Indian men’s hockey team head coach Craig Fulton believes his team can beat any team in the world if they stick to their plans, saying the performances in the last leg of the FIH Pro League have given the squad confidence ahead of the World Cup and the Asian Games.India ended the FIH Pro League season in eighth place with 19 points from 16 games, finishing just above Pakistan, who ended without a point.Despite the overall result, India closed the campaign with victories over reigning world champions Germany and Olympic champions Netherlands. They also pushed the world no. 3 England in a closely fought match during the European leg.Reflecting on the campaign, Fulton said the team showed what it could do against the best in the world.“One of the biggest takeaways from this Pro League run is seeing the confidence of the team grow. The victory against Germany and the Netherlands, in addition to a strong showing against England, proves that if we stick to our game plan, we can match and beat anyone in the world,” said Fulton.“This is a solid stepping stone towards the World Cup and Asian Games, but we are still focused on tightening our performance and staying consistent from quarter to quarter.”The coach also praised the team’s improvement in handling pressure during matches.“Even more encouraging is the maturity of this group. We stayed calm under pressure, adjusted to different playing styles and pulled out wins in tight games. That kind of experience is exactly what we need.“The World Cup and Asian Games will test our strength and faith, and I think we have laid the right foundation for it,” Fulton said in a Hockey India release.India’s campaign started on a difficult note during the home leg in Rourkela, where they lost to Belgium and Argentina.There were signs of improvement during the Hobart leg. India started with a 0-2 loss to Spain before drawing 2-2 with hosts Australia and 1-1 with Spain. They lost both games in the shootout but ended the leg with a 3-1 shootout win against Australia after another 1-1 draw.The Hobart games also showed improvement in defence. India conceded only six goals in four games, with three from penalty corners and three from field play. They also scored two field goals and converted two penalty corners.The team’s progress became more visible during the European leg.In Rotterdam, India beat Germany 3-1 and the Netherlands 3-2. Against two of the strongest defensive teams in world hockey, India scored nine goals in four games, including five field goals and four penalty-corner goals.The momentum continued in London, where India remained unbeaten in regulation time in all four matches against Pakistan and England.Captain: Harmanpreet Singhwho returned after losing the Hobart leg, said the victories boosted the team’s confidence.“Beating top-ranked sides is always special, but more importantly, it shows that the hard work we put in as a team is paying off. We will take these positives forward as we prepare for the World Cup and the Asian Games,” he said.Harmanpreet also highlighted the team’s overall contribution across departments.“One of the biggest positives from the Pro League campaign was the contribution from every department.“Our defense remained solid, the midfield controlled the game well and our forwards created good opportunities inside the circle and scored many field goals. Having all the bases covered gave us confidence, but we also know there are areas where we can continue to improve before the World Cup and the Asian Games.”