New Delhi: Michael Nobbs, the national men's hockey team coach, feels France could pose some problems to India's hopes of making a comeback into the Olympics as the team gets ready to run a final check on its preparation for the qualifiers, which begin here from February 18.
India, Canada, France, Singapore, Poland and Italy will vie for a solitary spot for the London Games, which begin later this year. Though India look clear favourites to book their berth, Nobbs was not ready to take any game lightly and was extra cautious against the French team.
"France is a real dark horse because they drew with Belgium, lost to Belgium and once beat Belgium (in the Champions Challenge-I). So they are clearly better than others," he said. "But we are not taking any game lightly. Every single game we're going to play, we will play as a grand final.”
Nobbs also urged hockey fans in the county to intimidate the visiting teams by filling the venue - Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium - to capacity.
"[Playing at Home] is a great advantage. Fill the stadium and scare the demons out of them [other teams]," a visibly pepped up Nobbs replied when asked whether playing at home was an advantage or added pressure.
Besides the men's team, the Indian eves will also be part of the women's Olympic qualification which will run simultaneously at the same venue. They will vie for an Olympic berth against South Africa, Italy, Canada, Ukraine and Poland.
Both the men's and women's Indian teams open their campaign on February 18 against Ukraine and Singapore respectively.
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