Defensive lapses end India's title hopes against dominant Germany.
It was a heartbreaking night for home fans at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium as India’s campaign in the FIH Junior World Cup came to a crashing halt. The host nation, coached by the legendary PR Sreejesh, suffered a lopsided 1-5 defeat at the hands of defending champions Germany in the semi-finals on Sunday. While the stadium was packed with supporters hoping for a victory, the Indian colts were thoroughly outclassed by a German side that looked superior in both physical strength and tactical execution.
From the opening whistle, it became clear that India faced an uphill battle. The German onslaught was immediate, with the visitors penetrating the shooting circle within the first 30 seconds. The Indian midfield struggled to cope with the high press, repeatedly turning over possession in dangerous areas. These early jitters set the tone for the rest of the match.
The pressure eventually cracked India's defense late in the first quarter. A midfield error led to a German penalty corner, which escalated into a penalty stroke after the ball struck Ankit Pal on the goal line. Lukas Kossel made no mistake from the spot. To make matters worse, Germany doubled their lead seconds before the first quarter ended. A cross from Titus Wex took a wicked deflection off an Indian defender, beating goalkeeper Princedeep Singh to make it 2-0.
India briefly tried to control the pace in the second quarter, but their attacks lacked teeth. The forwards found themselves isolated, with passes frequently being overhit or intercepted by a disciplined German backline. In contrast, Germany was ruthless. They utilized quick turns and precise passing to slice through India's formation. Before the halftime whistle, Kossel struck again from a penalty corner, burying the ball past the rushers to extend the lead to 3-0.
The second half offered no respite, as Germany controlled the game management perfectly to seal their spot in the final against Spain. For India, it was a night where defensive fragility and a lack of composure in the midfield proved fatal against a seven-time champion side.
