The Olympic stage can be ‘intimidating’ at times, where ‘nerves can get the better of resilience and determination’. Even a ‘sitter-like scoring opportunity’ could look like a mountain to climb – such is the Olympic stage, where no quarter is given, no quarter is asked.
Considering the above, the first match of the Olympics is perhaps the ‘most crucial’ simply because it sets the tempo for the rest of the tournament or builds a momentum a team can build on in the subsequent matches.
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The PR Sreejesh-captained Indian team knows very well that the side does not have a great record when it comes to an Olympic first match. India have won only one of their Olympic first games in last seven Olympics dating back to the 1988 Seoul Olympics, where they were stunned 0-1 by Russia.
And when the opponent is as dogged as Ireland, India have ample reasons to take all care to ensure no loose ends are left unattended. India would need its forward line to fire – SV Sunil will have a massive duty to perform upfront and perk up his young strikers like Akashdeep, Ramandeep and Nikkin.
The defence is not a worry anymore as there is heightened confidence in the guys manning the defence, especially goalkeeper PR Sreejesh.
How the midfield operates will decide how India will fare in the Rio Olympics. Sardar Singh – free from the mantle of captaincy – will be expected to add more cohesion in the midfield with the likes of Manpreet Singh and Devinder Walmiki backing him. This is key given the absence of talented Birendra Lakra. Surender and Harmanpreet are lion-hearted players, who can up their game at any position.
All said and done, it will be a tight game for sure, but from the looks of it, it does appear that India have the ammunition to put it across the Green Machine.
India’s Olympic First Day Show
2012 London Olympics: India lost to the Netherlands 2-3
2004 Athens Olympics: India lost to the Netherlands 1-3
2000 Sydney Olympics: India beat Argentina 3-0
1996 Atlanta Olympics: India lost to Argentina 0-1
1992 Barcelona Olympics: India lost to Germany 0-3
1988 Seoul Olympics: India lost to Russia 0-1
1984 Los Angeles Olympics: India beat USA 5-1
1980 Mocow Olympics: India beat Tanzania 18-0
1976 Montreal Olympics: India beat Argentina 4-0
1972 Munich Olympics: India drew the Netherlands 1-1
1968 Mexco City Olympics: India lost to New Zealand 1-2
1964 Tokyo Olympics: India beat Belgium 2-0
1960 Rome Olympics: India beat Denmark 10-0
1956 Melbourne Olympics: India beat Afghanistan 14-0
1952 Helsinki Olympics: India beat Austria 4-0
1948 London Olympics: India beat Austria 8-0
1936 Berlin Olympics: India beat Hungary 4-0
1932 Los Angeles Olympics: India beat Japan 11-1
1928 Amsterdam Olympics: India beat Austria 6-0
