Hockey 2020 Tokyo Olympic Review

Men’s Event

In the first round of fixtures, games largely went to form. Belgium beat the Netherlands to take the advantage in Pool B, whilst Argentina could only draw with Spain in Pool A. Australia showed their impressive level of form by beating India 7-1. Australia went on to win the group, with the only blemish being a draw against Spain. India came second, whilst Argentina edged Spain. Germany got a big 5-1 victory in Pool B over Great Britain, but Britain rebounded to grab a draw with the Netherlands, whilst South Africa upset Germany. Germany beat the Netherlands, dropping them into fourth, whilst Great Britain got a draw with Belgium to come third in the group. Germany were strong in the quarter-final, beating Argentina 3-1. Australia took an early lead against the Netherlands, but late in the fourth quarter, the Netherlands brought it back to 2-2. It went to a shootout where Australia took the win. Belgium came from 1-0 down, against Spain, to win 3-1. India took a 1-0 lead over Britain in the first quarter and made it 2-0 for halftime. Britain pulled one back and with India down to ten men, Britain looked to have a chance, only for an unbelievable finish to put India 3-1 up. India started quickly in the semi-final, going up 2-1 by the end of the first quarter. Belgium fought back and went on to win 5-2 with three fourth-quarter goals. Australia won 3-1 against Germany to set up the final between the group winners. In the bronze medal match-up, Germany took a 1-0 lead, before a crazy second quarter which saw them extend into a 3-1 lead, only for India to peg them back to 3-3 at halftime. Five minutes into the second half and India had extended to 5-3. It was a score Germany would never catch up to, finally succumbing 5-4. Australia and Belgium would play a tight game, it was still 0-0 at halftime. Belgium would take a 1-0 lead in the third quarter only for Australia to get an equaliser. It would go to a shootout, with Australia missing their first shot. Belgium would score their first two, only to miss their third. Australia missed their fourth after it was tied before Belgium scored. In a must-score situation, Australia had a shot saved, handing the gold to Belgium.

🥇Belgium 🇧🇪

🥈Australia 🇦🇺

🥉India 🇮🇳

Women’s Event

Reigning champions Great Britain were beaten 2-1 by Germany, in the opening game. That result seemed strong, as both Germany and Netherlands had four wins heading into their final game of the group. The Netherlands beat Germany in that fixture, with Britain qualifying in third. In Pool B, Argentina were also involved in a bit of a shock, losing 3-0 to New Zealand. Spain beat New Zealand 2-1 in their third group game. Australia qualified unbeaten ahead of Spain and Argentina, with New Zealand in fourth. Argentina took a 3-0 win over Germany after leading 2-0 at half time which some would potentially describe as an upset, given the relative group stage form of the two teams. A bigger upset came as India beat Australia 1-0. The Netherlands scored a goal in each of the first three quarters to take a 3-0 victory over New Zealand. Great Britain took a 1-0 lead over Spain in the second quarter but Spain quickly drew level. They extended to 2-1 in the third quarter, only for Spain to hit back in the fourth. This meant we had the first shootout of the tournament. Maddie Hinch saved the first two and Hannah Martin put Britain 1-0 on the second shot and following another goal, Hinch saved her fourth consecutive Spanish attempt to see Britain go through. The first quarter saw the Netherlands frustrated by Britain defensively, but two goals would come in two minutes in the second quarter. In the third quarter, they would add two more, eventually taking a 5-1 victory. India led Argentina 1-0 but the Argentinians would pull it back to take a 2-1 victory. In the third place playoff, it would start slowly. Britain scored at the start of the second period and then again in the 24th minute. By half time though, India led 3-2. Britain equalised in the third quarter and in the 48th minute Grace Balsdon scored from a penalty corner, with Britain not relinquishing the lead. The action in the final would all come in the second quarter, as the Netherlands took a 3-1 victory, with Caia van Maasakker scoring a quick double.

🥇Netherlands 🇳🇱

🥈Argentina 🇦🇷

🥉Great Britain 🇬🇧