The stage is set for a high-intensity battle as India vs Argentina face off in the 3rd/4th place match of the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, Egmore, on Wednesday, December 10.
With both teams narrowly missing out on a place in the final, the bronze medal encounter promises an emotionally charged contest between two sides eager to end their campaigns on a high.
For India, the match represents a chance to convert an impressive tournament into a podium finish. The hosts come into the contest following a tough 1–5 defeat against defending champions Germany in the semifinals. While the scoreline was harsh, it came after a first quarter where India conceded early goals and struggled to regain control against a clinical German side. Despite the setback, India’s overall campaign has been one of attacking enterprise and resilience, marked by depth across positions and a clear identity in their aggressive style of play.
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India’s numbers in the tournament underline their attacking strength. The team has struck 32 goals so far, 29 of which came during a dominant pool stage where they overwhelmed opponents with pace, skill and quick transitions. Their quarterfinal against Belgium offered a different challenge altogether. Locked at 2–2 after regulation time, India were pushed to the brink before prevailing in a dramatic shootout, with goalkeeper Princedeep Singh emerging as the hero through a series of crucial saves.
Head coach PR Sreejesh, who has overseen India’s junior setup with a focus on composure and tactical clarity, believes the semifinal loss offers important lessons ahead of the bronze medal match. “We played well throughout the tournament except in the semifinal,” Sreejesh reflected.
“Conceding easy goals in the first quarter put us under tremendous pressure. The most important thing now is to look into ourselves, understand our strengths, reduce errors, and make sure we convert our opportunities into goals. In knockout matches like these, scoreboard pressure is crucial.”
Sreejesh emphasised the importance of a strong start against Argentina, a team known for its intensity and discipline. “We need to ensure that we don’t concede early and create scoring chances right from the first quarter. That allows us to build our game and play with confidence,” he added.
The Indian coach also acknowledged the psychological aspect of playing a medal match at home, where expectations will be high. “Tomorrow is a do-or-die match,” Sreejesh said. “The players must give their 100%. The crowd will expect us to win, but the team needs to stay in the present moment. They can draw inspiration from the senior team’s Olympic journeys how bouncing back after a semifinal loss to win bronze can make a huge difference. The boys understand this, and I believe they will rise to the occasion.”
Argentina, meanwhile, arrive in Chennai with equal motivation. The South Americans were agonisingly close to reaching the final, having held Spain level deep into the fourth quarter of their semifinal. A goal conceded in the 56th minute ultimately ended their title hopes, leaving them to contest the bronze medal match instead. Known for their structured defence and quick counter-attacks, Argentina are likely to test India’s discipline and patience.
Argentina head coach Juan Gilardi spoke of both pride and determination ahead of the encounter. “We have prepared for this match with professionalism and a clear desire to fight for a medal,” he said. “Winning bronze would be a wonderful present for these kids. They train incredibly hard, they are a united group with great zeal and passion, and they bring a lot of humour and energy into the group. That makes it easier for us as coaches to push them towards a higher level.”
Gilardi also acknowledged the unique challenge of playing India in front of a packed stadium. “Playing in a full stadium with a huge crowd is something we are not going to forget. There is one more battle to go, and we are ready for it,” he added.
With contrasting styles, strong mental narratives and a medal on the line, the bronze medal match shapes up as a fitting finale for both teams. For India, it is a chance to reward strong home support and cap their Junior World Cup campaign with silverware. For Argentina, it represents an opportunity to turn heartbreak into celebration. When the two sides take the field at Egmore, everything points to a fiercely contested, high-quality encounter worthy of the occasion.
