Indian men’s hockey team coach Craig Fulton believes his team can beat any team in the world if they stick to their plans, saying their performances in the last FIH Pro League game have given the team confidence ahead of the World Cup and Asian games.India finished the FIH Pro League season in eighth place with 19 points from 16 matches, finishing just above Pakistan, who finished with no points.Despite the aggregate score, India closed the campaign with wins over reigning world champions Germany and Olympic champions the Netherlands. They also pushed world number 3 England in a tight battle during the European stage.Reflecting on the campaign, Fulton said the team showed what they were capable of against the best in the world.“One of the biggest takeaways from this run in the Pro League is watching the team’s confidence grow. The wins over Germany and the Netherlands, plus a good result against England, prove that when we stick to our game plan, we can match and beat anyone in the world,” said Fulton.“It’s a solid springboard for the World Cup and the Asian Games, but we’re still focused on improving our performance and staying consistent from quarter to quarter.”The coach also praised the team’s progress in handling pressure during matches.“It’s even more encouraging how much this group has matured. We stayed calm under pressure, adapted to different styles of play and pulled out wins in tight games. That kind of experience is exactly what we’ll need.“The World Cup and the Asian Games will test our resilience and faith, and I think we’re building the right foundation for that,” Fulton told Hockey India.India’s campaign got off to a rocky start during the home game in Rourkela, where they lost to Belgium and Argentina.There were signs of improvement during the Hobart leg. India started with a 0-2 loss to Spain before drawing 2-2 with hosts Australia and 1-1 with Spain. They lost both matches in the shootout, but ended the leg with a 3–1 shootout win over Australia after another 1–1 draw.The games in Hobart also showed improvement in defence. India have conceded just six goals in four games, three of which have come from penalty kicks and three from field play. They also scored two field goals and realized two penalty kicks.The team’s progress became more visible during the European section.In Rotterdam, India beat Germany 3-1 and Netherlands 3-2. Against two of the strongest defensive teams in world hockey, India scored nine goals in four games, including five field goals and four penalty goals.The momentum continued in London, where India remained unbeaten in regular time in all four matches against Pakistan and England.Captain Harmanpreet Singhwho returned after missing the leg in Hobart, said the wins had boosted the team’s confidence.“Beating top-ranked sides is always special, but more importantly, it shows that the hard work we put in as a team is paying off. We will use these positives as we prepare for the World Cup and Asian Games,” he said.Harmanpreet also highlighted the team’s overall contribution in all departments.“One of the biggest positives of the is Pro League campaign is the contribution of each department.“Our defense stayed compact, the midfield controlled the game well and our forwards created good chances inside the circle and scored many field goals. Having all the bases covered gives us confidence, but we also know there are areas we can continue to improve ahead of the World Cup and Asian Games.”
