There are times when one gets very frustrated with the way Indian hockey is moving. What was the need for team to bring Pillay when he is not fully fit ? Even if he is 60 per cent fit, why wasn't he substituted or why wasn't the rolling substitution used in his case ? Questions and more questions.

People might say that questions come only after India have lost an important match like the one against Germany.

But we have to admit that we gifted the match away. We took two goalkeepers who have never had the experience of a big tournament. Jagdish Ponnapppa, the second goalkeeper was never played against Pakistan in the eight-match series but we bring him here and expect him to save every solid German shot.

We bring Jude Menezesat the cost of AB Subbaiah and expect him to save every shot and ensure that players of the class of Beechman and Oliver Domke go scoreless. Are we crazy in our thinking or do we really have no intelligence when we select teams ? Subbaiah, dropped after he wins a couple of man-of-the-match awards against Pakistan, and Jude Menezes in Utrecht, his replacement plays as if he is in a training game. Pathetic !

Germany deserve to win. They get four chances, two given by us, and they strike in four. After four in the first half, you need nerves of steel and a motivation that borders on the fanatic to equalise. Sadly, not many teams have that.

But Germany's coach Paul Lissek was worried. He said, ``I still remember when in Perth India were losing 1-5 and they came back and equalised 5-5. I told the team not to forget that day.''

The defence definitely made errors, especially Barla who couldn't trap properly and Oliver Domke snatched the ball to score past a diving goalkeeper. Mohammed Riaz was nowhere in thematch and so was Rajesh Chauhan. I have always said that Chauhan is a good player but at the national level. Internationally, he really cannot make a mark because of his short height and a definite lack of vision when he moves up. I also feel that it is high time we start using the rolling substitution more effectively. I know the coach has his own method of dealing with match situations but take off players when they are not playing well. Maybe after they sit out they would get better grasp of the situation from the bench.Everything is not lost. The junior Indian team at last year's Junior World Cup lost the opening match but went on to enter the final. One match loss is not a tournament loss. But we need to wipe out the memory of this match.Take the disk out and throw it away. Against Holland, we better use a good software and see that we play a better match to win. as always, I am confident. I hope the Indian team is too.