After a mixed start to their FIH Pro League 2024-25 campaign, the Indian Men’s Hockey Team, led by Captain Harmanpreet Singh, is preparing to face Germany in their upcoming matches at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium. Following a 3-1 defeat to Spain in their opening game, India bounced back with a convincing 2-0 win and now aim to carry that momentum into their contests against the German side.
With three points from two matches, India currently occupy eighth place in the standings and are eager to improve their position. A primary focus for the team is enhancing their penalty corner conversion rate. Despite earning seven penalty corners across their two games against Spain, India has yet to convert any into goals. The team is determined to sharpen their set-piece execution against Germany.
So far, Dilpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, and Sukhjeet Singh have each scored a goal for India and will look to add to their tally. Meanwhile, Germany, positioned seventh with four points from four matches, are seeking to turn their fortunes around. Despite winning only one game in the tournament so far, their attacking threat comes from Raphael Hartkopf, Gonzalo Peillat, and Thies Prinz, who have each scored twice.
The two teams last clashed in a two-match Test series in New Delhi in October 2024. Germany won the first encounter 2-0, while India responded with a thrilling 5-3 victory in the second game. However, Germany secured the series with a shootout win, adding extra intensity to their upcoming showdown.
Speaking ahead of the matches, Captain Harmanpreet Singh emphasized the importance of maintaining their winning form. “Germany is a strong team, and we need to deliver our best performance. Our confidence is high after the win against Spain, but improving our penalty corner conversion remains a key focus,” he said. “Playing at home is special, and we are motivated to give our fans a performance to be proud of.”
India will face Germany on 18th February at 7:30 PM IST and again on 19th February at 5:15 PM IST.
Fans can watch the FIH Pro League 2024-25 matches live on JioHotstar and Star Sports Select 2.