The 59-year-old Vikram Misri assumed charge of the key position at a time India is looking to navigate various geo-political challenges, including its frosty ties with China following the lingering eastern Ladakh border row and the consequences of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Paul, the Octopus, is not the only creature predicting World Cup results. A parakeet, a long tailed parrot, named 'Mani' has also been forecasting match results.
Holders Spain shut the doors on last year bronze medallists Pakistan with an authoritative 4-2 win in the Champions Trophy hockey tournament.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes a fear of failure and the absolute necessity of getting through the first round has contributed to the poor form of the leading European teams at the World Cup.
The last time Germany won against a top team was when they beat England 1-0 on October 7, 2000
European powerhouse Spain bounced back from the defeat in their opening match to score a 4-0 victory over Niger in a Group D match of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Kochi on Tuesday.
The Germans scored twice in four minutes to snatch a 2-2 draw in the Champions Trophy hockey tournament.
India are placed in Pool B alongside defending champions Belgium, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand and Ireland.
Germany crashed out of the tournament in Qatar after losing to Japan, drawing with Spain and beating Costa Rica in the last Group E match. Spain and Japan advanced from that group.
Germany came to Qatar with a leaky defence that had not kept a clean sheet in a competitive game
Harmanpreet Singh's goal from a penalty stroke just a minute from the hooter gave India victory over New Zealand in the men's hockey tournament atthe Olympics on Saturday.
Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini has described Spain as Italy's bogey team and urged their fans not to dream too much. Italy face the titleholders on Monday in their second round match in Paris in a rematch of the 2012 final in which Spain cruised to 4-0 win. Spain also beat Italy on penalties in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals after a 0-0 draw and again at the Confederations Cup semi-final in Brazil in 2013. Another meeting in a group match at Euro 2012 ended 1-1.
IMAGES from the UEFA Champions League matches played on Tuesday.
Rafael Nadal put in some late-night overtime to drag hosts Spain into the Davis Cup semi-finals but Novak Djokovic's hopes were dashed in excruciating fashion as Serbia bowed out on Friday.
Spain coach Luis Enrique said football had been unfair to his side after Thursday's dramatic 3-2 defeat in Croatia left them in danger of failing to reach the UEFA Nations League finals.
Alcaraz will face German Alexander Zverev or two-time runner-up Casper Ruud of Norway on Sunday.
Three second-half goals gave the Indians their first victory in three matches in the Champions Trophy.
A Pakistani woman on Tuesday crossed over to India from the Wagah-Attari International Border to marry a Kolkata resident with whom her marriage has been fixed in January next year.
China and Spain played out a 0-0 draw in their final World Cup Group B match on Monday and the result was good enough for both teams to advance to the last 16 after Germany beat South Africa 4-0 in the other game in the section.
Germany's injury worries have cleared up ahead of Wednesday's World Cup semi-final with Spain, with team manager Oliver Bierhoff declaring that all the squad are fit for the clash in Durban.
The victory also secured them a place at next year's Olympics.
It ended a woeful few days for reigning champions Croatia. They left with two losses.
Seeking the services of American psychologist and mental conditioning coach Peter Harberl, following a disappointing Asian Games, has played a significant role in the Indian women's hockey team's turnaround in the ongoing FIH Olympic Qualifiers.
Germany and Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira has had successful surgery on torn knee ligaments and he may be available for the World Cup, according to Germany team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
England's miserable week took another turn for the worse on Friday with the publication of the FIFA world rankings
Now, only the United States, Brazil, Russia and the United Kingdom are ahead of it. The number of active COVID-19 cases stands at 1,20,406, according to the health ministry. A total of 1,19,292 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, the ministry said.
The Netherlands and Germany scored morale-boosting wins in friendly matches on Wednesday.
The event was distinguished by the presence of hockey legends, including former captains Sardar Singh, Dillip Tirkey and Mir Ranjan Negi, former coach Harendra Singh, and the entire bronze winning Indian team.
World and Olympic champions Germany produced an outstanding first half performance to shock defending champions and unbeaten Australia 3-1 in the fourth round of matches in the Champions Trophy men's hockey tournament in Melbourne on Thursday. In other matches of the day's programme, Korea and Spain played out a thrilling 5-5 draw, while The Netherlands defeated England 3-2.
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek of Poland faces Irina-Camella Begu of Romania in the opening round of the women's draw with second-seeded American Coco Gauff taking on Australian Ajla Tomljanovic.
The authentic breathable kits for Argentina, Germany, Japan, Mexico and Spain contain 50% Parley Ocean Plastic.
Bjoern Michel scored the golden goal in the second half of extra time to help Germany beat Spain 4-3.
Spain and Italy were placed in the same qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, as were the Netherlands and France, but holders Germany were handed a kinder campaign with the Czech Republic their chief rivals in the draw made on Saturday.
IMAGES from football matches played across European leagues on Saturday
Germany are determined to snap their tournament losing streak to Italy dating back almost half a century when the two meet in a Euro 2016 quarter-final on Saturday in Bordeaux, players said on Wednesday. The world champions have lost to Italy in every single tournament knockout match they have played against them, starting from a 1970 World Cup semi-final.
The Qatar World Cup has delivered a rich feast of soccer for the past month
A look at how India's athletes fared on Day 2, on Sunday, July 28, 2024:
Spain's players reckon the secret to beating France will be to keep their opponents' ageing midfield on the move.
