06 Aug, 2024 As the hockey action continues at pace in the historic Yves-du-Manoir stadium, which served as the home of the Olympic Games Paris 1924, and hosted the opening ceremony for the Games of the VIII Olympiad, a hundred years ago, we also look back at the century of existence completed by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), which was formed in the very same year of 1924, in Paris! Hockey was formalised with the formation of the “Fédération Internationale de Hockey sur Gazon” on 7 January 1924, in Paris. Frenchman Paul Léautey formed the organisation with initial members from Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, Hungary, Spain and Switzerland. By that stage, men’s hockey had already featured in two editions of the Olympic Games – in 1908 and 1920. But, spurred on by its omission from the 1924 Games in Paris, Léautey decided it was imperative that an international governing body be formed. That was the start of the hundred-year journey which has taken hockey to where it is today. Including Paris 2024, hockey has been played at 25 editions of the Olympic Games so far while 16 editions of both the men’s and women’s FIH Hockey World Cup have taken place. Earlier this year, speaking on the day of the FIH’s 100th anniversary, President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach said: “You can look back with so much pride on 100 years of great progress. Starting with only seven member associations, FIH has not stopped growing ever since. Today, your 140 national associations underline in an impressive way that hockey has grown to a truly global sport with worldwide appeal. As you look to this bright future, let me reiterate that FIH, under the great leadership of my friend Tayyab Ikram, can always count on the IOC as a partner by your side to promote our shared Olympic values of peace and solidarity.” To watch the full message from the IOC President, please click here. FIH President Tayyab Ikram added at the time: “We commemorate a century of resilience, progress, and the unyielding spirit of the hockey community. We pay tribute to our athletes, visionary leaders, dedicated volunteers, valued partners, and to all those who have been part of this incredible journey. Our journey, from seven member associations to a sport played in 140 countries, is a testament to the enduring power of hockey. It has been more than just a game; it has been a force for unity, resilience, and positive change marking a century of sporting excellence. I must express my appreciation and admiration for our heroes, our athletes of all times. They have shown great resilience and adaptability by adjusting to changing conditions, environments, equipment, rules, and officiating principles. Their unlimited capacity to perform have elevated the game to higher levels and they serve as role models for all of us.” To watch the full message from the FIH President, please click here. Read the full story on the FIH celebration on 7 January 2024, by clicking here. Source: FIH.hockey

06 Aug, 2024 Wednesday 7 August is women’s semi-finals day at the Yves-du-Manoir Hockey Stadium, with the Netherlands taking on great rivals Argentina at 14:00 CEST before Belgium’s Red Panthers face an inspired China at 19:00. With 20,000 fans watching the two matches – 10,000 tickets have been sold for each contest – it is going to be another sensational day of hockey action at the Yves-du-Manoir Hockey Stadium. Netherlands v Argentina – 14:00 CEST After their men’s team successfully negotiated their way to the gold medal game on Tuesday (6 August), the Netherlands women will want to keep alive hopes of a Dutch double here at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Their comfortable 3-1 quarter-final victory over Great Britain was their sixth win on the bounce at Yves-du-Manoir, having scored 22 goals and conceded just six. No nation has ever won both the men’s and the women’s hockey gold medals at the same Olympic Games, so history could be made here in Paris. However, Argentina will do everything in their power to stop the mighty Dutch, and certainly have the quality to do it as they continue their search for a first Olympic title. In addition to on-field excellence, they also have motivation, with many players part of the team beaten by the Netherlands in the gold medal match at Tokyo 2020. With a large contingent of Dutch and Argentinean fans attending, the stadium will be a cauldron of noise, colour and atmosphere. Player perspectives  Renee van Laarhoven (NED): “I think we always have great, amazing games against Argentina. I mean, we know they have loads of passion. They give it their all. We saw it against Germany today, again. We always love to play against them, and I think they love to play against us as well. It’s always a great fight. And, yeah, we can’t wait to keep going.” Agustina Albertarrio (ARG): “(Reaching the semi-finals) is amazing. I love our team. I don’t have the words to explain it, but now we have to rest, and we have to keep fighting, because now we have a really hard game (in the semi-finals).” Belgium v China – 19:00 CEST Having claimed five wins from six matches – their only defeat coming at the hands of the