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Olympics Field Hockey News: Yibbi Jansen’s late penalty corner strike saves the day for the women’s Dutch team via penalty shootouts over China to complete the double triumph alongside the men’s at Paris 2024

by Sports Benches

Looks like the Netherlands have flipped the script that late off the back of China’s early 1-0 lead for the most part, even via penalties to successfully defend their Olympics Field Hockey crown from Tokyo 2020. Hats off to Yibbi Jansen who scored that usual penalty corner goal as always in the last 15 mins that levelled the scoresheets with China 1-1 after an hour’s of normal time before goal keeper Anne Veenendaal deflected most of the shots from China — and that helped the Dutch scorers score their way to a 5th overall Olympics gold medal in Field Hockey 3-1 via penalties over China. They’ve first won it back in LA 1984, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Tokyo 2020 and now Paris 2024.

What a tournament it has been to wrap up the double Dutch Olympics triumph off the back of their men’s team success yesterday v Germany also via penalty shootouts (3-1 after a 1-1 draw after 60 minutes). They knew China wasn’t en easy team to face at all, especially when you got former Hockeyroo as well as Dutch citizen and resident these days Alyson Annan as the opposition head coach. 

They have seen that coming with China’s early 1-0 headstart but at least the Dutch keep on attacking and pressing hard for the most part v the Chinese defense. Although as said, the penalty corners weren’t easy to say when you are playing in an Olympic Final; But at least Yibbi has always got when she finally found the breakthrough to stop the Alyson Annan’s Chinese team from reaching the finish line with her flying Dutch being Olympic Hockey champs once again. It’s been great watching her and her Dutch team play this year so far as seen a few times throughout the 23/24 Pro League season.

And looking at China, you gotta feel how much they’ve made it to the big dance – in which was so much hard work being paid off. We know how good they were to get the ball rolling as seen plenty of times throughout 2024 against the Hockeyroos which was tough to watch from an opposition’s standpoint with a few wins here and there and that early goal have sent the Dutch a big message when it comes to the gold medal fight. Don’t forget they’ve been at their best defensively where China did the best they could to hold out to a close 1-0 win.

However, what really let the Chinese down though is having less ball where they couldn’t get the chance to build on their 1-0 lead on top of their solid defense before Yibbi Jansen’s penalty corner goal in the last 15 took away that chance to hold out the win at the first attempt. Then the penalties have arrived after an hour’s worth of normal time and China just couldn’t find the sweet spot they were after when it comes to these penalty strikes & that was the game it was unfortunately with another runner-up finish. They are currently ranked 8th so China have came from a long way but sure winning more regular season games would be the next best thing soon enough.

So that’s it over in Stade Yves-Du-Manoir Stadium – the home of the 1924 Summer Olympics edition at the same Paris venue 100 years ago. It’s been a whirlwind two weeks of Olympics Field Hockey in Paris 2024 as they’ve been an excellent host while it remains to be seen where our Men’s Kookaburras and Women’s Hockeyroos teams go from there in a bid to win back major honours once again.

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Olympics Field Hockey News: The Men’s Dutch team has done over Germany via penalty shootout for Gold at Paris 2024

by Sports Benches

That Men’s Hockey Gold Medal Final was unbelievable to watch, particularly in the 4th and final quarter as well as penalty shootouts between the Netherlands and Germany. Both teams struggled to find the net for the most part until Netherlands found the first strike before Germany held them back at a penalty corner to bring it to a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in an hour’s worth of normal time. From then on, Germany unfortunately unable to get away with any successful strokes that paved the way for the Dutch to end their 24-year drought for gold at Stade Yves-Du-Manoir since Sydney 2000 – which was mission accomplished 3-1 in a penalties decider that completed payback from their London 2012 runner-up loss v Germany.

