Day 7 (Evening): Reigning Olympic gold medallists Argentina kept their title hopes alive by qualifying for the competition quarter-finals thanks to a battling victory over New Zealand as the men’s pool phase came to a dramatic conclusion.
Argentina’s win against the Black Sticks ensured a third-place finish in Pool A, behind winners Australia and second-placed India, with Spain – who claimed a dramatic 1-1 draw against Australia earlier in the day – taking the fourth qualification spot, with New Zealand and hosts Japan both eliminated.
Germany produced a superb performance to defeat the Netherlands 3-1, a result which saw them finish second in Pool B behind winners Belgium, who drew 2-2 with Great Britain. GB and the Netherlands finished Pool B placed third and fourth respectively.
The line-up and timings for the quarter-finals – which take place on Sunday 1st August – as well as the progression into the semi-finals is as follows. All times are Japan Standard Time (GMT / UTC +9).
Quarter-finals – Sunday 1 August
09:30 Germany (2nd Pool B) v Argentina (3rd Pool A) – Match 2
12:00 Australia (1st Pool A) v Netherlands (4th Pool B) – Match 1
18:30 Belgium (1st Pool B) v Spain (4th Pool A) – Match 4
21:00 India (2nd Pool A) v Great Britain (3rd Pool B) – Match 3
Semi-Finals
Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 2
Winner Match 3 v Winner Match 4
More information about the route to the semi-finals and medal matches can be found at the end of this media release. Additional details about Friday evening’s matches can be found below.
Men’s Pool A
Japan 3-5 India
India completed the pool phase with four wins out of five to ensure that they enter the quarter-finals in confident mood, beating eliminated Japan 5-3. The Samurais finished their Pool A campaign in sixth place with one point, but their thrilling attacking style and fighting spirit will live long in the memory of all who have seen them in action at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
India established a 2-0 advantage thanks to goals form Harmanpreet Singh and Gurjant Singh before the extraordinary Kenta Tanaka fired home a glorious field goal to leave Japan within striking distance going into the second half. The Samurais levelled the scores three minutes into the second half when a fine passing move ripped through the India defence and allowed Kota Watanabe to score. However, India hit back immediately thanks to an instinctive deflection from Shamsher Singh before Nilakanta Sharma and a second for Gurjant put India into an unassailable lead. Japan scored a third thanks to more fabulous attacking work from Kenta Tanaka, who stole possession from an Indian defender to allow Kazuma Murata a simple goal on the backhand.
“We just wanted to keep that winning rhythm and we just wanted to take this positivity into the quarter-finals”, said goalkeeper PR Sreejesh. “That was a good match and we are really happy to win that match, but still there is room to improve.”
Japan’s Shota Yamada said: “We have been practising a lot on our defending. Through this tournament I think our Japanese team has performed very well with that defending. We have been playing a lot of teams and those teams are all ranked above us. We have gained a lot of experience and the most important thing is I don’t give up on everything.”
Match information and statistics can be found on Olympics.com by clicking here.
Argentina 4-1 New Zealand
It was a case of winner takes all in this meeting between reigning Olympic champions Argentina and New Zealand, with Los Leones claiming the victory that they needed to qualify for the quarter-finals and keep alive their dream of defending the gold medal they won at Rio 2016. It was a heartbreaking way for New Zealand’s Tokyo 2020 campaign to end, with the Black Sticks finishing 5th in Pool A with four points from five matches.
New Zealand took an early lead when Kane Russell dispatched a typically emphatic penalty corner drag-flick in the 14th minute, although Los Leones needed just 60 seconds to find an equaliser as Lucas Martinez fired home. Goals from Lucas Vila and Jose Tolini, in the second and third quarters respectively, put Argentina in the driving seat. With the clock ticking down, Argentina went for broke and replaced goalkeeper Leon Hayward with an outfield player. However, it was the Argentineans who benefitted from the move when Nicolas Keenan raced onto an overhead pass and volleyed into an empty net, completing a superb victory and triggering wild celebrations from all members of the Argentine contingent.
