Olympics Hockey: Annan hails Albers’ ‘see it, do it’ approach as key to gold pursuit

There’s no real dominance in a sport like the Dutch women in hockey – and it shows in their attitude said coach Alyson Annan after her side beat Britain 5-1 to reach their fifth consecutive Olympic final. Not least with in-form Felice Albers, who was told by Annan three months before Tokyo that if form failed to improve, she wouln’t be picked in the Oranje 16.

You have to go all the way back to 1992 for the last time the Netherlands women’s outfit last failed to make a podium, an unrivalled excellence in hockey.

Annan said it was a surprisingly simple approach that propelled the side on – highlighting how a conversation on Tuesday evening with two-goal Albers was immediately put into practice against a hapless GB.