Paris — Great Britain men’s captain David Ames says the 2024 Games “will be one of the toughest Olympics that has been won in a long time”, with players believing there are “six or seven” nations in the mix for title contention.
On Sunday morning, GB men take on India in the first of the men’s quarter-finals at Yves-du-Manoir. It will be a repeat of this stage at the Tokyo Games when India prevailed. Moreover, the line-up for the last eight is exactly the same as it was for the Tokyo Games. GB are aiming to make the last four for the first time since 2012.
Ames believes that GB’s ability to play for 60 minutes – despite being forced to rally late in four of five of their Pool games – can help Paul Revington’s side.
“It bodes well for us,” he told The Hockey Paper. “It shows that we are a team which doesn’t give up and fights to the last minute. India will be an incredibly high challenge. It will be an exciting Sunday.
“Their counter-attack is probably their biggest threat and from that they can win corners and then they have not just one but two or three drag flickers. We are going to need our defensive hat on with the trickery and everything they cause. Likewise, we have an attacking threat that I think will be a good match for them.”
GB were made to pay for going 2-0 down against Germany on Friday night. Goalkeeper Ollie Payne was dismissive of his performance, but says the team’s new counter-punching philosophy can hold them in good stead.
Payne said: “We always know we have the legs to push at the end. We have a lot of character which hopefully people on the outside can see from the group stages.
“Let’s bring it on. We’ve alway had good games against them. We won’t change the way we play. Good luck to us, good luck to them and hopefully it’s a really good game.”
Indeed, the last eight match ups perhaps underlines where world hockey is at the moment. What’s for certain is that it won’t be a ‘0-0 Rourkela’, which could well be on the finest scoreless games in elite hockey and featuring plenty of English players in the GB set up.
GB’s Jacob Draper said: “The men’s game is an amazing place. You have seven teams who could justify winning a gold medal. It’s our position to be on the podium with a gold medal round our neck and let no one else take that.”
What India say…
Danger corner flicker Harmanpreet Singh says that their mental approach will be key on Sunday.
He said: “In the pool matches, you have options. Maybe you win, or you lose, you have the next match. In the quarterfinals you don’t have any (more chances) so you have to go for the best and put your best foot in front, and you know there’s no room to make mistakes. So, every second you have to be sharp every time, whenever you get the opportunity to make sure you are finishing well. It is that mentality we have to keep in our minds.”
How the game could pan out
India’s final group game against Australia proved to be their first win over the Kookaburras at Olympic level since 1972. Of course, it wasn’t easy as Australia threw down the gauntlet with a late comeback. PR Sreejesh then stood tall to deny a 3-3. What the game did deliver was an expansive, counter-attacking game from India, almost as if their shackles had been let loose from their opening four Pool games.
Man markers GB will likely continue their ploy of front-foot hockey, throwing players forward but at the same time this could open space for India.
Tale of the tape: GB v India history
Great Britain haven’t lost to India in normal time since the Asian powerhouse beat Danny Kerry’s side 3-1 in the Tokyo quarter-finals.
GB have won three Pro League games since then, the latest coming in back-to-back Pro League victories in London in June.
GB have had history on their side in previous Olympics, with successive victories in 2000, 1996, 1992 and, on their way to gold, at the 1988 Games in Seoul.
Men’s quarter-finals
GB v India (10am local time)
Belgium v Spain (12.30pm)
Netherlands v Australia (5.30pm)
Germany v Argentina (8pm)
Paris notebook
Dutch football coach Louis van Gaal visited the Dutch teams prior to the quarter-finals.
During Van Gaal’s tenure at Manchester United, the Dutch coach employed a video analyst, Max Reckers, who was also a former Dutch hockey international. He is known to be an admirer of hockey for its pressing and passing skills.
Only 7 of the 8 capable of gold? Who does Ames think could not get a W over GBR on their day?