“We are really happy, more thinking that we were struggling in the other games”, said Argentina’s Keenan. “We couldn’t fire our game, and today I think the tactic of the game was good, and we finally found some more action inside their circle that we were missing. We are really happy to make it.”
New Zealand captain Blair Tarrant said: “It’s pretty tough. Losing at the Olympics in this fashion is not something you enjoy. We had hopes at this tournament. I think we showed glimpses but we didn’t do it for long enough.”
Match information and statistics can be found on Olympics.com by clicking here.
Men’s Pool B
Germany 3-1 Netherlands
Germany bounced back from their shock defeat at the hands of South Africa to record a fine 3-1 victory over the Netherlands, the team that beat them in the final of June’s European Championships. The result meant that Die Honamas would finish higher in the Pool B standings than the Oranje, although their final positions were not known until the result of the Belgium versus Great Britain match was confirmed.
The match itself was tense and frenetic, with both teams fully aware about how important three points could be in determining their respective paths towards the medal matches. It was Germany who struck the first blow, with Niklas Wellen deflecting a cross from Martin Haner into the roof of the Netherlands goal ten minutes into the first quarter. Die Honamas extended their lead towards the end of the third period through another close-range deflection, with Constantin Staib touching home before Timm Herzbruch netted a third with a cracking backhand drive. Jeroen Herzberger’s blistering volley in the 59th minute proved only a consolation, with Germany – who fell to a surprise 4-3 defeat to South Africa in their previous outing – seeing out a win which will only serve to boost confidence levels going into the knock-out phase.
“The South Africa game clearly showed us some problems and we set out to do exactly those things better”, said goal-scorer Timm Herzbruch. “We succeeded 100 percent. The Dutch had hardly any chances in the entire game because we defended them extremely well. So I can say with full conviction that it was a win that was more than well deserved. I’m really looking forward to the knockout phase. ”
Match information and statistics can be found on Olympics.com by clicking here.
Belgium 2-2 Great Britain
Pool B winners Belgium were given their sternest test of the competition so far, with Great Britain holding the World and FIH Hockey Pro League champions to a 2-2 draw. Great Britain twice led in a remarkable clash between two European heavyweights, with the Red Lions fighting back on each occasion to take a share of the spoils. While the outcome of the match would not change anything for Belgium, who had already won the pool before today’s play had even started, it was a massive result for GB, with the point being enough for a third-place finish and a quarter-final match against Pool A runners up India.
Rupert Shipperley’s close range finish gave Great Britain the lead in the 17th minute, and it was an advantage that they held until Tom Boon restored parity with a 37th minute penalty corner. GB hit back almost immediately thanks to a fantastic flicked finish from Liam Ansell after great work from Sam Ward, but Belgium claimed a share of the spoils when Thomas Briels touched home two minutes before the end of the third quarter.
Match information and statistics can be found on Olympics.com by clicking here.
Day 7 (Morning): A torrential downpour may have been enough to delay the start of the day’s play, but it certainly could not stop the drama as Spain’s men and India’s women kept their Olympic dreams alive at the Oi Hockey Stadium. A late Pau Quemada strike earned Spain a shock 1-1 draw against Pool A winners Australia to seal their place in the competition quarter-finals, while India’s women also left it late, with Navneet Kaur’s winner against Ireland keeping her side in the competition just when elimination seemed certain.
South Africa’s men and women were also in action, but could not find the results they needed to reach the knock-out stages.
More information about the matches can be found below.
Results (Morning)
Women’s Pool A
South Africa 1-4 Germany
Germany proved too strong for Pool A rivals South Africa, cruising to a 4-1 victory over their opponents in a match that was delayed by over an hour due to a torrential downpour here in Tokyo.
The result moves Die Danas level on points with the Netherlands, who they face tomorrow to determine the winner of Pool B. Defeat for South Africa means they can no longer qualify for the quarter-finals.