Netherlands – Belgium’s women are already guaranteed their best ever finish at an Olympic Games. A wonderful achievement no doubt, but the Red Panthers have their eyes on the big prize. Outstanding in their 2-0 win over Spain, Belgium are brimming with confidence and will be determined to make the most of what could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reach the Olympic final. Competing in their first Olympic semi-final in 16 years, China’s impressive form in Paris is a testament to how far they have come since Alyson Annan became head coach in 2022. China’s only other Olympic semi-final appearance came at Beijing 2008, where goals from Gao Lihua, Ma Yibo and Zhao Yudiao helped the hosts to a 3-2 victory before taking the silver medal, losing in the final to the Netherlands. However, after defeating Pool B winners Australia in the quarter-finals, China will believe they have nothing to fear in their next two matches, starting with Belgium. Player perspectives  Delphine-Daphne Marien (BEL): “They (China) are really disciplined, they work so hard but we are going to do the same. Playing for the medals, everybody will be even more fired up. For sure we are going to be ready from the first whistle. And then hopefully, hopefully, hopefully we can make to the final.” Ou Ziaxia (CHN): “To reach the Olympic semi-finals is a big pay-off for us, a representation of the hard work that we have put in. They (Australia) were the champion of their pool. I’m very proud of my team-mates and very proud of my coach.” Women’s Semi-Finals – Wednesday 7 August 2024 (all times CEST) 14:00: Netherlands vs Argentina 19:00: Belgium vs China Medal Matches – Friday 9 August 2024 14:00: Bronze medal match 20:00: Gold medal match The hockey competitions at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 take place from Saturday 27 July to Friday 9 August. 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 Paris 2024, visit Olympics.Hockey.  #Hockey #Paris2024 Source: FIH.hockey

04 Aug, 2024 Paris, France – Day 9: It was an astonishing day of men’s quarter-final action on Sunday (4 August) with India, Spain, the Netherlands and Germany all reaching the Olympic Games Paris 2024 hockey semi-finals at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium.  Ten-player India showed huge determination in a remarkable win against Great Britain before Spain produced a sensational performance to eliminate Belgium, the reigning Olympic champions. The Netherlands battled their way past Australia, while Germany got the better of Argentina. The result completed the line-up for the semi-finals, with Germany set to meet eight times Olympic gold medallists India and the Netherlands facing Spain in the final four on Tuesday 6 August. The timings of the semi-finals can be found below, with a complete list of available fixtures and timings available here. Men’s Semi-finals – Tuesday 6 August 2024 (all times CEST) 14:00   Netherlands vs Spain 19:00   Germany vs India More information on today’s matches can be found below, with additional details available here. India 1-1 Great Britain (4-2 after shoot-out)  India men reached the Olympic semi-finals against all odds, defeating Great Britain in a shoot-out despite being a player down for almost three quarters of the match after Amit Rohidas was shown a red card. Remarkably, India took a shock lead five minutes later through a Harmanpreet Singh penalty corner before Great Britain’s Lee Morton tied the scores ahead of half time. India produced a remarkable defensive display for the remainder of the contest, forcing a shoot-out in which they triumphed thanks to goalkeeping heroics from PR Sreejesh, who is set to retire after Paris 2024. “It was so amazing”, said experienced midfielder and former India captain Manpreet Singh, who won Olympic bronze with the team at Tokyo 2020. “I expected that (it would be difficult) when we lost one guy, but we still defended very well. So I give thanks to our entire team, because they gave their best today.” Belgium 2-3 Spain In the second quarter-final, Spain produced a masterclass in game management to end Belgium’s hopes of winning a second successive Olympic gold medal. The Red Sticks emerged 3-2 winners against the Tokyo 2020 champions to reach their first Olympic semi-final since Beijing 2008, where a team containing generational talents such as Pol Amat, Santi Freixa and Edi Tubau went on to become silver medallists. “I’m so happy right now”, said Marc Miralles, who contributed to the scoreline alongside Jose Basterra and Marc Reyne, after the match. “I’m really proud of how we played the whole game. We moved the ball really well, we communicated really well. We defended so good all the time.” Netherlands 2-0 Australia The Netherlands became the third men’s team to reach the semi-finals, defeating Australia 2-0 to exact revenge on the side that defeated them at the same stage of the tournament at Tokyo 2020. It was another fiercely contested match at Yves-du-Manoir Stadium, with the large contingent of Dutch fans getting the win that they so desperately wanted thanks to goals from Duco Telgenkamp and Thijs van Dam. Telgenkamp’s superb penalty corner deflection came five minutes into the