India men’s hockey team head coach Craig Fulton believes his side can beat any team in the world if they stick to their plans, saying the performances in the final 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 matches, finishing only above Pakistan, who ended without a point.Despite the overall result, India closed the campaign with wins over reigning world champions Germany and Olympic champions the Netherlands. They also pushed world No. 3 England in a closely fought contest during the European leg.Reflecting on the campaign, Fulton said the team had shown what it is capable of against the world’s best.“One of the biggest takeaways from this Pro League run has been watching the team’s confidence grow. Wins over Germany and the Netherlands, plus a strong showing against England, prove that when we stick to our game plan, we’re capable of matching and beating anyone in the world,” Fulton said.“It’s a solid stepping stone heading into the World Cup and Asian Games, but we are still focused on tightening up 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 how much this group has matured. We’ve stayed calm under pressure, adjusted to different playing styles and pulled out wins in tight games. That kind of experience is exactly what we’ll need.“The World Cup and Asian Games will test our resilience and belief, and I think we’re building the right foundation for it,” Fulton said in a Hockey India release.India’s campaign had 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 began with a 0-2 defeat to Spain before drawing 2-2 with hosts Australia and 1-1 with Spain. They lost both matches in the shootout but ended the leg with a 3-1 shootout win over Australia after another 1-1 draw.The Hobart matches also showed improvement in defence. India conceded only six goals across four games, with three coming 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 matches, 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 Singh, who returned after missing the Hobart leg, said the victories had lifted the team’s belief.“Beating top-ranked sides is always special, but more importantly, it shows that the hard work we’re putting in as a team is paying off. We’ll 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 is Pro League campaign has been the contribution from every department.“Our defence has stayed compact, the midfield has controlled the game well and our forwards have created good opportunities inside the circle and scored many field goals. Having all bases covered gives us confidence, but we also know there are areas where we can continue to improve before the World Cup and the Asian Games.”