WWC10 x DAY10 x AUS v GER

Simple equation tonight… well kinda.

The simple of it is, the winner of Australia v Germany goes to the Semi final to play Argentina.  Germany had one extra lever, they could draw and still head on through.

It was very early that the German’s declared that they didn’t want to try for that draw and scored from a corner. Kobe McGurk asked a question to the video referee and somehow the result was a denied goal and another corner. All I have to say is well played.

The game was at half time all equal, playing well for the Germans.

Australia came out strong and fast in the second and had a lot of the ball, and moved forward well. FiJo was controlling the midfield and distributing wide as the Aussies looked to go back to the wide game and angle the ball in. But it just didn’t happen.

As always, Germany went forward only a handful of time and scored once.

That was and is enough. For all the hard effort that Australia had with control of the game (just as NZ had on their game against Germany) they couldn’t put the score on the board.

So as it is decided. Australia will play Korea for 5th/6th.  Germany go the semis to play Argentina and chance at the final.

WWC10 x DAY10 x NZ v IND

Today is Krystal Forgesson’s Birthday. New Zealand haven’t won a game as of yet but deserve more. Krystal has scored at will here in Rosario and against India, there’s a chance for more, a chance for a win.

Family and friends were in the stands with banners and a Haka before the game to amp up the players.

The win would propel the Black Sticks up the ladder to 4th, a much better placing in a tough group. India are not easy beats as they dispatched of Japan in the last game.

New Zealand look very structured. Very sharp, very clean, very fast and very fit. Their relentless pressure on attack propped chances all over the place but were unable to convert to goals. It didn’t happen in the first half, but patience and pressure made it happen in the second.

When Krystal moved the ball with grace into the D and then pinpointed a rocket pass to a stretching Katie Glynn, the game was well in their grasp. They were in control.

New Zealand started showing flare as India allowed them space in the midfield and the Black Sticks looked poised and in control. And control they had. A great and belatedly deserved win, 3 goals to 0.

No goals for Krystal, but a win. A perfect pass to score.  Happy Birthday.

Photos: Daniel Carson | www.dcimages.org

WWC10 x DAY9 x ENG v ARG

Tonight finals placing for this group would be sorted. These two teams already have their places booked into the semis but this game would sort out how’d they’d rank.

What else turned up was the amazing sunset, again. Also the crowd was once again packed to the rafters (if there were), in more voice than previously, if that was possible.

Argentina definitely look to have their form coming in through this tournament and used the crowd’s energy to pump themselves up. Their tackling was tenacious. Their attack lethal.

England’s defence headed by Kate Walsh was strong, but their attack unable to find the circle.

Argentina on the other hand did break through and took advantage to score two goals, thanks to Garcia’s amazing intensity. That was the only scores for the night.

Argentina finish on top, England second.

WWC10 x DAY8 x AUS v NZ

We’ve seen all teams now play four games each and some equations have come up, with this game being quite a big cog on that mechanism.

Earlier Japan lost to India, but both teams were already out of contention.

Holland beat Germany 2 to 1. The Dutch booked themselves in the finals and more than likely top spot.

Now…  Australia and New Zealand battle.  NZ need a win to stay alive for Champion’s Trophy next year and Australia need the win to stay alive for the World Cup now.

Damn tight is what happened, especially when New Zealand’s scoring metronome Krystal Forgesson opened the scoring for the match we had a game on our hands. It wasn’t till late in the half when the Aussies equalled the score.

New Zealand will go down as very unlucky here in Rosario as Australia ended up scoring quickly at the end of the match with three more goals. They had control of the game through the half, as they have all other games. It was Australia who were efficient infront of goals to score when they had a sniff.

With the Aussie win they move to play Germany and look for a finals berth for the winner. A do or die game.

New Zealand… well they have and are playing some of the best hockey to watch. They deserve a win. They deserve a higher placing than what they will end up with.

WWC10 x DAY7 x ARG v CHN

Tonight we had a game of hockey. Tonight was not just hockey. Tonight was what hockey can be, what hockey is. Women’s hockey has no more a safe bastion of emotion and atmosphere than here, Argentina and Rosario.

It was a night of passion.

The post card reads… “Wish you were here.”

Argentina’s home team, Las Leonas, played host to China in a hard fought game. A game that was tied at half time nil all. A game that saw both teams playing hard hockey with structure. A second half full on tactics and amazing goals. Two to Argentina and none to China.

What was the most amazing was the setting. The sunset. The packed stadium. The sea of blue and white. The chanting and songs. The unison singing of players names such as  ”Sole’, Sole’, Sole’” for Soledad Garcia. This setting, one feels can not be replicated anywhere else in the world.

One exception.

If Argentina (now booked into the finals) play in the World Cup Final, expect your TVs to have their speakers blown.

Photos: Daniel Carson | www.dcimages.org

WWC10 x DAY7 x ENG v S.AF

Summer. It’s kinda arrived. The sun is out and it’s not zero degrees. That’s a win in my book.

On wins. England need one to stay in the finals as they play Argentina next.

South Africa have a win on the books and could be a likely chance for an upset.