second half, with Van Dam scoring a stunning solo goal to effectively kill off the Kookaburras – who rallied hard in the latter stages – with eight minutes remaining. “I feel amazing”, said Netherlands goal-scorer Telgenkamp after the match. “It was just a fighting game. We fought until the end to get a good result. it was just a fantastic performance from the team.” Germany 3-2 Argentina Germany kept alive their quest for the fifth Olympic gold medal with a hard-fought win against Argentina, who twice fought back before Germany’s Justus Weigand scored a late winner to break the hearts of Los Leones at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Die Honamas twice lead through Teo Hinrichs and Gonzalo Peillat, only for Maico Casella and Agustin Mazzilli to peg back Germany on each occasion. However, it was to be Germany’s day, with Weigand tapping into an unguarded net after a surging run and pass from Niklas Wellen. Looking ahead to Germany’s semi-final against India on Tuesday, Rühr said: “India is going to be hell of a game. I mean, they got the red card and worked their way through to the shoot-out, which is extraordinary. And yeah, we’ve got to be there. And if we were there, we’re going to win, but we’ve got to show up.” Further information and statistics on all of today’s matches can be found by clicking here. Notable figures attending the Olympic hockey at Yves-du-Manoir on Day 9 included the Duchess of Edinburgh of the British royal family, legendary football coach Louis van Gaal, Bollywood star Taapsee Pannu, Danish badminton player Matias Boe and Pawan Munjal, the CEO of Hero MotoCorp. The knock-out phase of the Paris 2024 Olympic hockey competition continues on Monday 5 August with four fantastic women’s quarter-finals at Yves-du-Manoir Hockey Stadium. At 10:00 CEST, Pool B winners Australia face Pool A’s fourth placed team China as former Hockeyroos team-mates Katrina Powell and Alyson Annan, the respective coaches of Australia and China, go head-to-head. At 12:30, Pool B runners up Argentina face Pool A’s third placed team Germany before Pool A winners the Netherlands take on Great Britain, who finished fourth in Pool B, at 17:30.  The women’s quarter-finals are concluded at 20:00 with a meeting between Pool A runners up Belgium and Spain, who finished fourth in Pool B. A preview of these matches can be found by clicking here. The hockey competitions at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 take place from Saturday 27 July to Friday 9 August. 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 Paris 2024, visit Olympics.Hockey. Olympic Games Paris 2024 – Hockey 4 August 2024 – Day 9 Results – Men’s Quarter-Finals India 1-1 Great Britain (4-2 after shoot-out) Belgium 2-3 Spain Netherlands 2-0 Australia Germany 3-2 Argentina Fixtures – Men’s Semi Finals (All time CEST) 14:00: Netherlands v Spain 19:00: Germany v India

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04 Aug, 2024 On Monday 5 August, the Yves-du-Manoir Hockey Stadium provides the stage for the women’s quarter-finals, where eight teams will fight it out for the four available semi-finals spots here at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Ahead of the big day, we take a quick look at four matches that will take place. Australia v China – 10:00 CEST Pool B winners Australia will start their match against China, the fourth ranked team in Pool A, as strong favourites. Having claimed four wins and a draw from their pool campaign, the Hockeyroos are clearly in confident mood. However, China come into this contest on the back of a 7-1 thrashing of hosts France, a high-quality performance that showed how dangerous they can be on their day. With former Aussie team-mates (and double Olympic gold medalists) in charge of the two teams – Katrina Powell for the Hockeyroos, Alyson Annan for China – it will be fascinating to see how this contest plays out. Argentina v Germany – 12:30 CEST Meeting in the quarter-finals for the second Olympics in succession, Argentina recorded a 3-0 victory over Die Danas at Tokyo 2020 with goals coming from Agustina Albertarrio, Victoria Granatto and Valentina Raposo. It’s anybody’s guess whether history will repeat itself in Paris, but Argentina have looked very good so far in this competition. They were unbeaten in Pool B, claiming four wins and a draw to finish second behind Australia on goal difference. Germany have enjoyed some brilliant moments here, claiming three wins to finish third in Pool A. They also have two players currently in the race for tournament top scorer, with Nike Lorenz having netted six times and Charlotte Stapenhorst five. Netherlands v Great Britain – 17:30 CEST Having won all five of their Pool A matches and scored an astonishing 19 goals, the Netherlands are hot favourites to retain their Olympic gold medal. Tournament top scorer Yibbi Jansen is in imperious form, having already scored seven goals for her country here in Paris. However, Great Britain – who finished fourth in Pool B – should certainly not be underestimated. The team has medaled at the last three Olympic Games, famously defeating the Netherlands to win gold at Rio 2016 as well as claiming bronze at both London 2012 