Bhubaneswar: India needed to win by at least a seven-goal margin with six field goals, or victory by eight goals against Wales to pip England to a direct quarterfinal berth in the FIH Men’s World Cup 2023.
Egged on by a capacity crowd at Kalinga Stadium here on Thursday evening, the men in blue, however, fell short against a fighting Wales team and managed to win 4-2 to finish second in Pool D.
Both teams finished on 7 points, but England had a far better goal difference (+9) compared to India’s +4.
India will now face New Zealand, the third-placed team in Pool C, on January 22 in a Crossover clash for a place in the last 8.
England, on the other hand, will play the winners of the Crossover duel between Pool A No. 2 and Pool B No. 3 in the quarterfinal on January 25.
Akashdeep Singh scored a brace this evening, while Shamsher Singh and skipper Harmanpreet Singh netted one each.
India, who led 1-0 at half-time, doubled their lead early in the third quarter. The Welsh hit back with two strikes to level scores, but the Indians avoided ignominy with a couple of goals in the final quarter.
