Focus should now be on defeating Argentina for bronze, he urges
Chennai | India’s hopes of entering the final of the FIH Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup 2025 came crashing down on Sunday after a heavy 1–5 defeat to seven-time champions Germany. Chief Coach P.R. Sreejesh, who is leading the junior side in his first major international assignment after retiring from senior hockey, minced no words in assessing the loss.
Sreejesh, who helped India secure bronze medals as goalkeeper at both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, said the defeat stemmed largely from poor execution of strategy, early errors, and allowing Germany easy opportunities.
“We lost the semifinal because we did not play well, committed too many mistakes, conceded soft goals, and failed to execute the strategies we had prepared,” Sreejesh said after the match. “A team like Germany will not spare you when you give them easy chances. Instead of trying to adapt to their style, we should have trusted our own strengths.”
‘Stop mourning the loss, focus on winning bronze’
Urging his players to shift their mindset immediately, Sreejesh said returning without a medal would be far more painful than the semifinal loss itself.
“Rather than crying over the defeat, I want my boys to focus fully on winning the bronze against Argentina,” he said. “Leaving the Junior World Cup empty-handed will hurt more. We must correct our mistakes and ensure Argentina do not get space to counter from midfield.”
Early goals hurt India’s comeback chances
The chief coach pointed out that India struggled to recover after conceding early. Germany created penalty corners and attacking opportunities with discipline, while India failed to do so until the final quarter.
“Whether you lose 0–1 or 0–10, a loss is a loss,” Sreejesh said. “But what matters is understanding how you lost. Germany capitalised on their chances; we didn’t create enough in the first quarter. Only in the last quarter did we finally convert a penalty corner. Had we shown that intent earlier, the match could have taken a different turn.”
He added that India neither built scoring chances nor prevented Germany from doing so. “We allowed them space, we did not press hard enough, and we failed to protect our circle. That made the difference.”
‘The team is not weak — we must learn and move forward’
Despite the disappointment, Sreejesh stressed that a single loss does not make the team inferior.
“A team doesn’t become weak just because it loses a semifinal,” he said. “Success requires collective effort. When the opponent executes better, you must accept they played superior hockey on the day.”
He emphasised that his role as coach is to prepare the team during the training phase, while players must deliver on match day. “Once the tournament starts, the responsibility shifts to the players. We guide them, help them stay focused, and point out areas for improvement. But execution must happen on the field.”
A learning curve for the new chief coach
Sreejesh also acknowledged that the World Cup has been a learning experience for him personally in his first major outing as chief coach.
“I’ve learnt a lot from every match and understood what I need to improve going forward. I will continue to work hard and grow as a coach with each tournament,” he said.
Bronze medal crucial for team morale
Looking ahead to Wednesday’s bronze medal match against Argentina, Sreejesh delivered a clear message to the players:
“Avoid repeating the mistakes made against Germany. Don’t allow Argentina to attack through the midfield. If we stick to our plan and focus on our strengths, we can definitely win the bronze.”
India will now look to regroup quickly, correct their defensive lapses, and rediscover the sharpness that carried them into the semifinals — hoping to return from Chennai with a podium finish that reflects the team’s promise and hard work.
