Schopman wins battle of coaches as Germany women sink India

Like the city has tended to do over the last few days, the blazing afternoon sun had given way to threatening storm clouds on Friday evening. Just then the respective India-Germany women's teams lined up for the anthems; some of the scribes sought the comfort of the media centre as droplets of water began falling on the media tribune, a place inside the ground where journalists sit and file in real-time.

- WAROOP SWAMINATHAN

There were similar scenes elsewhere across the four stands of the Kalinga Stadium. Fans made their way to the quickest exit. On the blue turf, though, it was very much business as usual for the sides.

Even if the Pro League has a tangible reward for the team finishing first at the end of the season—a World Cup spot—sides have been taking it easy, playing in second and third gear rather than chasing after lost causes and putting bodies on the line. It's how competitions at the beginning of a new Olympic cycle tend to be; the older players have either left or are being phased out, youth is the buzzword and a loss is more palatable because sides can dress it up as growing pains, lessons for the future.