New Delhi, March 01:Australian coach Ric Charlesworth says he will watch the footage of Sunday’s India-Pakistan clash to chalk out his team’s gameplan against the hosts in their second group B clash of the Hockey World Cup here Tuesday.
The 58-year-old multi-faceted Western Australian, who came close to becoming the Indian coach before Spain’s Jose Brasa, was diplomatic about his team’s chances against India.
“I can’t say. We haven’t played them in a while,” he said after his team’s shocking 2-3 loss to England in their group opener at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
Asked about his team’s dismal showing, he said: “It’s disappointing. We created so many chances and we lost. It’s unbelievable.
“We had 28 shots on target. We had 13 penalty corners. If we still can’t win a game, then we have only ourselves to blame,” said the Australian, a former technical adviser of the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams.
On whether Australia can hold on to their tag of tournament favourites, Charlesworth said: “We have been in this position before. There is still a long way to go. We will concentrate on our next match now.”
————–IANS