Netherlands hand India masterclass in control but World Cup semis hope alive

India suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands in the FIH Hockey World Cup's Round 2 match at the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026. Harmanpreet Singh scored the only goal for India in the 41st minute, but the Netherlands remained in control throughout the game. India had more possession and more circle entries, but despite their efforts, they failed to impose their will on the game.

The team struggled to maintain control and consistency, particularly in the final quarter. Despite their efforts, India could not overcome the Dutch team's superior control and structure. India's performance against the Netherlands highlights the significant gap between being competitive against top teams and controlling a game against them.

The result leaves the door open for India to qualify for the semifinals if they can secure a win against Argentina on Monday and if England loses to the Netherlands.