India vs Argentina Live: IND take on ARG in the Hockey World Cup. (Hockey India)

India are trailing 1-3 against Argentina in the third quarter of their final Pool E match of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026. It’s a game where their semi-final hopes are relying on permutations and combinations after two successive defeats in the previous games. India conceded a goal in 41 seconds of the game starting with Joaquin Toscani scoring. Then, Argentina doubled their lead in the 6th minute with Nicholas Della Torre scoring from a penalty corner. Sukhjeet Singh managed to pull a goal back before the first quarter ended. In the second minute of the third quarter, Tomas Domene scored Argentina’s third goal and then scored his second goal seconds before the third quarter ended to make it 4-1! In the final quarter, Joaquin Toscani’s brother Lucas got into the act, scoring his second goal at the tournament to give Argentina a 5-1 lead.

India’s 1-3 defeat against defending champions and hosts Netherlands means India are without a point, which makes Monday’s game against Argentina at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen a do-or-die clash. India need a victory by a good goal difference and then hope for favourable results elsewhere.

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At the moment, Netherlands lead Pool E with six points, while England and Argentina are on three points each. Bottom-placed India have a goal difference of -4. With England facing the Netherlands on Monday, India’s fate could be decided by goal difference if they manage to overcome Argentina.

For India to finish among the top two and reach the semi-finals, they need a significant win against Argentina. A three-goal victory would take India’s goal difference to -1 and leave Argentina at -3, with both teams on three points. In that scenario, England would have to lose to the Netherlands by at least two goals, which will take their goal difference to -2. India would then finish ahead of both Argentina and England on goal difference, despite all three teams being level on three points.

There is another route, albeit one that requires an even bigger result. If India beat Argentina by four goals, any defeat for England against the Netherlands would be enough to send India through. However, an England defeat is essential, as a draw would take them to four points and put them beyond India’s reach.

Scroll down for live updates from the India vs Argentina clash at the Hockey World Cup

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What Indian men’s hockey team must learn from PV Sindhu — be ruthless

The 5 am sessions at the Gopichand academy are a stuff of legend. PV Sindhu knows.

When she trained full-time under Pullela Gopichand, the coach identified a flaw that had little to do with technique. Sindhu had the shots, the reach and the fitness. What she lacked, Gopichand felt, was an edge. She was too nice on court.

So, he turned those pre-dawn sessions into an exercise in provocation. Sparring partners were told to come at her hard — attack, shout, needle her, do whatever it took to get under her skin. Sindhu had to fight back. Show aggression. Scream between points. Stop apologising for being ruthless.

At first, she broke down. Eventually, she changed. That transformation helped turn Sindhu from a player who kept knocking on the door to one who broke it down — and became world champion.

The Indian men’s hockey team could do with a few lessons from those 5 am sessions.

Time and again, India have paid the price for being too soft. This World Cup has exposed that weakness again.

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