A silver medal is Australia’s best Olympic men’s hockey result since 2004,but the team came within a whisker of going one better in the final against Belgium.
If Australia let Belgium star Alexander Hendrickx set his sights on goal from penalty corners in Thursday’s final,they are long odds to bring home gold.
Almost two decades after Australian hockey’s curse was first broken,the Kookaburras are within 60 minutes of another gold medal.
The Australians were visibly devastated after their loss,some of the players collapsing in despair. Not just a poor day but a hard year had reached its end.
After a brilliant week in and on the water,attention turns elsewhere in week two. Athletics,boxing,football,hockey,skateboarding,equestrian. Take your pick,there’s plenty to keep an eye on.
Lucky for Justice John Vaughan the team boasts an ICU specialist,mining company chief executive,former police and surf lifesavers among their ranks.
The Hockeyroos and Kookaburras are both travelling nicely,having continued their winning ways at the Toyko Olympics on Wednesday.
Australia will have Olympic men’s hockey rivals worried after another goal spree,against Argentina.
The Hockeyroos showed a ruthless edge as they smashed China 6-0 on Monday.
This was hockey as a statement. Unsettled and a little offended by a scare in the first game against Japan,the gold medal favourites Australia were ruthless.
The hosts had led at half-time before the Australians regained their composure.