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 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 GAME 2

Game 2 v India – 6-3 Win..

The weather was not nice… windy, freezing and wet would best describe it. On the pitch it was fine once you got going, but for the Aussie support crew they had to resort to dance moves and cheering to help keep them warm.

The game wasn’t played as planned, but in the end we came through with the goods and got the 3 points we were after. India gave us a good run for our money and didn’t lay down easy. The first half saw a pretty even contest and we struggled to break their defence. However the second half saw us come out much stronger and we started to get a run on which created some good goal scoring opportunities that we were able to put away.

Today was our rest day… recovery, debrief and homework has been done. Tomorrow sees us playing a powerful Dutch team that has had a couple of convincing wins in their first two matches of the tournament. They are in pretty good form and we will need to be on the top of our game to match them. It is always a good challenge playing a quality team like the Dutch, so I am looking forward to it. There is some doubt that we might not play due to the weather, but we are still preparing as we normally would. Game on!

xo T

MENS x AUSTRALIA v ARGENTINA x TEST MATCHES LIVE ONLINE x FREE

The Australian Men’s Team will play Argentina this weekend in Perth in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games. Matches are at 3pm WST Australia at the Curtin University Stadium in Bentley. If you cannot get to the ground to support the Aussie’s you can also watch these games LIVE thanks to http://www.LMSCtv.com/

Jump online to check out Gryphon star’s Fergus Kavanagh, Rob Hammond, Joel Carroll and Trent Mitton as they prepare for their assult on the Commonwealth Games in India next month.

Photo: Daniel Carson | DCIMAGES.ORG

WC2010 x HERE IT IS x ATTARD

World Cup 2010… here it is.

The Hockeyroos tour started with a rather long trip, from Perth Australia, across the country to Sydney, over the ditch to NZ, around the world to Santiago, over the Andes to Buenos Aires and then a 4 hour bumpy bus ride to Rosario, but we made it and we are stoked to be here.

We have spent the last week in Rosario getting used to the time difference, settling in at the hotel, practicing and playing on the turf and adjusting to the typical Argentine late nights and long sleep ins!

We have played a couple of practice matches in this time, one v South Africa and one v Argentina. The match v Argentina was a lot of fun, hockey wise and in general. We were able to experience the crowd and amazing atmosphere that the Argie locals can produce but also get up to the fast pace and skilful hockey we expect to meet with most of the teams during the World Cup. As a whole we are well prepared for the tournament and are looking forward to facing some strong competition.

The vibe in Rosario is pretty special and it was kicked off with the opening ceremony a few nights ago. We arrived, fashionably late to the ceremony with all of the other teams there and a crowd of around 4000. We were given a warm welcome by the city and the hockey world with some traditional Argentine dances followed by an awesome fireworks display.

The games then began. We were the last game of the first round and faced a frenetic Japan side. We started off a little slow with a fair few debutants, but as the game went on we found our straps and came together well. It was a tough game where we missed a few of our opportunities but came away with a 2-1 win and 3 points on the board.

It is a rest day today and we have enjoyed a sleep in and a little bit of down time. We will do some research on India this evening and prepare for the match tomorrow. Game on!

xo T.

Photos: Daniel Carson | DCIMAGES.ORG

WWC10 x DAY3 x ARG v S.KOR

Game 3 of day 3 is Argentina playing South Korea. The home side high favourites not just with the vocal crowd who braved the chilling cold to shout and cheer their Lionesses.

Atmosphere like this one feels is going to be here every second day at the World Cup, no matter the local’s opposition. This opposition in the form of Koreans were here to play and didn’t wince once at the crowd. Infact it was the Koreans who started the strongest controlling the ball but failed time and time again to get into their attacking D.

The Argentineans ran the ball rather than hit it into attacking positions and with an amazing mix of power and pace with a front line consisting of Gulla, Russo, Garcia and Rebechi you got the feeling that one of these runs would pay off.

It wasn’t until the second half (yes, it was nil all at half time) that one of these runs presented the golden egg. Carla Rebechi took a mid-air, shoulder height ball, and made it contact with the netting inside the goal. The crowd erupted, and so did Carla for two goals from two games.
South Korea weren’t done with and from that point held the ball in their attacking half and if it wasn’t there already they’d use the “hit it hard” technique.