Now the Dutch can finally celebrate gold off the back of their top form where they’ve always been the best of the best in yearly FIH Pro League matches including this Olympics Field Hockey tournament. Shoutout to the experienced keeper Pirmin Blaak who never looked out of place every time he deflected these strikes from the Germans while the defense wasn’t bad and their penalty shooters have been brilliant through the net that sealed them a long-awaited Olympics gold. Now what the Dutch needs to do now is win back both the Pro League & the World Cup. The next Men’s World Cup will be in 2026 on home soil in Amstelveen alongside Belgium’s Wavre and the last time they’ve accomplished that feat was also previously on home soil at Utrecht back in 1998 with the 3-2 extra time win v Spain. 

Heartbreak from Germany with the silver medal as this is the side who also has been at their best but only at major tournaments, such as last year’s World Cup tournament in India and not when it comes to regular season form often v the top teams (6th in 23/24 Pro League term). Their defense wasn’t bad either to start off with & they’ve also benefitted from winning penalties as we’ve seen with the successful penalty corner in the last 15 mins that gave themselves another chance to try win another major title in the form of an Olympics Games gold medal. It’s a shame that their penalty attackers weren’t prepared well to press the experienced Dutch keeper at his own end where he kept all of these hit and miss shots before they well & truly know that the Dutch can have their cake with the gold medal by then following a 3-1 penalties loss there. They may have been great winning these rare tournament titles, but Germany needs to find a way if they wish to beat these top teams more often – so they can hopefully be the No.1 Men’s Hockey team in the World once again next time. 

Now we’ve got the women’s gold medal match to decide before the Olympics Field Hockey program is done tomorrow morning between the Netherlands and China as China’s head coach & former Hockeyroo Alyson Annan is set for mighty Dutch reunion this time as the opposing team. Will that Dutch triumph extend to the women’s team after we just saw with the men earlier this morning? Or will we see a Chinese breakthrough at last with the help of Annan following their Beijing 2008 silver medal loss to that same team last time out? It’s all to play for between these two strong teams at Stade Yves-Du-Manoir.

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Part 2: Wednesday’s Women’s Field Hockey semi-final day review at Paris 2024: Netherlands also unstoppable v Argentina & China win over Belgium via penalty shootouts

by Sports Benches

Following two unmissable men’s semi-finals matches from Tuesday, more Field Hockey action in Paris 2024 continued last night with the women’s semi-final day at Stade Yves-Du-Manoir stadium. One was the Netherlands v Argentina and the other involving Belgium v China as the two winning teams will be set for Friday afternoon’s/Saturday AM gold medal match while the two losing sides will still get one last chance v each other but this time via the best of 3rd place for bronze.

Like we’ve seen with the men’s Netherlands semi-final performance two days ago v Spain, the women’s Netherlands were also unstoppable including defensively with 2 x first half goals from open play followed by a usual Yibbi Jansen stunner when it comes to scoring goals off penalty corners for the 3rd Dutch goal. Despite an improved Argentina ball during the 2nd half, the Netherlands at least ensured they left the game without any Argentina goals 3-0.

Looking at Argentina, they did have some fair share of chances following their improved 2nd half play as no doubt they have been a serious side on a regular basis including this tournament. But again, Argentina’s poor start alongside the execution unfortunately didn’t help them that much, especially when going up against one of the best attacking sides in none other than the Netherlands. Their breakthrough chance for gold after a few shortcomings will have to wait in LA 2028.

And to finish off the women’s semi-final day was a cracking physical encounter between Belgium and China that went down the wire following a 1-1 draw after an hour of normal time via penalty shootouts. China had the early lead off a penalty corner when both teams were scoreless during the first 15 mins & they held that 1-0 advantage for the most part until Belgium scored the equaliser also from a penalty corner with two minutes to go before the match had to be decided via penalties since it’s a knockout semi-final.

Fortunately for China, they found a way once more to book themselves a gold medal spot v Netherlands come Friday/Saturday AM with the 3-2 penalties win that marked a reunion for coach former Hockeyroo Alyson Annan, who used to coach the women’s Netherlands side for so long, even though she lives there and also as a naturalised citizen these days alongside her Dutch partner Carole Thate. Wow!! Great game from both teams by the way when Belgium found themselves back in the game off the back of their good defense and the way they’ve pressed China in the 2nd half until these two missing penalty shots that forced China’s hand and China had a really good match once again that can break anyone team’s hearts as their journey isn’t over just yet on what is about to be their biggest test yet against someone Annan knows so well in none other than the Netherlands. The last time China made the Olympics final was back in Beijing 2008 where they were runner-up to the Netherlands 2-0 as Alyson has the Dutch tactics and know-how to help engineer her Chinese players home for gold.