and Tokyo 2020. Belgium v Spain – 20:00 CEST Belgium’s strong showing in Pool A, winning four out of five matches, suggests that they are the team to beat in this particular clash. However, the same was said ahead of Sunday’s quarter-final meeting between the two nations’ men’s teams before Spain tore up the script, knocking defending champions Belgium out of the competition. While Pool B’s third placed team Spain will believe lightning can strike twice at Yves-du-Manoir, they know they face a Red Panthers side bang in form. Striker Ambre Ballenghien has six goals to her name at Paris 2024 and is clearly a huge attacking threat for Belgium. If Spain can keep her quiet, anything can happen. Women’s Quarter-Finals – Monday 5 August 2024 (all times CEST) 10:00: Australia v China – Match 4 12:30: Argentina v Germany – Match 2 17:30: Netherlands v Great Britain – Match 1 20:00: Belgium v Spain – Match 3 Semi-finals – Wednesday 7 August 2024 (times TBC) Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 2 Winner Match 3 v Winner Match 4 The hockey competitions at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 take place from Saturday 27 July to Friday 9 August. 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 Paris 2024, visit Olympics.Hockey. #Hockey #Paris2024 Source: FIH.hockey

03 Aug, 2024 Paris, France – Day 8: The final six matches of the women’s hockey competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 took place in Saturday (3 August), with the results finalising the line-up for the quarter-finals. The women’s knock-out matches begin on Monday 5 August, a day that will see eight teams reduced to the four semi-finalists. At 10:00 CEST, Pool B winners Australia face Pool A’s fourth placed team China as former Hockeyroos team-mates Katrina Powell and Alyson Annan, the respective coaches of Australia and China, go head-to-head. At 12:30, Pool B runners up Argentina face Pool A’s third placed team Germany before Pool A winners the Netherlands take on Great Britain, who finished fourth in Pool B, at 17:30. The women’s quarter-finals are concluded at 20:00 with a meeting between Pool A runners up Belgium and Spain, who finished fourth in Pool B. The timings for these matches can be found below or by clicking here.    More information on today’s matches can be found below. For additional information about the Pool Rankings and the various splitters and the progression of the competition, please click here (Appendix 2, art. 2.2). Women’s Pool A The Netherlands maintained their 100 percent win record thanks to a comfortable 5-1 victory against Japan, with goals coming from Yibbi Jansen, Frederique Matla (2), Joosje Burg and Marijn Veen. Looking ahead to her team’s quarter-final against Rio 2016 gold medallists Great Britain, Burg said: “They’re tough opponents. They play quite physically. You have to play well technically against them. So it will be a tough match but I’m really excited to play against them.” With Japan’s loss against the Netherlands officially confirming their China’s place in the quarter-finals, the champions of Asia produced a wonderful display of attacking hockey in an impressive 7-1 win against hosts France. Li Hong and Chen Yang both scored doubles as China celebrated their safe progression to the quarter-finals in style. On China finishing in the top four of its group for the first time since London 2012, China head coach Alyson Annan said: “We knew it would be difficult, but, you know, we thought that we were capable of making the quarter-finals. Once you’re in there, anything can happen.” The most significant Pool A match came at the end of the day, with Belgium emerging 2-0 winners against Germany to secure a second place for the Red Panthers. Michelle Struijk and Ambre Ballenghien scored either side of the first quarter break Women’s Pool B  Goals from Valentina Raposo, Agustina Albertarrio and Zoe Diaz de Armas gave Tokyo 2020 silver medallists Argentina a resounding 3-0 victory over Great Britain, who won bronze three years ago in Tokyo. Commenting on the win the day after her 36th birthday, Argentina’s Rocio Sanchez said: “It was a really nice, happy birthday yesterday, and this was a great birthday result. It was like my gift for the team (and) for me.” Argentina’s result against Great Britain left Australia needing to defeat Spain by two clear goals to overturn the goal-difference deficit and leapfrog Las Leonas into first place in Pool B. They achieved their aim in the very last minute, with Mariah Williams netting to give the Hockeyroos a 3-1 win. When asked about the importance of remaining unbeaten, Williams said: “It’s really important. We really focus on just the game ahead, and we don’t go any further than that. It really worked for us. We tried to put all our efforts into making sure we nailed that game.” The USA and South Africa, both already eliminated, were also in action on Saturday, with USA taking a 1-0 victory to secure fifth place in the Pool B standings. Meredith Sholder scored the only goal of the game, netting a penalty corner in the 43rd minute. Further information and statistics on all of today’s matches can be found by clicking here. Notable figures attending the Olympic hockey