It only took England nine minutes to open their account with emotion and vigour.

The funny thing is that the very full stadium here today weren’t too impressed and it started to become clear that the locals were cheering for South Africa.

When England scored in the second half from some brilliant structural play they silenced the crowd but not the South Africans, who pushed on. And on. And when they looked more likely to make the next score the noise upped.

It was indeed South Africa with the next score and again Pietie Coetzee who made the connection. Coming out of retirement certainly has born wonders!  The crowd was alive and every touch was cheered. The girls in Green looked aggressive and had a few more chances to take this to a draw, not what the English wanted.

In the time of the final buzzer, the more drilled team in England won 2 to 1, but a valiant effort by South Africa has shown that a team with less time as a group can still play well at the top level.

WWC10 x DAY6 x NZ v JPN

Hockey is now an extreme sport. It was zero degrees at the start of Japan v New Zealand and with that wind ripping though could have been lower.

All the action took place in the second half after a scoreless first half. Japan came out quickly and scored from well worked passing not once but twice to place New Zealand on the back foot.

The girls in Black altered their game plan after missing numerous penalty corners in a row. It was now use the blistering pace of Anita Punt to break the lines holding the ball. It worked as the Japanese couldn’t get close to Punty and she created space in the deep wings. First Krystal Forgesson was rewarded for her great shots on goal and scored the first, and then Punty crossed perfectly for the second.

Two all was the final score in extreme conditions, with the draw locking both teams out of a finals chance.

WWC10 x DAY6 x AUS v HOL

As the day of 6 games continues we still wait for the snow to fall. It hasn’t.  It feels like it should, and really a round of applause should be had for the players out there.

Netherlands look the form team and Australia are on a roll. A draw here would make the pool exceptionally interesting considering Germany beat India 4 goals to 1 earlier.  The fight is on between these three teams.

It didn’t take long for the Dutch power play of shot corner specialties to come into play and open the scoring. Not really in the run of play either. The Australians were the ones pushing hard and keeping the ball deep in their attack. They were playing an strong and physical game and it took the team from the Netherlands some time to adjust, and were lucky not to concede an early goal to the Aussies.

But once the Dutch had the game worked out and were pushing back they were able to get their structure back into oder. Australia tried to use the wide areas again a to create space and were able to, and once again Kate Jenner was used to effect with her big hitting penetrating the Dutch lines.  The Aussies themselves leveled with a short corner but only to be nullified in the last minute of the half by Holland doing the same again.

The second half saw Australia loose their structure a little and started to try and push the ball deep into their attack. They were successful in keeping it there and the pressure on the Dutch to keep it out.

On the other hand the Dutch kept to their game plan of keeping the ball on the stick and using shorter passes and strong lines and added two more goals to close out the game winning 4 goals to 1.

It was probably the best contested hockey we have seen here so far. Especially in these conditions, it was a pleasure to witness.

Unfortunately, Teneal Attard was injured early in the game with what looked like a possible leg injury and she did not come back on.

WWC10 x DAY6 x ARG v SPN

Grudge match? Could have though that was the case with the sudden influx of crowd for the game between Argentina and Spain. The stands were looking about 30% capacity in this weather that could be compared to ice in wind (ie Snow) but moments before the start it filled up to maximum.

This game would have been predicted to be one sided.

It was.

Argentina started in control, held control and finished every aspect with control. The Spanish team looked like it was trying to take away the dominant run from the Argentina forward line and midfield with strong marking and agression. What this meant was that Spain were playing Argentina’s game, not theirs.

Argentina kept running with the ball and space just opened up, allowing shots on goal as well and short corners aplenty.

When Alejandra Gulla netted the second goal of the game (Arg 2 – 0 Spain) she replicated her achievement against the same team in 2006. It was enough to break the back of the Spaniards.

Marine Russo was arguably the best on ground with her movement and control between the midfield and the deep attack, taking some direct shots on goal herself.

In the end, the game was all one way traffic and the crowd loved it, even though the weather just wont let up.

Argentina 4, Spain 0

Photos: Daniel Carson | www.dcimages.org

WWC10 x DAY6 x ENG v S.KOR

Resumption of games have occurred. It’s colder and wetter than ever but game are being played. Six in fact.

South Korea got that memo while England looked napping early as the Koreans opened the scoring within the first two minutes to stun the English. It did startle the English into the game but not as much as it could have.

England looked to keep a structure in place and play to their game plan of using the wide areas and managed to win short corners out of these. The South Korean defence was too strong in the set plays and the game as a whole and stifled the English attack.

At the start of the second, England used the same tactic as South Korea and scored in the first couple of minutes. The game was set for a frantic finish with both teams needing a win, but if England did win they’d almost be booking a place in the finals.

Korea used the high ball and looked for open space upfront. England still used structure and ball use. Neither team was unable to score further and the final was a draw.

The toll was noticeable on the English after the game with hands on knees. South Korea were a little more upbeat.

1 goal a piece.

In the early game, China took 4 goals to 1 to defeat South Africa convincingly.

Photos: Daniel Carson | www.dcimages.org

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