India's Coach PR Sreejesh Admits to Mistakes in FIH Men's Junior World Cup Semifinal Against Germany

India's chief coach PR Sreejesh expressed disappointment over the team's inability to execute plans and avoid mistakes during the FIH Men's Junior World Cup semifinal against Germany, resulting in a heavy defeat. The team now prepares for a bronze-medal match against Argentina.

India's chief coach, PR Sreejesh, expressed disappointment over his team's performance against Germany in the FIH Men's Junior World Cup semifinal. India, the 2016 champions, suffered a heavy 1-5 defeat to the seven-time winners. The loss means India will face Argentina for the bronze medal on Wednesday, while Germany will compete against Spain for the title.

Sreejesh highlighted that India's failure to execute their plans and committing unnecessary errors led to their downfall. "We didn't play well, that's it. We gave them easy opportunities, silly mistakes, conceded goals and it is quite hard for these guys after conceding easy goals in a Junior World Cup semifinal," he stated. The coach emphasised that failing to implement strategies made it easier for Germany to dominate.

Focus on Defence and Opportunities

The coach stressed the importance of collective effort in both defence and attack. He noted that India struggled to convert chances while allowing Germany easy opportunities to score. "It's all about collective effort. You need to defend well first and then you need to attack and create opportunities," Sreejesh explained. He urged his players to focus on preventing easy goals in future matches.

In high-pressure games like semifinals, Sreejesh pointed out that there is no room for mistakes. "We can't commit easy, silly mistakes. You can't give them space and that's really important," he said. He advised his players not to let opponents penetrate the centre, which was a significant issue against Germany.

Mentality and Playing Style

Sreejesh also mentioned the mental aspect of playing in semifinals, where conceding goals and making errors can increase pressure on players. He encouraged his team to play their unique style rather than imitating others. "I just want my players to play our game, we can't copy-paste," he remarked, adding that sticking to their own style would make it harder for opponents to match them.

Despite the setback, Sreejesh remains hopeful about securing a medal in the tournament. "There is one more match left which can help you to win at least one medal and that is really important other than crying about today's match," he concluded. Winning a medal would be crucial for the team as returning without one would be more disheartening.

With inputs from PTI