We now got a London 2012 men’s (Holland v Germany) and Beijing 2008 women’s gold medal (Holland v China) rematches coming our way where this could end up either way going into Tomorrow & Saturday AM our time. Will we see a Dutch triumph this time that could extend that glory to their women’s team or else see Germany and China get their own breakthroughs instead against a team that is so hard to beat right now? We shall see before Paris 2024 finishes this weekend.

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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.

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Olympics Field Hockey News: Kookaburras and now Hockeyroos out of the Quarter-Finals to the Netherlands and China respectively all within the last 24 hours

by Sports Benches

From Day 9 yesterday, the Men’s Kookaburras aspirations of going one better for gold at Paris 2024 unfortunately came to an end in the Quarter-Finals at the end of the Netherlands, 2-0. Yes, the first half or first two x 15 mins weren’t bad for a start with both teams being scoreless as they had plenty of opportunities to strike a few through the net against one of the best Top 2 hockey teams in the world.  We also thought they can cause them a huge storm, having done so back in February earlier this year during the Indian FIH Pro League mini-tournament. But then series of silly mistakes, poor attacking execution and poor discipline ultimately forced their hand to the Dutch with 2 x 2nd half goals en route to their semis berth v Spain on Wednesday at 10pm AEST – one via penalty corner in the 3rd x 15 mins followed by an open strike in the last 15.

Now we’ve just seen the same with the women’s Hockeyroos side just now on Day 10 also from the Quarter-Finals who lost by one goal to China 3-2 – despite a really improved 2nd half play where they did their best to save the match but it was too little, too late unfortunately. They got away with the early goal which was so far, so good – especially when they dominated the last 2 x 15 minute plays by sharing the possession with China after half-time. 

It’s just a shame they’ve been inconsistent play across the pitch, such as the ill-discipline for the most part including the last few mins under presssure that allowed China to cash in & hold them accountable with goals coming their way. The Hockeyroos surrendered an early 1-0 lead into a 3-1 trail behind China ahead of half-time and then a 2-3 loss in the end by a single goal difference as they cannot play any further now much like the Men’s Kookaburras in this Olympics tournament. 

Instead, China will be waiting their next opponent for the semi final come Wednesday night when Belgium v Spain to round off today’s Women’s Quarter-Final day at 4am AEST tomorrow. Hats off to head coach and former Hockeyroos player Alyson Annan with the win, who knows how to get a good sniff of the Hockeyroos, having won a few times over them time and time again as we’ve seen back in April 2024.

For now, Hockey Australia will need to look at both the men’s and women’s teams performances very closely soon enough and see where they will go from there over the next 3-5 years. As said, there were some signs of promise prior to the Olympics that they can both thrive against the world’s best where a Top 3-4 finish would be the bare minimum – no pressure.

But both of their own early QF exits now meant that the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos are still far from the very best that they’re trying to accomplish when you look at the likes of both the Netherlands & Belgium. Looks like we won’t be seeing Colin Batch & Katrina Powell back in the dugout as their respective men’s and women’s teams coaches going into 2025.

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Ollie Watkins late strike enough to put England on yet another Euros Final this time v Spain after a 2-1 win v Netherlands

by Sports Benches

Look who has made the Euros big dance again, it’s the mighty Three Lions from England, who are now one step closer to going one better this time v Spain this weekend, thanks to a game-winning goal by striker Ollie Watkins in the 90th minute. 

