From: dam@fwi.uva.nl (Joris van Dam)
Subject: first and second round results
Organization: FWI, University of Amsterdam
Distribution: rec.sport.hockey.field
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 08:50:19 GMT

Australia - Argentina 	7 - 0		Netherlands - Unified team :	5 - 2
Germany   - India	3 - 0		Pakistan    - Malaysia	   :    4 - 1
Great Brittain - Egypt  2 - 0		Spain	    - New Zeeland  : 	3 - 0

Australia  - Egypt      5 - 1		Netherlands - Spain	   :    3 - 2
Gernmany   - Great Brit.2 - 0		Pakistan    - New Zeeland  :	1 - 0
India      - Argentina  1 - 0		Unified team- Malyasia     : 	7 - 3

COMMENTS
Australia clearly got off to a good start, as was to be expected. I was a
little surprised with how easy they score without Hager, but they haven't
had the best of opponents. Will their winning streak last
to the finals?
Germany played very impressive. Not too much excitement, especially since
they lost Brinkmann, one of their most talented. Karsten Fischer is not good
for hockey, the guy is nothing but a cannon, skips the entire midfield. They
scored 3 out of 3 corners against India. I was disgusted with the way they met
their third goal (lots of enthusiasm, German commentator was exstatic) while
Fischer hit an Indian knee from less than a meter. I thought the guy would
have broken his leg. No reaction from Fischer, did not even check on the guy.
Sure, very professional but disgusts the h*ll out of me.
Great Brittain can forget about a medal if they don't improve their performance
Against the Germans, they did not even get close to getting an opportunity.
Sean Kerly was an embarrasment. He should have quit while he was ahead.
India seem to have lost it. Don't count on them for any medals. Australia
and Germany will go through to the semi finals, unless India or Great Brittain
suddenly decide to make miracles happen.

The Dutch got off to a slow start. Weak defence, Bovenlander is not much of an 
organizer, both goals from the Unified team were  more due to total 
disorganisation than to great play by the Unified team. Bovenlander scored 4
out of 14 (!!) penalty corners. The Dutch have not used any nice variant yet,
just the direct stroke or flick ! (in contrast, Spain and Germany have already
shown some beautiful variants) Bovenlander's flick seems unstoppable, he scored
4 against the Unified and 3 against Spain. Against the Unified team - a very
entertaining match- two beauties were to be seen. Some young Russian totally
embarrassed Dutch defence on his own and managed to lift the ball over
Leistra from a seemingly difficult position. Gijs Weterings on the Dutch side
managed to get his stick under a very hard pass diving head first and tipped
the ball right into the roof of the net.
Netherlands - Spain was a thriller. Two days before the match, the busses
ceased showing up at the Dutch hotel, so the Dutch were left without transport
by the Spanish. When they finally got transport, they were taken to a different
training field, which was in such a bad condition that Jorritsma decided
training would be dangerous for the players; ergo : the Dutch were denied
training facilities. Furthermore, their cameraman was denied access to the 
stadium to film the Spaniards, which is groos misconduct on the Spanish side.
Once the match finally started, the Dutch could only get 1 single ice pack
to treat injuries !! The second Spanish goal was clearly offside. Leistra
(the goalie) ran forward as he saw the Spanish were playing the ball around 
after a penalty corner and put the Spanish forward, who finally scored, miles
offside. The Indian referee refused to see it. Regrettably, most referees
seem to forget, that two players should be behind the ball at the time of
the pass; most count only one and automatically include the goalie. Very
bad refereeing. In the final second, the Spanish had a free stroke just outside
the cirkel, played the ball around and shot .... from just outside the cirkel.
Leistra jumped aside to let the ball got through !!!! Off course, the Spanish
fiercely claimed a goal, which would have given them a draw, but the Indian 
referee suddenly made his only two correct decisions in a row : he
did not award the goal and ended the game. Lots of commotion, but the
victory stands !  
We can forget about Malaysia, Unified team and New Zeeland for the medals.
Unfortunately, the Pakistan matches have not been broadcasted. Their results
are not too convincing, but according to the Dutch press, the Pakistan
have not to worry and will advance to the semi finals. So will the Dutch.
Spain can only advance if they beat Pakistan, I dont't know how susceptible
the Pakistani are to the Spanish cold war tactics. Hope not.

Joris
Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey.field