I am ready for some tough questions: Nobbs

London: In their worst ever performance in the Olympic Games, India lost to Belgium 3-0 in their last group league match at the Riverbank Arena in the Olympic Park on Tuesday. Belgium led 1-0 at half-time. This was India’s first defeat to Belgium in four Olympic outings.

After winless India finished last in their group and will now play South Africa for the 11th and 12th positions, an exasperated coach Michael Nobbs said in an exclusive chat: “I am ready for some tough questions from Hockey India. There is no quick fix for this team.”

Jerome Dekeyser scored Belgium’s first goal in the 15th minute. Confusion between goalkeeper Bharat Chetri and burly defender Raghunath helped Gauthier Boccard net the second in the 47th and Simon Gougnard completed the humiliation with a field goal with three minutes remaining for the hooter.

Nobbs was left disappointed like rest of the team. The Indians normally do a round of thanksgiving to the crowd, but on Tuesday evening, they walked off the pitch with drooping shoulders. Most avoided the media with Shivender Singh obliging in the mixed zone, earmarked for the media for quick interviews.

“It’s just some bad luck. We created our chances, but the goals never came. We didn’t expect to beat the top teams, but we could have done better than this,” the striker said.

India missed both their penalty corners. Luck denied Nobbs’ boys, too. A Shivender deflection hit the upright in the 20th minute and then in the very next minute, Tushar Khandekar’s attempt was blocked by the Belgian goalie Vincent Vanasch, who had a great match throughout.

India’s lack of hunger in the scoring zone was once again exposed. Several long hits sailed past the face of the Belgian goal. Forwards like Gurwinder Singh Chandi and Shivender often came up short or lacked the conviction to dive and deflect.

“That’s been our greatest problem. The lack of intensity in the Dee has cost us matches and this is just unacceptable,” said Nobbs. India scored all of six goals in five matches in another example of atrocious scoring rate in international tournaments.