A game with great tension is what we saw. A game with great emotion from both sides.

Carla’s goal was the only one of the match and proved the clear winner.

Argentina 1 and South Korea 0.

Photos: Daniel Carson | www.dcimages.org

WWC10 x DAY1 x ARG v S.AF

Drums. Music. Chanting. Singing.

Hockey in Argentina is a passion. Just incase anyone doubts that, get on the next plane to Rosario (via Buenos Aries) and see for yourself.

After rousing team introductions, even the freezing wind and chill factor couldn’t take the sting out of the crowd and overall atmosphere.

The hosts and clear tournament favourites went about their business with pace and intensity akin to a final. It actually was an early domination from the forwards with Garcia, Russo and Rebechi all taking multiple shots on goal. Indeed it was Argentina that took the lead early showing the South Africans who was boss.

South Africa didn’t agree with that rule and wanted to take the boss away from the pyramid of control. A quick penalty conversion Gryphon specialist Pietie Coetzee drawn the game level. From that point both teams were looking evenly poised. At the break the crowd really didn’t know what to do with their team level.

Crowd pressure on the restart worked early wonders with a quick goal and then a third for the game by Carla Rebechi (obviously having broken in her new Las Leonas Ltd Edition stick) making the game look out of reach for the girls in green.

Late in the game, Gryphon forward Vida Ryan scored a great field goal strike to the top right of the net to add something more to the game. But once again an Argentinean had something to prove for their vocal crowd and Marine Russo scored in the last minute to shut the game out completely.

The score sit final at 5 goals to 2, in a game where South Africa looked very respectable and threatening.

Photos: Daniel Carson | www.dcimages.org

WWC10 x OPENING CEREMONY

The games don’t start till Sunday but the events of the Womens World Cup in 2010 have certainly got going.

And with a bang.

Literally.

Hockey doesn’t draw massive crowds, fanatics, politicians, dancing and fireworks usually.  Usually…

Tonight has changed my mind of what hockey can be, what hockey is. Tonight the Opening Ceremony is what I am sure is just the catalyst. The crowds packed into the National Flag Monument in Rosario for something special. A sea of people. It’s a term used a lot.

When you are at the pointy end of the sea, it certainly feels like they could crash forward down onto you. Crowds this size are big no matter the event. Argentina has shown us why the World Cup should be here.

Spectacular light shows.

Dancing of all sorts regionalised to Argentina and South America.

Fireworks.

It was all here tonight and so were the chills going up my spine.

More photos of the night can be found at my site: www.dcimages.org

Photos: Daniel Carson | www.dcimages.org

WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN x WHAT’S A ROSARIO?

It’s a matter of a couple of days before the start of the World Cup 2010. In fact tonight is the opening ceremony at the National Flag Monument, which barr my jet-lag kicking, I will attempt to witness.

Above: A street poster found all over the city, features Gulla and Rebechi.

What’s a Rosario?

Besides the host of the Womens Hockey World Cup, Rosario has an interesting and rich history in regard to it’s land (a river and stream city), people and sport (host to games of the 1978 Football World Cup).  In the vast scheme of things, this city is new. Not really having a foundation set for a town over farming land until 1724 when it was granted a mill and town plans. In 1751 it got a mayor. Now Rosario is Argentina’s second city and constantly grows.

The biggest claim to fame and importance to Argentina is that Rosario is the site of first ever raising of the Argentinean flag on February 27, 1812, by General Manuel Belgrano on the shores of the Paraná. The city was then known as “Cradle of the Argentine Flag”.  It is this flag which the official Las Leonas Gryphon hockey stick has been based on.

This is where the National Flag Monument is now and where tonight’s opening ceremony will take place.

For Hockey, we are treated to a new stadium and turf. From all accounts it is brilliant and we should expect nothing less than amazing hockey.

LAS LEONAS x GARCIA + REBECHI

We’ve shown in a previous post the fantastic shoot of the players that are Gryphon’s ambassadors in Argentina and Las Leonas.

Soledad Garcia and Carla Rebechi are featured here in their poster designs with the new exclusive Las Leonas Gryphon hockey sticks. Keep and eye out for Garcia’s strong play up front and the pure striking power of Rebechi during the World Cup.

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