Courtesy Hockey Australia
Germany 1 Hockeyroos 0
Goals – Ger Bachmann 43m PC
Australia’s World Cup dreams have come to an end after losing to Germany 1-0 today in Argentina.
The Hockeyroos needed to win today to finish second in their pool and qualify for the semi finals. They will now play Korea for fifth place on Friday.
Things began disastrously for the Hockeyroos when Germany found the back of the net after only two minutes. However after Australia used their video referral the goal was disallowed, ensuring the scores remained nil all.
Despite only needing a draw to progress to the semi finals, Germany started the more aggressive team, seemingly looking for an early goal to mount the pressure on Australia.
Thanks to some brilliant efforts in defence from Nicole Arrold, Australia eventually steadied and began to produce some circle penetrations. However they were unable to generate any legitimate shots on goal thanks to Germany’s solid defence.
Germany continued to push for their opening goal, with Hockeyroos goalkeeper Rachael Lynch called on several times to make some great saves.
Turning defence into attack, the Hockeyroos worked their way on top in the final 10 minutes of the half, controlling the play and beginning to apply some pressure of their own around goal. Their best chance of the half came with Casey Eastham crossed the ball from the baseline, however no one was there to receive it and Germany were given a let off.
Despite controlling the final minutes the Hockeyroos were unable to produce a goal, with the scores remained tied as the teams entered half time. Germany started the second half in the same fashion as they did the first, putting the Australian defence under pressure as they searched for the first goal of the game.
When Kate Hollywood was sent from the field for two minutes after receiving a green card Germany took full advantage, drawing a penalty corner which was converted by Tina Bachmann to give them the crucial lead.
With plenty of time still left on the clock the Hockeyroos gave it their all in search of the two goals they would need to qualify them for the semi finals. Despite their brave efforts and generating two penalty corners in the last 15 minutes, they were unable to do so and will miss the opportunity to play Argentina in the semi finals on Thursday.
Hockeyroos coach Frank Murray said that while he is obviously disappointed with the way his team played today, the Hockeyroos must now turn their attention to improving for the 2012 London Olympics.
“Obviously we are disappointed; not only in the result but in the way we played. In our view we didn’t play to our potential today, we turned the ball over far too easily in the middle of the field and we have a fair bit of work between now and London, so we look forward to that. Obviously we have the game against Korea to get over first, and then we have the Commonwealth Games but it’s now about finding a group for London and making sure we have the players with the ability and the physical capacity to play these types of games at this type of tournament,” said Murray.
Hockeyroos captain Madonna Blyth said Australia’s inability to score was the most disappointing factor from the match.
“We are obviously very disappointed that we couldn’t score, we did make a few chances but I think that our awareness in the circle both in attack in defence let us down. We created a few more opportunities in the second half and a few more corners but we didn’t have too many shots that really worried them. That is something that we have really worked on so to not do it tonight in such a big match was disappointing,” said Blyth.
Victorian
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September 9th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
no surprises here. the goombah murray fails dismally yet again. he has spent 5 years making a mockery of our sport and the history of this once great team. when will HA and the ASC wake up and sack him?
September 15th, 2010 at 10:08 am
I agree with big red. Murray could not coach a minkey win. Does anyone know how he still has a job? What a spin doctor. talks about London to shift focus on another shocking result. they will be lucky to qualify for the olympics with him in charge. Only the WA mafia at HA would believe his crap
September 17th, 2010 at 10:30 am
murray was sacked, he did not “retire”
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/other/7962163/murray-quits-after-losing-top-players/
September 20th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Finally. At last! Perhaps now someone will be appointed who has a clue about the skills that are needed to succeed at international level. I have grown tired of watching HA tournaments for under age girls over the last 10 years and watching the REAL talents never picked for national squads. Would someone now do a checklist of the REAL talents frank Murray has dispensed with since 2005…We have had the Alyson Annan talent replacements in Australian hockey, but they have walked away from national hockey as Murray does not recognise those type of skills. He selected strong physical players who did not have the skills to unlock an international defence. And then he talked always of being “unlucky” on the day! What rubbish. Charlesworth groomed a team of skill AND fitness that could DOMINATE, and not depend on lucky breaks. Perhaps only a former Maths teacher like Murray would be so lacking in vision as to think that if you place your strikers high on the goalline and then coach everyone to smash the ball up field to them to trap and off-load to running in mid-fielders is going to lead to enough goals to win on good days. The man had NO vision for SKILL to eliminate defends at pace a la Jamie Dwyer…..he picked pedestrian midfielders…..he would NEVER have selected and groomed a Naomi van Aas (Dutch midfielder who unlocks defences and penetrates with stickwork skill!). And then he is bewildered as to why the Dutch win CONSISTENTLY. Look instead at some of the midfielders and strikers Murray has persisted with after repeated failures…..he has brought them all back even after their failure to eliminate defenders at Beijing. He over-trained players in fitness, so the injury toll has been far worse. And did not coach or select on the basis of stick skills that have enabled a Jamie Dwyer to be the world’s best.
September 28th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
“the professor” seems to know a lot about the situation.
current players in the team had him sacked. why is he still coaching the same girls that don’t want him at the commonwealth games? what is hockey australia doing?
if anyone thinks the hockeyroos are a chance at gold in delhi, don’t be so sure. england and nz (under mark hagar and 5 other aus coaches cast off by murray) will beat them. they will be lucky to finish 3rd. then franko will come out and say it was poor preparation, disruptions, unclean accommodation, etc. he has already started with his usual injury dramas before the tournament has even begun.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:30 am
the hockeyroos beat India 2-1. if it wasn’t for lynch in the net it may have been a diffrent result. just like rachel imison before her, who single handedly saved australia from slipping to 10th in the world without an ounce of gratitude from murray. imison would make 30 saves, they would win by a goal and murray would praise everyone but the victorian goalkeeper. good riddance to murray
October 9th, 2010 at 8:32 am
1.1 v South Africa. Franko will be lucky to beat Scotland, although the heat will favour the Hockeyroos.
What is he doing taking 2 goalkeepers into the tournament?
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/commonwealth-games/hockeyroos-held-to-draw-by-south-africa/story-fn65k7vp-1225936077116
So he puts Hurtz back on after dislocating her shoulder. the kid has no muscle and is not conditioned. of course it was going to pop again. I hope he hasn’t ruined her shoulder for good.