Netherlands fired off well from the start thanks to Xavi Simons while Harry Kane levelled up for England via a penalty kick not long later before things went quiet until very nearly towards full-time & Ollie has a way to get the England supporters go wild with the 2-1 win in Dortmund. Yes, you can criticise the manager all you want in Gareth Southgate but he knows how to put the best interests of heart for England when a few fresh faces off the bench helped saved the day. Let’s see if that back three formation would finally put Spain into bed in order to help him bring that Euros trophy home in a long time.

And heartbreak for the Netherlands as said with an excellent start to get the ball rolling, having had an excellent campaign up until the semis under Ronald Koeman in charge once again. But they just couldn’t find a way to stop England in its tracks or unable to capitalise the fightback England put in by Harry Kane, while they kept on hitting and missing these shots whenever they had the chance until it was too little, too late after Watkins confirmed their elimination last minute from the last 4. It’s going to be around 40 years now when the Oranje last won the Euros that goes back to 1988 v Soviet Union 2-0 also in Germany at Munich’s Olympiastadion as they will most likely return to try & end that long-running drought come 2028. 

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Hockeyroos end their Indian tour of the 2023-24 FIH Pro League with back-to-back losses v India and Netherlands

by Sports Benches

It wasn’t the weekend the Hockeyroos wanted having lost both to India (1-0 on Saturday) and the Netherlands (3-1 last night) from the weekend, but they came out there to put out a fight, especially in defense where they made opposition teams difficult to score. We wished they could do better in attack but then they’re up against teams that are extremely high standard, which is going to be so difficult through the pitch. There’s another plus to take out with Steph Kershaw being so good up front when taking penalty corners and can strike a few goals for the benefit of the Hockeyroos team here & there. Plus, shoutout to Yibbi Jansen from the other end in the Oranje who simply never stopped scoring thanks to another hat-trick haul.

Now our women’s team will be heading back home after they’ve picked up some good wins over the last two weeks during their Indian tour before resuming their next FIH Pro League campaign come May in Antwerp, Belgium. In the meantime, there’s always the Kookaburras men’s team to cheer on, who is still yet undefeated so far going into the their next game v Spain again on Wednesday.

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Kookaburras completed another comeback last night from 0-3 down to an unbelievable 4-5 win this time v No.1 Netherlands team

by Sports Benches

Who would’ve thought when the Kookaburras was on the brink of defeat after they were 3-0 down to the high flying Netherlands at half-time with gaps here & there in defense like it was against India the other day having been two goals behind at the break 4-2 before they completed an unreal comeback win in the end 6-4. But glad the game is not at all over and yet the Kookaburras began to make up lost time with back-to-back goals in the third quarter while the Dutch were scoreless as they were just a single goal behind them going into the final quarter. Although the Dutch struck one back to bring the equaliser (4-4) for the fourth goal after the Hockeyroos took the lead for the first time so late into the match, but again, the Kookaburras just never stopped working with loads of opportunities in the attacking third until things go their way in the end and fortunately, they are still undefeated at the end of the day with the win v the No.1 team by one point 4-5.

Gotta say the half-time pep talk has always paid off likewise with the India game where gaps were everywhere in defense from their end earlier on but glad they got into work right away from the restart including benefitting from the Netherlands’ 2nd half ill-discipline, especially when they turned things around by dominating attacking game time upfront. Blake Govers kept on scoring with two goals again in as many games now while Jeremy Hayward is excellent with two of his own off penalty corners. Yes, they might have made the odd disciplinary mistake whilst leading 3-4 as the Kookaburras might need to watch out there under pressure that led to a successful penalty goal from the Dutch. But speaking of under pressure, they never backed down thanks to their rejuvenated attacking intent and possession where Tim Brand brought out the game-winning strike with 30 seconds left on the clock before they defended well tight including a brilliant save until the end for the win.

And so sorry for the Dutch who did not hesitate to get the ball rolling with a brilliant start that demonstrated their top-notch dominance as always & it won’t be easy for the rest of the other teams to match that kind of standard. They thought it was their match quicksmart but that’s only one half of the match as their failure to stop the Kookaburras in their tracks came back to haunt them before it was too late to shut them down under pressure when the clock is running out of time. Now it’s the Hockeyroos’ turn to make the Dutch team pay by going one better in the next women’s match tomorrow after their 6-2 loss when they last met Friday last week but first they got India ahead not too long from now to start off their weekend run.

