[img_assist|nid=3618|title=GB Captain Glen Kirkham – image Ady Kerry|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=172]Great Britain 1
Ashley Jackson (62,PS)
Germany 3
Florian Fuchs (36, FG)
Christopher Zeller (52, FG)
Moritz Furste (54, PS)
After a goal-less first half Germany took the lead while Britain had only 9 players on the field when the game was restarted after half time. The umpires follwed the letter of the regulations by blowing the restart immediately the clock ticked down.
I guess we can put that down to ‘testing’ and it is unlikely to happen again. GB coach Jason Lee preferred to focus on the positive. “Unusually for a hockey stadium the crowd is on the edge of the pitch. The atmosphere was special and I think some hockey will be played here.”
Australia 3
Russell Ford (21, FG)
Matthew Gohdes (43, FG)
Luke Doerner (64, PS)
India 0
Pretty standard day at the office for the very efficient Australians. That the score wasn’t higher was thanks to India’s keeper Sreejesh who made a string of fine saves. Australia are the side to beat here, although India are much improved over the last 18 months.
Great Britain 1
Alex Danson (62, FG)
Korea 0
An Alex Danson strike in the 62nd minute got GB off to a winning start at the Riverside Stadium. Before that the game had created few chances and, if anything Korea looked the more likely to score. “We have got a lot of improvement’s to make,” said Danson. But she said making her 50th GB appearance on home soil was special.
“The stadium looks absolutely incredible, “she said. “I don’t think any of us have experienced anything quite like that before.”
GB defender Crista Cullen said the pitch was a little bouncy. “It just needs to be played on,” she said.
The winning goal came when Danson picked up a bouncing pass in the attacking third, drove into the circle and beat Korean keeper Moon Younghi with a lifted reverse stick shot. “I was trying to get close,” the Reading striker said. “But I am very comfortable on the reverse so I just hit it.”
Argentina 3
Daniella Sruoga (20,FG)
Carla Rebecchi (28, FG)
Silvina D’Elia (30, PC)
China 0
China looked out of sorts in a game easliy won by the world champions. One goal from 11 corners is a concern for Argentina in the absence of their injured PC specialist Noela Barrionuevo.
