FIH Hockey Academy featured analysis: Losing the ball on the midfield, a mistake to avoid

In this play we analyse an action take by the Indian centre mid that, although he was outnumbered and under pressure, he decided to take an offensive individual action to take on 2 opponents and ended up giving a way a dangerous counterattack.

The play starts with a transfer from left to right by the Indian defence with Argentina playing a high press:

The Indian CM drops back to the centre-spot to receive the pass form the defender:

After receiving the pass, 3 Argentine players run towards him to take away the space and time. 

The Indian player does not have a lot of time to decided but he does turn and initiate and offensive action to beat for Argentine players in a very risky move. Perhaps, and just as a personal opinion, finding a space to escape or holding the ball to attract the opponent’s until finding a free pass (perhaps the defender who gave the pass), would have been less risky than taking on two opponents with the increased challenge of having another line of two Argentine players after.

Take a look at the full play here: