Amsterdam, August 18: The Indian men’s hockey team faced a 4-2 defeat against England in their second Pool D match of the FIH World Cup 2026. After trailing 1-2, England made a strong comeback, securing three points and solidifying their position in the top two of the pool. The match took place at the Wagner Hockey Stadium in Amsterdam on Monday.
With two consecutive wins, England now leads the pool with six points, qualifying for the next round. India, with one win and one loss, is currently in second place. The Indian team will play their final pool match against Pakistan. For Harmanpreet and his team, winning this high-stakes match is crucial to remain in contention for a semifinal spot. Presently, both Pakistan and Wales have one point each from two matches.
In Monday’s match, Nicholas Bandurak scored twice for England, while Stuart Rushmere and Henry Croft each added a goal. For India, captain Harmanpreet Singh converted a penalty corner into a goal, and Dilpreet Singh scored with a brilliant move in the second quarter.
The match started at a fast pace. India had their first significant opportunity in the seventh minute. Jarmanpreet Singh found himself with an almost open goal just five yards inside the circle, but his rushed attempt went wide, despite goalkeeper Oliver Payne’s efforts to dive and stop it. Following a referral, England received a penalty corner in the tenth minute, but Manpreet Singh made a fantastic stick block to deny the flick.
England opened the scoring in the 14th minute. A superb aerial pass caught the Indian defense off guard, creating a 2-on-1 situation for Mohit, and Bandurak finished it off skillfully to make it 1-0.
In the second quarter’s second minute, India equalized. After earning a penalty corner, Harmanpreet executed a powerful flick into the top-left corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. Bandurak then threatened again for England, narrowly missing a close-range shot, but India regained the lead in the 25th minute.
India maintained their lead at halftime, showcasing a better attacking game with eight shots on goal compared to England’s three. However, after the break, England patiently continued to build their play, gradually breaking down India’s defense.
In the 39th minute, England scored the equalizer. After a long slap push from the right, Rushmere lightly touched the ball inside the circle, slipping it past Mohit to level the score at 2-2.
England then shifted the momentum. In the 43rd minute, another aerial ball allowed them to penetrate India’s 23-meter area, with Rushmere again involved. Croft struck quickly, deceiving Mohit to score his first World Cup goal, giving England a 3-2 lead.
India attempted to mount a comeback in the final quarter. In the 47th minute, Jarmanpreet earned a penalty corner, but Harmanpreet’s deflection attempt was thwarted by a vigilant Thomas Sorsby. Then, in the 50th minute, Abhishek tried to get close with a tomahawk shot, but the ball went wide of the goal.
England sealed their victory in the 55th minute. After a scramble in front of the goal, India was awarded a penalty corner, but Bandurak executed a brilliant low-flying flick to the left of goalkeeper Suraj Karkera, scoring his second goal and finalizing the score at 4-2.
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