The delayed start did not stop Germany from exploding out of the blocks once the match finally started, with Lisa Altenburg’s flicked effort putting Die Danas into the lead with just 75 seconds played. A penalty corner from Sonja Zimmerman and a second for Altenburg gave Germany a richly deserved 3-0 advantage at half time. Anne Schroder made it 4-0 with a superb reverse deflection that beat unsighted South Africa goalkeeper Phumelela Mbande at her near post before Toni Marks netted a well-worked team goal to give South Africa a consolation goal.
Commenting on singing the national anthem in the middle of a torrential downpour, South Africa’s Marizen Marais said: “We all had a little bit of a laugh because we could not sing it was raining so hard”, with Germany’s Viktoria Huse describing the weather conditions as “so crazy”.
Match information and statistics can be found on Olympics.com by clicking here.
Ireland 0-1 India
India claimed a dramatic victory over Ireland to keep their quarter-final qualification hopes alive, with Navneet Kaur netting three minutes from time to earn the Asians their first points of the competition. A draw or defeat would have resulted in India’s elimination, but Kaur’s fine close-range deflection proved to be enough for a crucial three points against a team who now sit above them only on goal difference.
Ireland – who needed a point to secure their progress into the knock-out stage – produced a magnificent defensive display throughout the match, with goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran the star of the show as her team kept out a staggering 14 penalty corner opportunities. It seemed that their wastefulness was going to cost them dearly, but Navneet Kaur’s clever touch on team captain Rani’s dangerous cross-shot was enough to maintain India’s dreams of reaching the competition quarter finals with one round of matches left to play. India take on the already eliminated South Africa in their final pool match, with Ireland facing a tough encounter against Great Britain.
“We had so many penalty corners and Ireland defended well”, said India captain Rani. “We had so many opportunities and we missed so many opportunities. There was a lot of pressure because this was a must-win game for both teams. And I am so proud because we stayed calm.”
Ireland’s Deirdrie Duke said: “That was a game that we needed to win and we didn’t so that’s my overwhelming feeling. Quick turnaround tomorrow. Depending on other results now, that quarter final spot is still up for grabs, so we’re going to have to park this pretty quick and get ourselves up for a big one tomorrow.”
Match information and statistics can be found on Olympics.com by clicking here.
Men’s Pool A
Australia 1-1 Spain
A last gasp equaliser from Pau Quemada booked Spain’s place in the quarter finals, earning his team a dramatic 1-1 draw against Pool A winners Australia, who dropped their first points of the competition.
It was a sensational result for the Red Sticks, claiming the vital point that the needed to seal a berth in the knock-out phase, with Argentina and New Zealand – the only teams mathematically capable of catching them – playing each other this evening.
Australia’s first place finish in Pool A means they will face a cross-over quarter-final match against the team that finishes fourth in Pool B, which will be concluded this evening.
Australia took the lead the lead three minutes into the second quarter when Tom Wickham pounced from close range after Spain shot-stopper Quico Cortes saved a penalty corner effort. However, the Red Sticks produced their best performance of the competition to stay within touching distance of the mighty Kookaburras, who dominated possession but could not kill the game off before Quemada’s dramatic late intervention, with the 36-year-old somehow finding a route to goal with a deflected penalty corner effort.
“It was important because it gave us one point and we really need that point”, said Spain hero Pau Quemada. “It wasn’t a pretty goal, but a goal is a goal. It is what we needed to qualify for the quarter-finals.”
Reflecting on the result, Australia’s Aran Zelewski said: “We wanted to make the quarterfinal and finish on top of our ladder. It puts us in the best position for the quarter-final on Sunday. We will go back in and learn from what happened at the end. The main thing is we finished on top.”
Match information and statistics can be found on Olympics.com by clicking here.