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The Stewart’s continued to shine for the Hockeyroos but the whole pitch still has the No.1 Netherlands side written all over it

by Sports Benches

It was a very tough day in the office last night after the Hockeyroos were beaten so bad by the top-ranked & free scoring Netherlands team. The Netherlands have started off well who scored three goals in the first two quarters before Tatum Stewart snatched one back for the Hockeyroos ahead of half-time at 3-1. Unfortunately, the Hockeyroos fell way behind later on where the Dutch kept on scoring with their extended lead during the 2nd half. Marjin Veen got away with a hat-trick while midfielder Yibbi Jansen continued to score as always with two off the penalty corner. Yes, another Stewart in Grace have added the 2nd consolation goal for the Hockeyroos herself in the 4th & final Quarter on what has been her third goal this week like the other Stewart in Tatum. But again, a tough pill swallow against a very strong & powerful Dutch side with the loss by 6-2. 

Marjin Veen is such a goal scoring machine where a mistake of two or a missed scoring opportunity from the opposition would give her the benefit to ruin them in return following her first International career hat-trick. She’s got a great eye right in front of goal every time the ball was given to her where Veen wanted it so badly from her own numbers in the final third attack before she has the licence to thrill to finish it off past the keeper with credit to their possession. There’s another goal Dutch scoring machine in the middle of the park of Yibbi Jansen, especially when it comes to penalty corners off the back from Hockeyroos’ ill-discipline with two goals to her name where she struck really well like a rocket. She too would’ve liked to get a hat-trick herself but Jansen will ensure that the Dutch will keep on firing with lots of goal scoring chances for the team including some for herself on top of the benchmark with 11 goals this season. And finally, so sorry to the Hockeyroos where they defended hard against the No.1 team but some missed finishing chances also turned the favour to the Dutch after the huge loss. Hats off to Steph Kershaw up front having gave two goals to the Stewart’s – one for Tatum via the penalty corner & another for Grace later on when she found some space through the channels. It’s just not her day where things could’ve been better if her team successfully converted all chances into goals that would the Hockeyroos a fighting chance v the Dutch, but again they are a team that is unstoppable & it’s up to them to respond before coming back with confidence next time around.

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2024 FIH Hockey5 World Cup Review where the Netherlands swoops both the men’s and women’s tournaments with all-in-one gold

by Sports Benches

New year, new tournament with a fast twist of Field Hockey called the FIH Hockey5 World Cup being rolled out for the first time nearly two weeks ago in Muscat, Oman. The pitch size has also been reduced from its normal layout where you only can have five players each on the field including four substitutes on the bench; So does the time as well that will last up to 30 minutes with two 15-minute halves & a short two-minute break in between. Yes, our Aussie Men’s & Women’s teams may have performed below expectations as hoped for when it comes to a shot in the medal Playoff rounds other than the consolation win v Zambia in the Women’s tournament. However, they did okay with some mixed results in the classification round before both Aussie teams wrapped up their respective campaigns on a high following their 11th playoff wins v New Zealand (men) & Fiji (women). Meanwhile, both men’s and women’s winners belongs to the Netherlands who were outstanding all along to take home their respective gold medals for Hockey5’s first ever World Cup tournament. In the women, the Netherlands defeated India very comfortably before it even ended towards full-time 7-2. Then few days later for the men’s, although they were equalised by Malaysia at 1-1 after opening the account first earlier on; but they didn’t stop attacking though having stretched their winning lead before the men stood up tall like their country’s female team in the gold medal final 5-2. What a week it has been where one country has won it all by the team in Orange named the Netherlands.

Now it’s back to regular match hockey with the FIH Pro League in full swing again after the Christmas and New Year’s period where the Hockeyroos (women) lost to China 3-0 yesterday to start their new season campaign while the Men Kookaburra’s first game of the year will come this Sunday 11 pm AEDT v Spain as all of this month’s series of matches are held in India.

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