India can exploit vulnerable Belgium: Coach Reid

Graham Reid. Pic/PTI

India's chief coach Graham Reid on Tuesday said the defending champions would like to take cue from Malaysia and exploit the vulnerability of European giants Belgium in the quarter-final of the Junior Hockey World Cup.

India will take on Belgium in a re-match of the 2016 edition final where the hosts emerged 2-1 winners to claim their second Junior World Cup title in Lucknow. And Reid, who guided the Indian senior team to a historic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, said the key to success in Wednesday's game is to play natural hockey.

"You see the DNA comes down from the senior team, and the senior team is World No. 1," the Australian said about Belgium. "You also saw some vulnerability which the Malaysians exploited and we will look to do the same. The team that can come out and play their natural game will be the winners."

Malaysia produced a fine defensive display to hold Belgium 1-1 in the pool stages of the tournament. But Reid warned his boys to guard against complacency if they wish to secure a third Junior World Cup title and second on the trot. "I don't think that should be a problem, as far as taking these guys easy. Add to that the fact that we played them in the final. They [Belgium] do have a history of being good...For the last 10 years, Belgium have been performing at that level. Hopefully, our guys can stay switched on," he said.

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