If Pakistan wins against New Zealand it will then compete for the 9th and 10 position and if loses then green shirts will be competing for 11th and 12th
DNA
AMSTERDAM: India suffered a 3-1 defeat against co-hosts Netherlands in their Pool E match of Stage 2 at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 on Saturday, but stayed alive in the tournament after results elsewhere went in their favour.
India are without a point in the pool while the Netherlands moved to the top with six points. The top two teams from Pools E and F will then advance directly to the semi-finals.
Later in the day Argentina beat England in Pool E to keep India’s semi-finals hopes alive.
The Indian hockey team will play Argentina in its last PooI match on Monday and will need to win by a big margin to advance. India will also depend on the Netherlands beating England in the other pool clash.
Against the Netherlands, Duco Telgenkamp (41’) broke the deadlock before Tjep Hoedemakers (51’) doubled their advantage. Captain Harmanpreet Singh (52’) pulled one back for India from a penalty corner, but Thijs van Dam (55’) restored the Netherlands’ two-goal cushion and sealed the win.
India came close early on, creating an opportunity in the 10th minute when Dilpreet Singh received the ball inside the Dutch circle but lost possession.
The Dutch earned the first penalty corner in the 13th minute, only for Sumit to produce a superb rush to block Jip Janssen’s flick. The first quarter ended 0-0.
The Netherlands gained greater control of possession in the second quarter.
They earned another penalty corner in the 16th minute, with Manpreet Singh making two important blocks to deny Janssen.
Dilpreet had India’s best opening of the first half in the 23rd minute. He was presented with a golden opportunity but hurried his effort, allowing the Dutch goalkeeper to pad the ball away. Rajinder Singh reacted quickest to the rebound but was unable to retain possession.
At half-time, the score remained 0-0.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 41st minute. A defensive miscommunication left space for the Netherlands, and Telgenkamp pounced to put the hosts ahead.
India immediately responded by earning another penalty corner but Harmanpreet was denied by the Dutch rushers as the third quarter ended with the Netherlands leading 1-0.
India continued to press in the final quarter and earned a couple penalty corners but the Netherlands struck again in the 51st minute.
Koen Bijen delivered a pin-point centre from the right and Hoedemakers got a crucial touch in front of goal to beat Mohith HS and make it 2-0.
However, India earned a penalty corner soon after. Harmanpreet was initially blocked but the ball struck a foot and India were awarded another penalty corner. The Indian captain made the most of the opportunity, beating Meijer to his right to bring India back into the contest at 2-1.
The Netherlands, though, punished another Indian lapse four minutes later. Manpreet was dispossessed in midfield and the Dutch immediately launched a counter, allowing Thijs van Dam to finish the move with a composed volley past Mohith to restore the two-goal advantage and seal the win.
