Argentina’s men matched their women’s side, taking bronze in the 2014 hockey World Cup with a 2-0 win over England in the Hague today.
After a tight first half, Argentina took control with two second-half goals in a minute from Matias Paredes.
Lucas Vila was the provide on both occasions.In the 55th minute Vila slapped the ball from the left and found an unmarked Paredes in the circle. A sprawling George Pinner almost denied the striker but the ball found the backboards.
Then Vila’s right baseline run drew Pinner and set up Paredes in front. England’s World Cup medal hopes were all but over.
Pinner had a fine game in goal, including one excellent left-glove save from a Gonzallo Peillat PC thunderbolt in the first half. And while the defence was solid for much of the match, again England failed to assert much pressure down the other end. Four corners were fruitless, although one was superbly turned away by the stick of a diving Juan Vivaldi.
“The defence was solid bu we didn’t have enough in terms of creating goals and creating chance,” said England coach Bobby Crutchley. “That is what we are going to have to change going forward and it is one of the hardest things to coach.”
