Sukhjeet Singh put his arms aloft in celebration after scoring a goal in the 57th minute. But it was his side’s second to Argentina’s five as its FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 run was approaching a car crash end, which summed up India’s day.
Twenty three years ago, it was in this very arena where India scripted one of its greatest comebacks, overturning a 2-4 deficit to score five goals in 15 minutes and beat Pakistan 7-4 in the Champions Trophy.
Needing a big win to stay alive in the World Cup 2026, there was to be no repeat story from the current class, as they went down 3-5-to Argentina in Amstelveen at the Wagener Stadion on Monday.
AS IT HAPPENED | India vs Argentina Highlights
A sloppy display from Craig Fulton’s men, keeping with this team’s run so far in 2026, was picked apart by a ruthless Argentina. The defeat was India’s third in five games in this World Cup, letting in 16 goals — the most it’s conceded since the 2010 edition, with one game to go. Finishing last in the Pool E standings, India will play the seventh-eighth classification game against Belgium.
India got off to a dreadful start with familiar issues from the start of the year returning, as Argentina capitalised on its defensive errors. Inside 40 seconds, a ball from the right was not cleared by two Indian defenders, allowing an unmarked Joaquin Toscani to run and lift it into the corner for Argentina’s first.
Four minutes later, Argentina got its second Penalty Corner out of nothing; Yashdeep Siwach conceded a foul inside the circle after the defender failed to deal with an innocuous long ball. Nicolas Della Torre pushed it low and hard, giving goalkeeper Mohit HS and post defender Jarmanpreet Singh no chance.
India found a lifeline through Sukhjeet Singh, when a defensive error from Argentina inside the circle saw the ball fall to the Indian forward, who took a touch and slammed the ball in with a backhand shot.
Nicolas Della Torre (right) pushed it low and hard, giving goalkeeper Mohit HS and post defender Jarmanpreet Singh no chance to score Argentina’s second.
| Photo Credit:
Hockey India
Nicolas Della Torre (right) pushed it low and hard, giving goalkeeper Mohit HS and post defender Jarmanpreet Singh no chance to score Argentina’s second.
| Photo Credit:
Hockey India
In the second quarter, India put in a more controlled performance both on and off the ball. However, it couldn’t find the urgency or invention to trouble the Argentine circle.
Instead of building on the possession in the second half, India wilted away with further mistakes. Mohith was called on to make a couple of early saves, but he could do nothing about Tomas Domene’s fiercely-struck reverse-hit.
India had its first PC only in the 33rd minute, but Harmanpreet Singh couldn’t get his drag-flick past Argentina’s robust rushers.
Yashdeep’s day got only worse, when his backpass was intercepted inside the 25 yards before the resulting shot on target struck his foot. Domene made no mistake from the Penalty Stroke to make it 4-1. With eight minutes to go, Lucas Toscani, under little pressure from Sanjay Rana, added a fifth from a tight angle.
A late resurgence saw India reduce the margin on the scoreboard with another goal from Sukhjeet, deflecting in a slapshot from Mandeep Singh before Hardik Singh converted a Penalty Stroke. However, they did little to mask this side’s current predicament.
Published on Aug 24, 2026
