Stage set for big Indo-Pak fight : 12th Hockey World Cup

Emotion, intensity, passion... It is hard describe what lies in store as India lock horns with Pakistan in their opening game of the 12th Hockey World Cup beginning here on Sunday.
If the purists are to be believed, the sanctity of hockey as an art still remains in the sub-continent. And come Sunday, a nation of over billion people would be eager to witness just that.
The ‘real’ World Cup will begin only after the opening game, says Pakistan star striker Rehan Butt and the fact that the arch-rivals last played in a World Cup match in 1986 makes it a mouth-watering clash.
The opening tie carries a lot of significance, not just in terms of the 14-day extravaganza, but also the state of the game in both countries.
Once the kings of world hockey, both teams are now reduced to battling for the 8th to 12th spots at big events. “Not a true reflection of our potential and a turnaround is around the corner,” says Rehan.
The home team are in rebuilding mode under Spaniard coach Jose Brasa, who was hired after the eight-time Olympic champions failed to make the cut for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
New tactics, modern techniques, onus on fitness — a lot has changed and been talked about in the months gone by. It is now time to put all that to use and look ahead to the road to revival.
Brasa had sound advice for his boys on the eve of the game. “Concentration” is his word for the squad. “Indian hockey has always been of 65 minutes. I have just tried to add five minutes to it — the crucial five minutes,” is Brasa’s assessment.
The statement reflects India’s shortcomings — lack of mental toughness in finishing games after good starts and the physical fitness to last for 70 minutes. The two factors have been received meticulous attention at the national camps in the build-up to the World Cup.
“There have been many other positive changes in the team. The physical fitness of the players has improved and now they can carry out any strategic plan. Man-to-man marking has improved and there is perceptible change in our mode of attack, using the width of the turf in concerted moves,” said Brasa.
On paper, there is not much that separates the two teams, as both possess enough in their arsenal to deliver the goods. The individual battles though stand out.