AHF: Germany and Netherlands target Olympic gold as men’s final approaches

A sensational men’s hockey competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will reach its climax on Thursday, with four incredible teams fighting it out for the three medals on offer in front of deafening capacity crowds at the Yves-du-Manoir Hockey Stadium.

At 14:00 CEST, India and Spain will battle for bronze, with both proud hockey nations determined to end their Olympics on a high after losing their respective semi-final matches.

The main event takes place at 19:00, a classic encounter between historic European rivals Germany and the Netherlands, with Die Honamas searching for a fifth Olympic title and the Oranje aiming to land gold for the first time since winning back-to-back titles at Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.

We take a quick look at the two medal matches.

India vs Spain – 14:00 CEST

While defeat to Germany means that India’s 44-year wait for a ninth Olympic gold medal goes on, they will be determined to finish an otherwise outstanding Olympic competition on a positive note. Despite that heart-breaking result, India’s excellent performances at Paris 2024 ensures they can leave with their heads held high, ideally with bronze medals hanging around their necks. After winning bronze at Tokyo 2020, they have the chance to repeat the trick here at the Yves-du-Manoir stadium.

Standing in their way are Spain, a side looking for a first Olympic medal since winning silver at Beijing 2008. While their heavy 4-0 semi-final loss against the Netherlands will have been difficult to take, head coach Max Caldas – who masterminded their sensational quarter-final victory over reigning champions Belgium – will ensure that his team will be ready for the challenge that awaits them.

Player perspectives

Harmanpreet Singh (IND): “Of course, (all) medals are medals. This is our last chance (of this Olympic Games) and last hope to get a medal. But Spain are good. If they are qualified for the semis, it means they are good, and they beat Belgium. So we are not going to take the match (lightly) and we try to give everything we have and try to get that bronze medal.”

Marc Miralles (ESP), speaking before India’s semi-final defeat to Germany: “I don’t know who we’re going to play, but we’re going to do what we always do. We’re going to try to find their weaknesses and try to win the game.”

Germany vs Netherlands – 19:00 CEST

Germany versus the Netherlands is a fixture with a big history. Their fierce European rivalry has regularly been played out at world level events, with the two meeting in the Olympic gold medal match at London 2012. After thrashing Great Britain 9-2 in the semi-final, the Dutch started that contest as heavy favourites. However, Germany were always going to have their say, with Jan-Philipp Rabante scoring both the goals in 2-0 win as Die Honamas claimed their fourth Olympic gold medal. Following their battling win over India, you certainly would not bet against the current world champions adding a fifth title here at Paris 2024.

While European champions the Netherlands suffered a 1-0 loss to Germany in the pool phase, their superb 4-0 thrashing of Spain in the semi-finals ensures that they enter the gold medal match on a high. The Oranje were exceptional against the Spaniards, with team captain Thierry Brinkman scoring one of the best goals of the tournament with a stunning first-time strike into the top corner. With the women also reaching the gold medal match, the dream of a Dutch double at Yves-du-Manoir could become reality, bringing the men’s team’s 24-year wait for Olympic gold to an end. The teams that won gold at Sydney 2000 and Atlanta 1996 both featured current men’s head coach Jeroen Delmee and head coach and Jacques Brinkman, father of Thierry.

Player perspectives 

Jean-Paul Danneberg (GER): “We know from the past that the Dutch have extremely big problems to score against us. All (the) games were very close in the past. And we know where our qualities are, and our qualities are definitely in defence. The Dutch players need a very good day to score four goals against us. So I think we have a mountain, and they will have big problems to climb us.”

Thierry Brinkman (NED): “In this tournament, when you can win a quarter-final against Australia and a semifinal at the Olympics, we know exactly what we’re doing. We have been working for many years with each other now. We know exactly what to do. The final will be a close game for sure. But we know how to finish games.”

Medal Matches – Thursday 8 August 2024 (all times CEST)

14:00: Bronze medal match
19:00: Gold medal match

The hockey competitions at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 take place from Saturday 27 July to Friday 9 August. Both the men’s and women’s competitions feature 12 teams, split into two pools of six ahead of quarter-finals, semi-finals and medal matches. For more information about the hockey competitions at Paris 2024, visit Olympics.Hockey.

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Source: FIH.hockey