at Yves-du-Manoir on Day 8 included British tennis legend and double Olympic gold medallist Sir Andy Murray – who presented Great Britain’s Sarah Robertson with a bouquet of flowers to mark her 100 GB cap – as well as Argentine duo Santiago Lange and Paula Pareto, Olympic gold medallists in sailing and judo respectively. The Paris 2024 Olympic hockey competition enters the knock-out phase on Sunday 4 August, with the men’s quarter-finals all taking place on Pitch 1 at the fabulous Yves-du-Manoir Hockey Stadium. At 10:00 CEST, Pool B runners up India taking on Great Britain, the third placed team in Pool A, with Pool B table-toppers and reigning Olympic champions Belgium meeting Pool A’s fourth placed team Spain at 12:30. At 17:30, the Pool A’s second placed team Netherlands face a mouthwatering last eight clash against Australia, the team that finished third in Pool B. The final match of the day will see Pool A winners Germany take on Rio 2016 gold medallists Argentina, who finished fourth in Pool B. The hockey competitions at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 take place from Saturday 27 July to Friday 9 August. 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 Paris 2024, visit Olympics.Hockey. Olympic Games Paris 2024 – Hockey 3 August 2024 – Day 8 Results Women’s Pool A Netherlands 5-1 Japan China 7-1 France Germany 0-2 Belgium Women’s Pool B  Great Britain 0-3 Argentina Australia 3-1 Spain USA 1-0 South Africa Pool standings overviews Men: click here. Women: click here. Women’s Quarter-Finals – Monday 5 August 2024 (all times CEST) 10:00: Australia v China – Match 4 12:30: Argentina v Germany – Match 2 17:30: Netherlands v Great Britain – Match 1 20:00: Belgium v Spain – Match 3 Semi-finals – Wednesday 7 August 2024 (times TBC) Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 2 Winner Match 3 v Winner Match 4 Source: FIH.hockey | August 3, 2024

Before play got underway in Paris between South Africa and the USA, South Africa acknowledged Dirkie Chamberlain’s milestone 250th test cap. Chamberlain, who also represented South Africa at the 2012 Olympics, becomes the sixth South African woman to reach this milestone. Both the USA and South Africa aimed to finish their tournament on a high note, having missed out on the quarter-finals. The USA, ranked five spots ahead of South Africa, were the favorites. The USA was awarded two contentious penalty corners in the opening 10 minutes, but both attempts were thwarted by South Africa’s solid defense. South Africa’s best chance of the opening quarter fell to Taheera Augousti, but her shot was off target. In the second quarter, South Africa looked to create more opportunities but struggled to find results in the attacking third. Anelle Lloyd cut out a dangerous cross from the Americans, with both teams effectively canceling each other out, leading to a lack of goalmouth action. Taheera Augousti, looking the most likely to score for South Africa, drove in and fired a shot straight at the keeper, leaving the score goalless at the halftime break. South Africa had a great chance in the second half when Onge Mali broke free down the side, but her double shot was saved. Meredith Sholder then opened the scoring for the USA from a penalty corner, diving in to deflect the ball past Anelle Lloyd. This pivotal moment took the score to 1-0 by the end of the third quarter. Both teams received green cards early in the final quarter as the clock continued to tick. South Africa created good connections and were eventually rewarded with a penalty corner, thanks to Celia Seerane’s efforts. However, this attempt was saved, and a subsequent penalty corner a minute later saw the South Africans overcomplicate the play, failing to get a shot off. In a last-ditch effort, South Africa pulled Anelle Lloyd off for the final three minutes to gain an extra outfield player. Despite their tremendous efforts, the South Africans were unable to capitalize, resulting in a narrow defeat. Source: sahockey.co.za | August 3, 2024

03 Aug, 2024 The race for the men’s hockey gold medal intensifies on Sunday 4 August as the magnificent Yves-du-Manoir Stadium hosts the Paris 2024 Olympic quarter-finals. Fascinatingly, the men’s quarter-final line up is identical to that seen three years ago at Tokyo 2020, with India playing Great Britain, Belgium meeting Spain, the Netherlands taking on Australia and Germany doing battle with Argentina. We look ahead to a potentially thrilling day of knock-out action in Paris. India v Great Britain – 10:00 CEST Lead by inspirational captain Harmanpreet Singh, eight times Olympic champions India have been outstanding at Paris 2024. Wins against New Zealand, Ireland and Australia – their first Olympic win against the Kookaburras since Munich 1972 – earned them a second-place finish in Pool B. India’s only defeat came at the hands of reigning Olympic champions and pool winners Belgium, a match in which they could easily have come away with a share of the spoils. While India have been exceptional, Great Britain’s form has been equally eye-catching. After thrashing Spain 4-0 in their opening Pool A match, GB fought back from losing positions against South Africa, the Netherlands and France