Hockey World Cup 2010: Pakistan Beats Spain to Remain in the Game

Posted on March 2, 2010
Filed Under >Adil Najam, Sports
24 Comments
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Adil Najam

It is the Pakistani cricketers who are supposed to be erratic and unpredictable, disappointing one day and enthralling the next. But this time the Pakistan hockey team seems to be following a similar path at the 2010 Hockey World Cup now underway in India.

On the opening day of the tournament, Pakistan had lost decisively to hosts and arch-rivals India 4-1. Although neither country is today the hockey powerhouse it once was, Pakistan was totally overwhelmed by India. Placed in a pool that also has favorites Australia, Olympic silver-medalists Spain and England, this would have ordinarily have meant that Pakistan’s chances for a semi-final slot had nearly vanished entirely.

This, however, was not to be.

First, England pulled a stunning surprise 3-2 victory against Australia and then, in what is probably a bigger surprise, Pakistan edged out a 2-1 victory against Spain. Meanwhile, Australia has come back with a vengeance beating hosts India 5-2 in their second game.

Put together, all of this means that Pakistan is still very much in the game.

It means that, but really not much more than that. There is much more to go and none of this changes who the favorites are or the fact that the odds are still against Pakistan making it to the semi-finals, let alone winning the tournament. What it does mean is that we remain in the game, at least until our next encounter – with England on Thursday.

Good luck, Pakistan.

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P.S… for those yearning for Pakistan’s glory days in hockey, may we recommend this past post on Abdul Waheed Khan; and for those who recall how the beginning of the end felt like, we strongly recommend this hockey humor video from Khalid Abbas Dar and friends – a performance that I had originally described as “the funniest hockey humor ever!”

24 responses to “Hockey World Cup 2010: Pakistan Beats Spain to Remain in the Game”

  1. This post is really very appreciable. I think some new things.
    I get many advice after read you article.I want you always make new articles like this.I will not make too much of this because we were really no expecte dto get to semis. But I hope we will develop a strategy for a comeback in hockey.
    ================================
    Daniel01

  2. Jamshed says:

    Well,it has finally happened.Pakistan have lost to Canada.They have finished last !
    The entire side has offered to retire.

  3. Jamshed says:

    After finishing last in their group,Pakistan will now play Canada for 11th & 12th place.They should beat Canada,but then,who knows ?
    In the 1986 World Cup,Pakistan had finished 11th.

  4. Jamshed says:

    Pakistan lost one more match,this one to Australia.

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