Women’s hockey final: Netherlands vs Team GB - Brits aren’t afraid as the Dutch go for triple gold at Rio 2016 Olympics

One to go: Great Britain’s hockey players celebrate their semi-final victory over New Zealand
MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images
Rod Gilmour19 August 2016

His side may have grown in momentum ahead of their first Olympic final but Danny Kerry, Great Britain women’s coach, admits that the Netherlands are “red-hot favourites” in tonight’s eagerly anticipated gold medal match.

It will take 60 minutes, barring a shoot-out, to discover whether Kerry’s claims are purely psychological but Britain are the only team left with a 100 per cent record and enter the showdown having leaked just five goals in seven matches.

The Netherlands, coached by Australia’s two-time Olympian Alyson Annan-Thate, are aiming for a hat-trick of Olympic titles and possess plenty of youthful, counter-attacking options, including Lidewij Welten, the 2015 world young player of the year.

“They realise it will be a tight game and they know we have pace. But equally they have a lot of talent,” said Kerry. “Holland will start as red-hot favourites but I don’t know, I fancy our chances.

“We did fabulously four years ago [winning bronze] but now we execute to the letter. We play very intelligently. Add to that, we have another eight who have not played the Olympics before, the likes of Lily [Owsley] and Sophie [Bray], who just go for it.”

It has been quite a turnaround in fortunes from the 2014 World Cup when England — which this Great Britain essentially is, with no other home nations’ players — finished a lowly 11th. Jason Lee was replaced by Kerry as coach and they have slowly returned as a world force.

“They are the last real team inside of this tournament,” Germany coach Jamilon Mulders told Standard Sport. “They are tight and compact, with great tactics and the will to win.”

However Mulders, whose side were beaten by the Dutch in the last four, did note Britain’s lack of quality at penalty corners. “They have ideas on deflections but their straight flick is not as good as the Dutch,” he added.

In Pictures: Team GB's medal run at Rio 2016 Olympics

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Hockey sticks have been thrust into young Dutch players’ hands from an early age and their dribbling skills are electric.

At the helm is Maartje Paumen, the talented corner striker who can win games single handedly.

But Kerry’s side will look back on their thrilling win at last summer’s European Championships, when a tidal wave of attacks in the final quarter yielded a last-ditch victory.

Direct hockey did for the Dutch that day and goalkeeper Maddie Hinch admitted at the time that a psychological barrier had been broken. The squad has been bolstered on the sidelines by Amber Luzar, the GB performance analyst, who joined from Reading FC in 2014 and is seen as a key asset in compiling dossiers on rival teams — especially shoot-outs against the Dutch included.

Tonight’s final will also mark the end of captain Kate and wife Helen Richardson-Walsh’s outstanding careers in international hockey. The pair have accrued over 500 combined caps, with Kate making her debut back in 1999.

Kate, 36, seemed destined for retirement prior to the 2014 World Cup but was forced to reconsider after overwhelming player backing. Meanwhile Helen, 34, has fought back from two back surgeries to make the Rio squad. These two keen competitors will give it their all against any Oranje threat.

“It will be really special to be in a final with her,” said Kate. “I want to go out on a bang, standing on the podium singing the national anthem — and be one of those people.”

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