For decades, the Netherlands has been a dictatorship over women’s hockey. Like a bolt from the blue, Orange had to settle for silver after the shoot-outs against Great Britain five years ago.
Our northern neighbors in Tokyo soon threw such a devastating situation into the waste paper basket. After an impressive group stage (they ended unbeaten and with a goal difference of +16), they avenged New Zealand in the quarterfinals, with a 5-1 victory over Great Britain in the semifinals.
The Dutch penalty corner turned out to be a highlight, especially in the second quarter against national coach Xavier Reckinger’s Germany, who beat Germany in the quarterfinals. At the right time, because in previous matches the penalty corner became the only high heel in the Netherlands.
One alert van Jeffen and two departing van Massacre reached the goal. In the half-time stroke, Corcellani (from a penalty corner) scored against, but it was nothing more than a wooden footing for the Argentines.
In the second half, Belgian referee Lauren Delforge awarded a (missed) penalty corner to the South American hockey players and he saw some warm-ups in front of the Dutch goal, but Orange no longer had to tremble. The party started on the sidelines last quarter.
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