Part 1: Tuesday’s Men’s Field Hockey semi-finals day review at Paris 2024: Netherlands too good v Spain & Germany def. India after an excellent last 15 mins to the match, 3-2

by Sports Benches

It may have been an unfortunate end for both of our Men’s Kookaburras and Wonen’s Hockeyroos teams earlier this week following their respective exits from the Quarter-Finals against the Netherlands & China, but the show must go on at Stade Yves-Du-Manoir as we look back at these excellent last two days of Field Hockey when it comes to the both men’s and women’s semi-finals. First of all, Netherlands were absolutely too good against Spain on what has been a mighty 4-0 win that kickstarted Tuesday evening our time/afternoon in Paris. They scored a goal during each quarter where the first 15 x mins one was off a penalty stroke and another three came from dominant & expansive open play – which simply sensational to watch. Looks like a gold medal opportunity is finally coming when they previously won it back in Sydney 2000 on top of Atlanta 1996.

Tough luck from Spain who had a few chances of their own but just couldn’t grasp at a level where the flying Netherlands team has set the standard that was unchallenged & unmatched all game. Out of 19 Olympic Field Hockey appearances, Spain still haven’t yet collected a gold medal triumph after 3 x silver attempts back in 1980, 1996 and 2008. They can still walk away with a medal though but it will be for bronze and the last time Spain has done that for 3rd was way back in Rome 1960.

Then that 2nd semi match between Germany and India was a thrilling close match where one gets to still be in the running whereas the losing side may continue to play once more but this time for the bronze medal match. India got away with the early lead thanks to the winning penalties following their unreal Quarter-Final escape the other day v Team GB via Penalty Shootouts. But at the end of the day though, Germany had the better attacking ground that puts them one step closer now to tomorrow morning’s gold medal match while India threw these chances away, especially in the 4th and final quarter having unable to get out of trouble any further past the Germans following a painful semi-final blow for the gold medal Final by 3-2.

Hard luck by India even without Amit Rhodas over his stick hit on a Team GB player that saw him forced to sit out over a red card during the Quarter-Final match the other day, but they still weren’t bad though nonetheless all game until the last quarter as a few errors here and there saw Germany reap the rewards by taking greater control of the pitch going forward for the win. Speaking of Germany, it’s been a while since their London 2012 win against the exact same next opponents, as they are now through to Thursday afternoon’s/Friday AM final v Netherlands. It’s going to be the best of the best clash as to whether or not if Germany still holds being the best Olympic Hockey side or else it’s the Netherlands turn who has been winning lots of games elsewhere but not very often though when it comes to winning silverware at the highest levels.

You may also like

Leave a Comment