Craig Fulton: 'We didn't play to the level that we can' after India lose shootout to Belgium in World Cup classification match
Coach Craig Fulton criticised India’s showing at the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 after his side lost 3-4 in a shootout to co-hosts Belgium in the 7th-8th place classification match at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre on August 29, 2026. The fixture had finished 3-3 after 60 minutes when India forced extra time with a last-gasp equaliser, but Belgium prevailed in the shootout.
Abhishek Nain opened the scoring in the sixth minute, converting a pass from Manpreet Singh, before Belgium struck twice before half-time through Roman Duvekot and Hugo Labouchere to turn the game. Captain Harmanpreet Singh levelled early in the second half with a penalty-corner strike, Nicolas de Kerpel put Belgium ahead in the final quarter, and Harmanpreet then equalised with a penalty corner with 26 seconds remaining to send the match to a shootout.
Fulton acknowledged the team’s difficult start and praised the players’ response. “We had a rough start. It was a game of two halves. Belgium was definitely better in the first half, but then we started to settle down,” he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. “We made some crucial saves, but then Manpreet Singh got injured, which was far from ideal. However, from that moment on, the boys showed incredible fight.”
He described the comeback against a strong home side as a positive aspect despite the final result. “We are pleased with the result, it’s a draw, but we are extremely proud of the comeback. Belgium is a top-quality team playing on their home turf, and we managed to pull off a result after 60 minutes of hard-fought hockey,” Fulton said.
On tactical adjustments at half-time Fulton said he urged his defenders to avoid risky passes through the middle. “We don’t need to risk the ball into the middle, because we did that against Holland (Netherlands) and it didn’t help us. So, it was a little bit about game intelligence; just keep it to the sides.” In a separate chat with Hockey India he summarised the contest as a game of two halves and highlighted a late-plan change that he approved of: “I think the nice thing is to actually take our keeper off four minutes to get a PC score, put the keeper back on and then finish out with a point.”
Fulton also addressed squad composition and standards across the tournament. “No excuses; we have eight debutantes in their first World Cup. So, playing in a World Cup, yeah, it’s not easy. And we have experienced players, but we also have to make sure our key players, and our experienced players are also playing their level,” he said. He added: “Everyone knows we didn’t play to the level that we can, and that was disappointing, but we finished strong today, and we look forward to the Asian Games because that’s another big objective for 2026.”
India finished eighth at the World Cup, recording two wins from six matches. The team’s next confirmed assignment is the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, scheduled from September 18 to October 3, where India are placed in Group A alongside Japan, Korea, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.