ROAD SO FAR WC10 x FORGESSON

With 3 games done and dusted in our pool, the World Cup campaign is well underway.  We haven’t had the ideal start with losing to Germany 2-0, Netherland 7-3 and then having a draw against Japan 2-2.  Apart from obviously not winning; the game against Germany felt reasonable good.  We were dangerous with the ball and created plenty of circle penetrations which we felt we lacked building up to the tournament.  At the other end of the pitch, our defensive penalty corners were solid.  Unfortunately, not enough shots were at the goal and at the end of the day, the Germans were far more clinical where it mattered and made the most of their chances in the end.

The game against the Dutch was full of mixed emotions as it was my 100^th cap but also not at all the result we were after.  We started well and I managed to score in the first few minutes which surprised me as much as the Dutch.  This turned into a bit of a nightmare with them getting 2 goals back immediately and then continuing to run us Kiwis rampant.  We had long patches during the game where we constantly turned over ball and defensively our lines were way out of whack which they punished us for.  The first 5 minutes of the second half resulted in the Dutch scoring 3 goals and against one of the top teams in the world a comeback after that was realistically out of reach.  The team continued to work hard and fight and as a result we saw 2 more goals go our way to make the score line look slightly nicer!

On a brighter note, the most recent game we have played was against Japan and as mentioned we finished with a draw.  This game felt much improved on the first two, defensively tighter as a unit and in attack we managed to use our speed to our advantage and punished them down the right hand side when we did target them down there.  Like the previous two games we didn’t make the most of our chances and it wasn’t until late in the game when we were down 2 nil that we finally managed to get the ball in the back of the net.  One point out of the game which is better than none and tonight we play the Aussies which we all know will be another tough battle as it always is.  By the sound of all the banter going on in the crowds it could also be quite feisty between the two side’s supporters who are both managing to put in huge efforts each game.  The NZ crew continue to remind us how draining and exhausting it is which is hilarious but completely understandable coping with the wind and rain, chants and beers that they ‘need’ to get through….

I have been lucky enough to have friends and family here watching and yesterday with an improved change in the weather I got the opportunity to spend some time with them.  I saw parts of the river, the memorial and some markets which was beautiful in the sun.  The locals are really friendly and with basically no knowledge of Spanish they continue to be patient with my attempt at stringing sentences together which is a sigh of relief at times.  With the restrictions in language it’s incredible to see the amount of interest and support that people still show.  We are often stopped in the street for photos etc and at the turf, get swamped for any gear including clothing and hockey gear.  It’s pretty amazing and probably the only time we would get treated like some sort of star so it’s been quite weird but also refreshing to see how much people appreciate the hockey.

Hope everyone watching is continuing to enjoy everything going on in Rosario.  The atmosphere and history that is being created is insane, such an amazing place to experience this World Cup and I have never been surrounded by anything like it before.

Krys

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

WWC10 x DAY5 x RAINED OUT

It was bound to happen at some point. The weather has finally played its card and taken control over Rosario and FIH to stop any action on the pitch today.

It rained all night last night and all morning. With uncertainty all day, teams all prepared and got in buses ready to play. But the rain never stopped and eventually at 6pm all games were called off for the day, including the block-buster Argentina v Spain game.

At the moment we are unsure what this means. Tomorrow’s forcast is for more rain and as well as tonight. 7am we’ll know more, but options include calling off tomorrow as well or doubling up 6 games tomorrow. If games are called off tomorrow then on both Saturday and Sunday we’ll see 6 games a day.

We’ll keep you posted on the the developments.

WWC10 x DAY4 x NZ v HOL

Luckily the weather for the New Zealand v Holland game got better. Marginally.

It’s still a penguin’s paradise out here.  Maybe it was better suited to the girls in Black as New Zealand opened the game with a incredibly quick goal that left everyone reeling but hope that this event is wide open. New Zealand looks very very impressive against Germany and carried it here early.

Early it was. That was about the only time New Zealand saw their attacking half for the first half of the game but were incredibly impressive in holding the potent Dutch side who broke through for a couple of  goals in the half as well keeping the upper hand.

The rain kept dropping, as the temperature. And with that the Dutch Orange machine went to work. And work they did. A spell that saw three goals in three minutes from the Dutch play took the game away into their control. Even a rugby style hip and shoulder charge by Katie Glynn couldn’t slow down the girls in Orange.

Control was what it was all about. Holland kept the ball. Kept possession. Kept control. Kept scoring. Before you could blink this outfit piled on seven goals and look like the incredible team that many are expecting to see here.

New Zealand star Krystal Forgesson was a focal point up front and never stopped her work and when the chips were down and most would give up she stepped it up and netted two late goals for her black fitted team.

The final scored was Holland 7 and New Zealand 3. The Dutch look the form team at the moment even out-classing the host nation Argentina in all aspects of the game.

In the late game, Japan came out blazing and took and early lead in the match against Germany. It was up to the Germans to come from behind and that they did. Eventual winners 2 goals to 1, but Japan are showing that they are not to be taken lightly at all.

WWC10 x DAY4 x AUS v IND

Driving rain. Gale force winds. Icy.

You ever noticed what these players actually wear to play hockey?  It’s tailored for summer, not what we have here. These girls braved the elements to play hockey for their country.

Fi Johnson would have been happy to be taking the game off in a nice warm tracksuit. Maybe some room service?

This cold made for a sluggish start without much time and space to get running, so there was low intensity on foot and the skills of both sides not quite up to standard.

Australia were trying both the short pass game and the long, but what seemed to work was the long hit, which Kate Jenner hit her target a few times causing panic in the Indian defence.

On the other side, India were looking at the short game and when it worked they made it pay and scored. A 2 to 1 lead to Australia was what we had at the break and it looked needed in this weather.

Funny enough, coming out of the change rooms in the second netted a great push in intensity and suddenly a goal fest erupted. It came from both sides but suddenly Australia took off and used run and the short pass game coupled with forward pressure and took the game on.

Finally the score was Australia 6 goals to India 3.

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