Amstelveen

India takes on New Zealand on Thursday in a must-win contest to seal a direct place in the last eight of the ongoing women’s Hockey world cup in Spain and the Netherlands.

India and New Zealand will be meeting each other for the first time in five years. The two teams last faced off in May 2017, when India travelled to New Zealand for Test matches. In the five games played between the two teams, India was unable to pick a single win.

New Zealand is currently sitting on top of the Pool B table with four points in two games, having drawn 2-2 against China, and picking a 3-1 win over England.

India is currently third in the pool with two draws. The Savita Punia-led Indian team held England to a one-all draw in their campaign opener. Two days later they drew with China with a similar scoreline.

Speaking to media persons the Indian team coach Janneke said that New Zealand will be tough opposition, and gave a glimpse of the team's strategy going into the match.

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"New Zealand will be a tough team to play again. They are very dangerous in their counterattack and we will have to be ready for that, on the ball we have to play to our strengths," she said.