Their aplomb boundless afterwards an best run in the alliance stage, a active India will lock horn with arch-rivals Pakistan in what promises to be a cracker of a final in the countdown Asian Champions Trophy hockey clash on Sunday.
After their pulsating 2-2 draw in the accumulation bout on Friday, the date is set for addition blood-tingling appointment amid the acceptable rivals.
In the accumulation match, India fought aback afterwards actuality 0-2 bottomward as both teams played a alert bold absorbed on extensive the final.
Sunday should see a abstruseness as both accept annihilation to lose, admitting the hockey admirers in both the nations would adulation to see their corresponding teams to triumph.
India accept done able-bodied to ability the final. Critics and a host of above players believed that the aggregation after the stars will not be able to deliver. But Michael Nobbs' aggregation has afraid many.
India is the alone best aggregation in the championship and with a ambition aberration of +7, it is advanced of the others in the scoring department.
The advanced band has been India's better trump agenda in the Champions Trophy. From the moment, they exhausted China 5-0, the drive was there to aback aback on.
Twice, India has fought aback from deficits adjoin Malaysia they were accident 1-2 and drew the bout 2-2. Adjoin Pakistan they were bottomward 0-2 and fought aback with two goals.
"This aggregation has handled burden like pros. They bare an allurement and now the aggregation has got it by arena a final. Whatever the result, we will bandy aggregate into the match," India's drillmaster Nobbs said.
If the Indian aggregation administration has to anguish about something, it is the abortion to catechumen the amends corners. Nobbs is not too afraid but does accept that the players do appear beneath pressure.
India accept had 23 amends corners in the clash and has alone denticulate thrice. Rupinder Pal Singh afar from scoring off two PC's has additionally adapted a achievement adjoin South Korea.
"The botheration is not about conversion, it's about the rusher advancing anon at the flicker," said Nobbs.
"It's a FIH charge that the rusher should not run anon to the flicker. So what happens is that Pakistan is active beeline to the flicker."
"I will apparently accept a allocution with the umpires and it is bright they are not reviewing the matches. But back our rusher ran straight, the adjudicator hauled him up. There needs to be a bright constant band in umpiring."
But it's not alone about the aberration of rules. India has bootless to allurement the brawl neatly for the beam to accept a go and adjoin Pakistan, every amends bend will be account its weight in gold.
Nobbs is actual bright about the final that the Indians will bandy aggregate into attack."We don't comedy for draws or defensive. We go for wins and we go for goals," he said.
This band of arena advancing hockey has been constant with the Indian team. Or as Nobbs says, "fortune favours the brave."
Pakistan captain Muhammad Imran does feel the burden of an India-Pakistan final.
"The accessible wants both the countries to win. Unfortunately, alone one nation can win and that adds to the pressure. But we will go all out and ensure that acceptable and advancing hockey in the accurate Asian appearance is played," he said.
Pakistan has a apathetic defence and sometimes it is apparent that they accept been apathetic in warding off counter-attacks. Imran believes the final will be a altered brawl game.