Is the drag flick a dying art in modern hockey?

Jonathan Selvaraj in Bhubaneswar


Josep Romeu of Spain scored the first direct PC goal at the FIH 2018 Hockey World Cup, against Argentina. Cees van Hoogdalem/Soccrates/Getty Images

It was a clever bit of deception that saw Spain score the first direct penalty corner (PC) goal at the 2018 Hockey World Cup, an effort that put them 2-1 up against Olympic champions Argentina. Alvaro Iglesias' push was trapped by Sergi Enrique. Pau Quemada then shaped to take the strike but simply ran over the ball, which Enrique pushed to Josep Romeu to the left of goal. With Argentina's first runner Lucas Rossi committed to running at Quemada, Romeu was left to take an unhurried flick that beat the outstretched left glove of goalkeeper Juan Vivaldi.