Canada 4-4 South Africa
South Africa’s slim hopes of reaching the competition quarter finals were ended when they could only claim one point against Canada, who earned their first point of the tournament in a thrilling 4-4 draw. The African continental champions needed a big victory to put pressure on a Germany side sitting three points above them, with the defeat meaning that Germany are now certain of a place in the knock-out stages.
South Africa – who earned a stunning win over Germany on Thursday (29 July), helping them climb up to tenth place in the FIH World Rankings – raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals in the 2nd and 9th minutes form Nqobile Ntuli and Nic Spooner, only for Mark Pearson and Keegan Pereira to restore parity with goals either side of the quarter-time break. The teams traded blows in the third quarter as South Africa’s Matt Guise-Brown and John Boothroyd of Canada took the score to 3-3 before Samkelo Mvimbi netted what looked to be a winning goal for South Africa with just two minutes of the match remaining. However, Canada had the final say in the contest, with Gabriel Ho-Garcia’s open play strike completing the match scoring.
Match information and statistics can be found on Olympics.com by clicking here.
The action continues on Saturday (31 July) with the final round of matches from the women’s pool phase determining the line-up for the quarter-finals, which will be played on Monday 2nd August. The action begins in Pool B with China (5th – 3pts) facing New Zealand (3rd – 6pts), Argentina (2nd – 9pts) playing Australia (1st – 12 pts) and Japan (6th – 0pts) taking on Spain (4th – 6pts). In Pool A, India (5th – 3pts) meet South Africa (6th – 0pts), Germany (2nd – 12 pts) face the Netherlands (1st – 12pts) and Ireland (4th – 3pts) play Great Britain (3rd – 6pts).
The hockey competitions at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 take place from Saturday 24 July to Friday 6 August 2021. Both the men’s and women’s competitions feature 12 teams, split into two pools of six ahead of quarter-finals, semi-finals and medal matches. For more information about the hockey competitions at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, visit https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/hockey/olympic-schedule-and-results.htm.
Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – Hockey competitions
30 July 2021 – Day 7
Results
Women’s Pool A
South Africa 1-4 Germany
Ireland 0-1 India
Men’s Pool A
Australia 1-1 Spain
Japan 3-5 India
Argentina 4-1 New Zealand
Men’s Pool B
Canada 4-4 South Africa
Germany 3-1 Netherlands
Belgium 2-2 Great Britain
Progression
The quarter-finals, in both the men’s and women’s competitions, will be as follows although the matches will not necessarily be played in this order:
1st Pool A v 4th Pool B – Match 1
2nd Pool B v 3rd Pool A – Match 2
2nd Pool A v 3rd Pool B – Match 3
1st Pool B v 4th Pool A – Match 4
The winners of these matches will play for 1st to 4th places. The semi-finals will be as follows although the matches will not necessarily be played in this order:
Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 2
Winner Match 3 v Winner Match 4
The winners of these matches will play for 1st and 2nd places (gold and silver medals) and the losers will play for 3rd and 4th places (bronze medal)
Pool standings overviews
Men: click here.
Women: click here.
Official Communication: One match suspension for Onthatile Zulu (RSA)
South Africa Women’s player Onthatile Zulu was given a one match suspension by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for a breach of the FIH Code of Conduct (for reckless or careless physical contact between players in the course of play) during today’s match South Africa v. Germany. The suspension will be served during South Africa’s next match v India scheduled tomorrow, 31 July, at the Oi Hockey Stadium, in Tokyo. Consequently, in accordance with the FIH Competition Regulations for the Tokyo 2020 hockey events, South Africa’s squad will be reduced by one player – and therefore consist of only 15 players – for this match.
Advisory: FIH CEO Thierry Weil Media Briefing on 1 August, 3:30pm (JST)
After the completion of the Pool stage of the Tokyo 2020 hockey events, International Hockey Federation (FIH) CEO Thierry Weil will hold a media briefing on Sunday 1 August, at 3:30pm (local time) in the Venue Media Centre of the Oi Hockey Stadium. All media representatives accredited for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 are invited to attend. No registration is necessary.
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