Even the great Dhyanchand would have found himself a misfit in the modern day hockey which has become a free for all no holds barred game. The Indian forwards,including Pillai have yet to learn the art of parting with the ball to a better placed player. The worst offender in this is Gagan who wants that he alone should have the ball all the time. I dont envisage Indian holding a dominating position in World Hockey with our confused set of players who are in the proverbial No Man's world with their style. It is a tragedy for lovers of hockey like me who has seen Dhyanchand,Roopchand,KDBabu,Rajagopal play.
