The lack of field goals remains an area of concern for the Indian men’s team, which is staring at a World Cup exit, after another disappointing result against a top-ranked side.

On Saturday (August 22, 2026), India lost 3-1 to co-host Netherlands in the second round, leaving it at the bottom of the Group E table.

According to head coach Craig Fulton, that was the “best we’ve played stats-wise” against Netherlands in a major tournament, but the result has left the group “bitterly disappointed.”

India scored from another Penalty Corner, but came up short in field play. It has scored just three field goals in the tournament with two of them coming in the win over World no. 12 Pakistan. Senior forward Mandeep Singh, who is yet to open his account, has had a tough outing.

“We played a good game with a good game plan. I thought we needed to score a goal in the first half. We created one or two really good chances but it wasn’t to be. When we came out in the third quarter [we were] okay. It was still fine,” Fulton told The Hindu after the loss.

“We just couldn’t connect enough in the D to try and get a field goal. I think we won probably four [six] PCs and scored one. But [in] field chances, we needed the field goal. That was what we were pushing for,” he added.

Although India conceded two counter-attacking goals, which included an error from midfielder Manpreet Singh for the third goal, the South African refused to point fingers at any players for the goals conceded.

“I think I can’t fault anyone’s effort and approach and attitude to doing what needed to be done today. It was a really, really tough game. I thought we did really well. We just needed to get ahead,” said Fulton.

Fulton revealed that skipper Harmanpreet Singh, who scored the lone goal from a Penalty Corner, played through a back injury, which had to be managed. Right after Harmanpreet scored, he went off the field to receive treatment, during which time, Netherlands re-established its two-goal lead.

“We’ll see now afterwards. He had a stiff back. He rested in training but it wasn’t serious. and then he played and he scored. But at the same time, we have to look after the human first and make sure he’s okay,” said Fulton.

To pull off a monumental turnaround and make the semifinals, India will need a victory of four goals or more against Argentina, while Netherlands also needs to beat England on Monday.

When the Indian men’s hockey team takes the field on August 15 for its World Cup opener at the historic Wagener Stadium in the Netherlands, two experienced pros will be rewriting records, hoping to end more than half a century of disappointment for the country.

Alongside teammate Manpreet Singh, 31-year-old Mandeep Singh will join an elite list of Indians to play four World Cups, previously achieved by legends Dhanraj Pillay and P.R. Sreejesh. Mandeep will also become the youngest to do so. He admits pride in the achievement but is also constantly reminded of the missing piece in his medal cabinet.

“Of course, it feels great to play my fourth World Cup, a very proud moment. But it is also a reminder that there is nothing to show for the three I have already played. It’s just been participation so far… we don’t have the one thing that we so desperately want,” Mandeep told The Hindu ahead of the World Cup.

For someone who has a medal from every other major competition in the sport, at every level – junior and senior Asia Cups, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Champions Trophy and the Olympics – that empty space on his medal cabinet is a constant reminder of an unfinished job.

“My father said the same thing when I spoke to him – you are still one short. But if this is the last chance for us, we won’t waste it and try to bring back that medal. It is a huge motivation, playing the fourth World Cup. Dhanraj sir did it, now we are going to do it. The dream now is to lift that Cup,” he insisted.

As one of the seniormost players in the side with 288 international matches under his belt, Mandeep is aware of his role but insists on collective responsibility.

“I believe all 18 players in a team have to play; everyone is aware of their individual responsibility and team target. Everyone has to perform; a senior or junior is just a tag that doesn’t matter on the field.

“You are selected because you know how to play and how to handle pressure, regardless of whether you have played 10 matches or 100 for India. What we can do is share our experiences from all these years, including what we have learnt from our seniors and pass it all to the youngsters. It helped us form a bond with our seniors, and we try to do the same during training, which makes the connections better,” he explained.

That also explains his motivation to stay fit. “Most important is diet, then fitness to keep up with the youngsters. You need to take individual responsibility, go beyond the team plan and train on your own whenever possible. You have to do that to fight for your spot,” he said.

Mandeep knows it won’t be easy, but is confident it isn’t impossible either. A chance to write his name in the history books is motivation enough. “When we won an Olympic medal in Tokyo after 41 years and then again in Paris, we saw how it completely changed Indian hockey’s stature and again gained recognition.

“The wait for a World Cup medal has been longer, 51 years! So we are aware of its importance and what it would mean for the game and for the country. Which is why we are not even thinking of the Asian Games or anything else at the moment; full focus is on the World Cup,” he declared.