to seal qualification before pool winners Germany edged them in their final match. The quarter-final between the two sides at Tokyo 2020 was won by India, who took a 3-1 victory before going on to take the bronze medal. Belgium v Spain – 12:30 CEST After dominating Pool B, reigning Olympic champions Belgium have been marked as the team to beat here in Paris. Following narrow wins against Ireland and New Zealand, the team hit devastating form with a 6-2 win over Australia before beating India to effectively top the standings, a position confirmed by a 3-3 draw with Argentina. While Belgium will take some stopping, Spain have also shown in Paris that they are capable of mixing it with the very best. A fourth place finish in Pool A does not do justice to their performances, the highlight being a 2-0 triumph over world champions Germany. At Tokyo 2020, Alexander Hendrickx (2) and Tom Boon helped Belgium’s Red Lions to a 3-1 quarter-final win over the Red Sticks on their way to winning their first ever Olympic gold medal in hockey. Netherlands v Australia – 17:30 CEST After convincing Pool A wins against South Africa and France, two-time Olympic champions the Netherlands dropped five points from their next six by drawing with Great Britain before falling to defeat against Germany. However, the European champions ended the pool phase in thrilling fashion, fighting back from 2-0 down to secure a 5-3 victory against Spain, confirming a second-place finish in the Pool B standings. Despite finishing third in Pool A, the Kookaburras are always a dangerous animal in knock-out hockey. While much of the focus has been on their defeats against Belgium and India, it is worth remembering that the Tokyo 2020 silver medallists actually won three of their five pool matches, defeating Argentina, Ireland and Oceania rivals New Zealand. They also have the tournament top scorer amongst their ranks, with Blake Govers having netted seven times in five matches. Australia emerged as winners of the Tokyo 2020 quarter-final, beating the Netherlands in a shoot-out 3-0 after the regular time finished with the scores locked at 2-2. Germany v Argentina – 20:00 CEST As reigning world champions, Germany were always going to be seen as genuine medal contenders here in Paris, a fact proven by finishing top of Pool A. Die Honamas recorded wins over France, South Africa, the Netherlands and Great Britain to top the standings, with a 2-0 defeat against inspired Spain in their second match being their only blip. They are the joint highest scorers with 16 goals (tied with the Netherlands) and have the joint best defensive record, having conceded just six. Interestingly, the team that Germany share their defensive record is Argentina, who will no doubt prove stubborn opponents in this quarter-final clash. Despite finishing fourth in Pool B, Los Leones have lost just once here in Paris, going down to Australia in the opening match but defeating New Zealand and Ireland while claiming superb draws against India and Belgium. The presence of Gonzalo Peillat – who fired Argentina to Olympic glory at Rio 2016 – in the Germany line-up certainly adds extra spice to the occasion. The Tokyo 2020 quarter-final meeting between Germany and Argentina ended with a 3-1 victory for the Europeans. It will be fascinating to see how this and all of the quarter-final matches play out here at Paris 2024. The hockey competitions at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 take place from Saturday 27 July to Friday 9 August. 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 Paris 2024, visit Olympics.Hockey. Men’s Quarter-Finals – Sunday 4 August 2024 (all times CEST) 10:00: India v Great Britain – Match 2 12:30: Belgium v Spain – Match 4 17:30: Netherlands v Australia – Match 3 20:00: Germany v Argentina – Match 1 Semi-finals – Tuesday 6 August 2024 (times TBC) Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 2 Winner Match 3 v Winner Match 4 #Hockey #Paris2024 Source: FIH.hockey

Despite both teams being eliminated from the Paris Olympics ahead of their meeting, there was no shortage of noise and excitement in the build-up as South Africa and France locked horns at Stade Yves-du-Manoir on Friday evening. South Africa settled first and were rewarded with an early penalty corner. Matt Guise-Brown finished it superbly into the bottom left corner and the South Africans led 1-0. South Africa produced again before long but Tevin Kok’s leading run and deflection was wide. The French crowd were doing everything they could to impact the game, cheering on every half-chance massively. The South Africans were dialed in well in the opening quarter though and created a brilliant opening just before the hooter, but the shot was over the top of the goal and it was 1-0 at the break. The French leveled with a goal out of almost nothing. An overhead was lifted into the circle, the ball across lacked venom, but Timothee Clement did brilliantly to divert it past Gowan Jones. France was starting to show poor discipline and were collecting a couple of cards as a result. South Africa re-established the lead with a brilliant finish from Keenan Horne after great work by Bili Ntuli on the baseline to fire in the