Four For Medals

It was an off day for the men at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games' field hockey event, so it was all about the women on Wednesday with two semifinal matches determining who would play for the gold medal and bronze medal on Friday. Potentially, the top-two teams from Pool A could make the final, but the second- and third-placed teams in Pool B were going to give it their best shot as well. What should make the International Hockey Federaton (FIH) happy is that the top-three teams on the planet as per their rankings were playing for a shot at Olympic gold, so it seems pretty clear that the rankings system works on the women's side of the event. In any case, let's find out which nations have a shot a being golden in Paris with the women's seminfinals played today!

Before we get to the match information, I received an email that asked why I wasn't posting highlights or images from the games being played in Paris. The answer is pretty straight-forward: I'm not accredited in any way nor am I working for any of the media or networks who are, so use of any highlights or pictures would mean the Paris Olympic Games could demand I pull them down.

I completely understand why they want to protect those images and highlights, so I opted not to post any of them right at the beginning of the week to avoid any discipline. In short, I didn't want trouble, so I didn't go looking to make it. I hope that explains why there are a lack of images and highlights when it comes to the action in Paris. I just don't need that hassle. However, on to the games!

NETHERLANDS vs. ARGENTINA: The top-two teams ranked by the FIH met in the first semifinal in a rematch of the 2020 Olympic gold medal final which was won by the Dutch women in a 3-1 victory. The opening quarter saw the Argentinians buying into the idea that shots from anywhere might be their best strategy, but the Dutch were quick to defend while holding a clear possession lead.

With a 0-0 game entering the second quarter, we'd get our first score when Luna Fokke, off the bench in this quarter, got behind the Argentina defence on the right side and chipped home a goal at the 21st minute for a 1-0 Netherlands lead. She'd be instrumental in the Dutch going up 2-0 in the 26th minute as well when her cross-field pass deflected off Laura Nunnink's stick and into the net. At the halftime break, Netherlands led 2-0 over Argentina.

The Dutch extended their lead to three goals when Yibbi Jansen's penalty corner in the 35th minute found room past Cristina Cosentino, and the Dutch showed why they're as dominant as they are over the remainder of the game when it came to possession and controlling the pace. At the final horn, the top-ranked team on the planet in the Netherlands had booked a spot in their fifth-straight gold medal match at the Olympics with the 3-0 win.

BELGIUM vs. CHINA: It was pretty clear that one side was playing a better overall game that the other through the first quarter, but the game remained 0-0 despite Belgium having most of the statistical leads. China has thrived on beating teams with opportunistic scoring, though, and they would see that in the second quarter when Zou Meirong capitalized on a ball that got through Belgian goalkeeper Aisling D'Hooghe after a penalty corner for the 1-0 lead. That score would carry into halftime as the Belgians, despite looking the better team, simply could not find a goal in the half.

The Chinese defence that held the Australians at bay two days earlier was on display once again in the third quarter as the Belgian attack was thwarted time and again by a relentless Chinese team. However, Emma Puvrez would finally break through the defensive stance with a successful penalty corner in the 59th minute to tie the game at 1-1! It appeared we were off to a shootout, but a little drama broke out late as China's Fan Yunxia drew a yellow card as time expired for shooting the ball into the shins of a Belgian defender. Would that show of frustration affect the Chinese in the shootout?

Charlotte Englebert would score on Belgium's first penalty stroke while Chen Yang was denied as Belgium grabbed the 1-0 lead. Both teams would score on their second attempts, pushing the score to 2-1 in favour of the Belgians. Ambre Ballenghien would be stopped, but Zou Meirong would even the penalty shootout at 2-2 with her goal. Justine Rasir was stopped on the fourth penalty stroke by the Belgians, and China put the pressure on them after Ma Ning was successful on her penalty stroke to make it 3-2 for China.

Daphne-Delphine Marien had to score on Belgium's fifth and final shot to keep the shootout going, but she was turned aside by Ye Jiao as China claimed the 3-2 win in the penalty shootout! China will play for gold on Friday while the Belgians move to the bronze medal game!

As stated from the recaps above, it will be the four-time Olympic gold medalists in the Netherlands playing the upstart, relentless Chinese in the gold medal game on Friday while Argentina and Belgium will meet for the bronze medal as the podium finishes will be determined! Over on the men's side, we'll see the final games played tomorrow with the Netherlands will play Germany in a rematch of the 2012 London Olympic Games with the Dutch looking set the stage for double gold medals in its match while India will meet Spain with India looking to claim their second-straight bronze medal. With The Hockey Show being on the air tomorrow, there will be a show preview, but we'll recap the men's and women's matches on Friday here on HBIC as medals will be handed out!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!