China started the day with two points, while India and Australia had one point each. A victory for China would have taken them to five points and eliminated both India and Australia from semifinal contention. Instead, the Netherlands comfortably secured a 4-1 win, leaving China on two points.
That means the equation is now simple for India: they must beat Australia to finish second in Pool E and advance to the semifinals. The match is effectively a knockout, with both sides knowing that anything short of a win will end their campaign.
India head coach Sjoerd Marijne had already described the contest as a decisive battle.
“We see it as a quarterfinal,” said Marijne. “It’s always very close (against Australia), and that’s how I think the match on Sunday will be. There will not be many secrets because we play many times against each other. It’s a must-win game for both sides and that’s something which makes it a big challenge for us.”
India can take confidence from their defensive performance against the Netherlands despite their 2-0 defeat. The backline stayed organised for long periods, while goalkeeper Savita and Bichu Devi provided security between the posts.
The bigger concern will be India’s attack. They have created chances from open play and penalty corners but have struggled to convert them into goals. Against an evenly matched Australian side, that lack of efficiency could prove costly.
“Against big teams, if you get three opportunities, you have to convert one or two. That’s something we keep working on,” Marijne added.
With China now out of the equation for the second semifinal spot, India’s path is clear. A victory over Australia will send them through and give them a chance to create history at the World Cup.
