LUCAS SEVESTRE – WCQ DIARY

Bonjour…

It’s been a long few weeks building up to the World Qualifiers which have now passed. I was disciplined enough to keep a running diary of the progress. Read on for some great insight to what we go through for these tournaments.

Monday 26/10/2009:

Soon after a big disillusion with my club (SGHC) in EHL, it was the time to meet the French team at Lille for one week of final preparation and one of World Cup Qualify.

During this first week, we played two games against the last European Champion, England, to close our preparation. We lost clearly the first game, because of our lack of commitment and concentration, but we got a draw, 2-2, and performed well.

My Gryphon Taboo Magnum and I were ready for the WCQ, such as the team, motivate and eager to start this tournament for which we have trained for months.

Saturday 31/10:

For our first game against Poland, there was crowd. We were waiting for a though game and counted on our good press, a very good ball movement, an play the free hits inside 22m as quick as possible to disturb them.  Despite of our game’s control, we didn’t do better than a draw, 2-2. The feeling that the team got was frustration, because this game was brought to our, efficiency at the goal failed us whereas our opponent managed. First lesson of this tournament that we should not forget.

Sunday 01/31:

On Sunday, under a rain tempest, we won 3-0 against Italia. It was very difficult to build the game as we wanted, but thanks to their Man to man defense on the midfield, we manage to hit long on our strikers. We had success in the organization of the game and their very good defense troubled us in the circle.

Tuesday 03/11:

Pakistan, few players of the Team already had played this team, but Coach Scott Goodheart, had well informed us about them. What they really wanted, was going forward quickly thanks to their traps and leads. On their press they were splitting the field to defend on only one side and hamper our transfers.  I and my Taboo Magnum, had for mission to stop the distribution by Wassem. I really had to work hard on and off the ball, on our attack and our defense. I think, we achieved our best game of the WCQ, but once more, we couldn’t compete with their Penalty Corner, and their goal’s efficiency at the goal.

At the end, 3 PC goals, and 1 Fieldgoal, result 4-2 for Pakistan. In spite of the fact that we lost, we were satisfied of our game’s level and we still believed in qualification in order to meet again Pakistan in final. Noted that it was the 150^th cap for Captain Mathieu Durchon known as “Mamoot”

Thursday 05/11:

We played our fourth game against a strong Russia team, who worked very hard. Their forwards stretched us the entire match, so on their counter-attack, they hit long and were quickly in our circle. The 3 points are the only thing to remember about our match, because we failed so much in the collective organization, and in the efficiency. There was a lot of space behind their Centre midfield, so it allowed me to be free with the ball and have more time to organize. The fact that it was a physical team didn’t trouble me, because I’m used to play as they did.   ?

Saturday 07/11:

This match against Japan sounded as a Semi-final, because victory by a difference of 2 goals was imperative to get the Final against Pakistan qualified since the fourth day.

The Japanese were waiting very low on the pitch, compact in the middle of the field and proceeded mainly in counter-attack. Faced with their though and very aggressive defense on the ball holder, we get 8 PC, but no one succeeded. We controlled the game, and we had a lot of opportunity to make the difference in the circle but all their players run at 100% on their bascule and came back quicker than we thought., Defeat 3-2.

The disappointment is immense, and emotion took over on every player. Since months we were preparing, since months we were thinking about this qualification… We should have beaten this team, but we lost against ourselves, unable to take the time to organize, and accumulating skills errors.

Our dream flew away, but we wanted to have a good finish on the tournament, for the spectators, for those who believed in us and to prove ourselves that we was worth better…

Sunday 08/11:

So, for the third place’s game, we played again Poland. Our determination and our craving made the difference during the first half. The game objectives were well applied. The ball movement was very good, we were aggressive on our press, and the decisions in the attacking circle were good. As proof of our good start, we opened the score at the 4min. We controlled the tempo of the game and until half-time, we were rewarded, 3-1. During the break, Scott warned us about the beginning of the second half. Despite of his warning, Poland put two goals in the 5 first min because of a lack of attention.  Little by little, we lost the control on the game, and Polish became more hazardous. We never will manage to change the course of the game. Defeat 5-4.

As too many time in this tournament, the team has missed of experience, and maturity. We have made too many skills errors on our traps, passes, tackles… We didn’t manage to deal our good and bad periods during the game. We haven’t been good enough in the circle and on the Penalty corner.

But during the heavy hockey year, a group formed, a group who really want to succeed in the World Hockey. The spirit in the team was very good, we did a lot of activities together as bowling, soccer and “Boules” tournaments because for us it’s an important part of the team’s growth.  I think we learned a lot from our mistakes, we’ll all keep training to improve because we know that we have a long way to run together to achieve beautiful things…