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