cross. But the lead didn’t last long. France was gifted a penalty corner and Victor Charlet made no mistake to restore parity. France took advantage of an error in the South African defense to create a shot at goal but Gowan Jones was able to keep it out. And despite the rising tension in Paris, the score remained deadlocked at 2-2 at the half-time break. The second half started with the same tension the first had finished with, further cementing the desires of both teams to get the win. Jacque van Tonder was given a yellow card as South Africa would need to play out five minutes with a player short. They did that without any problem, returned to a full complement, and immediately were awarded a penalty corner that was very close to being a penalty stroke. The injection wasn’t quite right and South Africa lost their referral in the resultant shot. Three-quarters complete, the scoreline remained 2-2. South Africa had a surprise lead early in the final quarter when Dayaan Cassiem crossed the ball into the circle and it was deflected home by the defender. The goal was disallowed though, as on referral it was ruled to have not gone five meters before entering the circle. South Africa countered again but couldn’t find the telling touch to get it in. Seven minutes remained. South Africa won a penalty corner and the quick-thinking Mustapha Cassiem threw in a variation with a slap finish that caught a deflection and went in. France pulled their keeper to try and go for the result, but the South Africans punished them when Dayaan Cassiem pulled into the circle and fired home to make it 4-2. It probably should have been five, but Ntuli fired wide. And it was five shortly afterward as Dayaan Cassiem punished in the way he knows how. A massive victory for the South African men against the French in front of a packed home crowd will live long in the memory, serving as a further reminder of the quality this team possesses. Source: sahockey.co.za | August 2, 2024

South Africa faced the daunting task of taking on FIH Nations Cup champions Spain, hoping to keep their Quarter Final dream alive. With Antonet Louw ruled out, it was Kayla Swarts’ second Olympic game, closely watched by her brother, Wayde van Niekerk. In the second minute, South Africa launched a superb counter-attack and, after a referral, were awarded a penalty corner. However, they couldn’t capitalize on the chance, keeping the scoreline blank. Spain then enjoyed a period of possession, but South Africa struck again on the counter. Celia Seerane’s shot earned another penalty corner, yet again, South Africa failed to convert the opportunity. Despite promising attacks, the game awaited its first goal. Spain broke the deadlock with their first penalty corner, executed perfectly for Belen Iglesias to tap home, ending the first quarter 1-0 in favor of Spain. The second quarter began with both sides failing to create significant chances until an unforced error invited Spain to attack. Laura Barrios fired wide, letting South Africa off the hook. Although South Africa saw more of the ball, they struggled to create scoring opportunities. The first half ended with Spain leading 1-0 under the brutal sun. Early in the second half, Spain earned their second penalty corner but were thwarted by South Africa’s defense. A successful referral overturned another penalty corner for Spain, maintaining the 1-0 scoreline. Kayla de Waal’s snapshot from the top of the circle was saved by Clara Perez. The game entered the final quarter with South Africa still trailing. Kristen Paton won a penalty corner for South Africa at the start of the final quarter, but the variation failed to hit the target. Erin Christie’s solid defense stopped a cross, but Spain earned a penalty corner from a deflection. Anelle Lloyd made a crucial save, keeping it 1-0. South Africa continued to press for an equalizer, putting immense pressure on the Spanish defense but failing to find the telling connection. Thati Zulu’s penalty corner led to calls for a stroke from the crowd, but the shot was saved amidst a goalmouth scramble. With five minutes remaining, South Africa’s chances dwindled further after Thati Zulu received a yellow card. Spain won another penalty corner, but South Africa’s defense stood firm. Another corner followed, but this time, the defense was beaten along with the goal. Despite a valiant effort, South Africa could not find the equalizer, falling short in a hard-fought match against Spain. Source: sahockey.co.za | August 1, 2024

