New Delhi, Sept. 6 -- With the race to the semi-final at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, which took place in Belgium and the Netherlands from 15-30 August, going down to the wire, a ream of permutations of how India could make the final four was calculated.

India began the final Stage 2 match against Argentina at the bottom of Pool E, with zero points and a goal difference of -4. The Indian men's team needed at least a two-goal win over Argentina and hope for a favourable result in the other group game.

It took 39 seconds for the arithmetic to start unravelling.

Argentina earned a free hit from just outside the shooting circle on the right flank. Tomas Domene, a penalty corner specialist, pushed the ball to Bautista Capurro near the goa...