02 Aug, 2024 Paris, France – Day 7: Following the completion of men’s pool phase, the line up for the men’s quarter-finals at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 is now known. On Sunday 4 August, Pool A winners Germany face a quarter-final meeting with Rio 2016 gold medallists Argentina, who finished fourth in Pool B, with Pool B table-toppers and reigning Olympic champions Belgium meeting Pool A’s fourth placed team Spain. The Netherlands finished second in Pool A and will now face a mouthwatering last eight clash with Pool B’s third placed team Australia, with Pool B runners up India taking on Great Britain, the third placed team in Pool A. The timings for these matches can be found below or by clicking here.   There were also two significant matches in women’s Pool A, with the Netherlands and Germany both snatching wins ahead of the final day of pool action on Saturday (3 August). More information on today’s matches can be found below. For additional information about the Pool Rankings and the various splitters and the progression of the competition, please click here (Appendix 2, art. 2.2).   Men’s Pool A Christopher Rühr scored twice as Germany secured their place at the top of pool A with a 2-1 win against Great Britain, who finished third in the pool. Rühr netted a backhand rocket and a penalty stroke to send Die Honamas into a quarter-final against Argentina on Monday. Reflecting on the result, Germany’s Martin Zwicker said: “It was a really tough game but we are glad to have the three points to finish top of the board.” The Netherlands recovered from two goals down to claim a remarkable 5-3 victory over Spain, with Jip Janssen and Tjep Hoedemakers both netting doubles. The result put the Netherlands temporarily at the top of the pool ahead of the evening match between Germany and Great Britain, with Spain finishing in fourth. Netherlands ace Seve van Ass said: “They did really well in the first quarter. From then you can make it or break it as a squad, and it helps if you have some experience, if you know what to do, if you know how to step it up. And we really took up the challenge.” South Africa completed their Olympic competition with a 5-2 win over hosts France in front of a raucous, partisan crowd at Yves-du-Manoir. The Cassiem brothers contributed three goals to South Africa’s cause, with Mustaphaa firing home before Dayaan added a late brace after France had replaced their goalkeeper with an outfield player in a bid to salvage something from the contest. Men’s Pool B A last-gasp equaliser from Thibeau Stockbroekx earned Belgium a point in their final pool match, tying 3-3 with Argentina. The goal ensured that the Red Lions completed the pool phase unbeaten, with four wins and a draw from five matches to finish top of the standings. A point was not enough for Argentina to climb up the table, remaining in fourth position. It was a special day for Belgium’s Florent van Aubel, who made his 300thappearance for his country. India men claimed their first Olympic hockey victory over Australia since Munich 1972, some 52 years ago, as team captain Harmanpreet Singh scored twice in a 3-2 victory against the Kookaburras to ensure a second place Pool finish. “We started (the tournament by) winning, and we decided we were going to finish with a winning match” said Harmanpreet, who hopes to guide India to their first gold medal since Moscow 1980. “We put them under pressure and the pressure was so good from the frontline.” India’s Shamsher Singh achieved a personal milestone against Australia, playing his 100th international match. As South Africa did in Pool A, Ireland ended their Paris 2024 campaign on a high note with a hard-fought victory over bottom of the table New Zealand, as goals from Benjamin Walker and Jeremy Duncan sealed 2-1 win to finish fifth in Pool B. Women’s Pool A There were two significant matches in women’s Pool A, with the Netherlands taking control of the group with a 3-1 win over the previously unbeaten Belgium while Germany defeated China 2-0. Pien Sanders, Yibbi Jansen and Maria Verschoor scored the goals to give the Oranje victory over the Red Panthers, putting them three points clear at the top of the table. “I feel quite good, it was a good game”, said Netherlands scorer Verschoor. “I think we were playing very solid. We weren’t in any kind of danger. I’m just really happy with the win.” The contest brought up a milestone for umpire Hannah Harrison (GBR), who took charge of the 100th international match. Charlotte Stapenhorst and Nike Lorenz both scored twice for Die Danas in their victory over China, a win that left them second in the table at the end of the day’s play. “It was a tough game”, said Germany’s Amelie Wortmann. “China is always a strong opponent, so we wanted to defend well, and then it’s good for us. We made an early goal.” Despite the defeat, it was a milestone moment for China’s Dan Wen, who played her 100th international match. Further information and statistics on all of today’s matches can be found by clicking here. Notable figures attending the Olympic hockey at Yves-du-Manoir on Day 7 included Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Greg Barclay, Chairman of the International Cricket Council. The Paris 2024 Olympic hockey competition continues on Saturday 3 August with the completion of the women’s pool phase, which will finalise the fixtures for the quarter-finals. In Pool A, Netherlands (1st – 12 pts) meet Japan (5th – 1pt) on Pitch 2 at 10:30 CEST, with China (4th – 3pts) and France (6th – 0pts) going head-to-head on Pitch 1 at 17:00. The final match of the pool phase also takes place on Pitch 1, with Germany (2nd – 9pts) playing Belgium (3rd – 9pts). In Pool B, Great Britain (4th – 6pts) and Argentina (2nd – 10pts) feature in the 10:00 match on Pitch 1, with Australia (1st – 10pts) facing Spain (3rd – 7pts) at

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