It’s the dream matchup between Australia and the Netherlands that everyone had touted as the sure fire gold medal contest this morning, just a little earlier than we expected. Join The Roar from 7am (AEST) for all the live highlights and action.
Not the gold medal match, but the quarter-finals is where these two behemoths of international hockey will do battle today.
Ranked No.1 and No.2 in the world, Australia and the Netherlands were surprised in the group stages and hit with unexpected losses despite coming into the tournament as heavy favourites at the top medals.
The Kookaburras finished third in Group A, thanks mainly to a destructive 9-goals-to-nil win over Brazil in their final game.
While the Dutch hung on for second place in Group B despite a loss to Germany in their final pool game.
Shock losses to Spain and Belgium threw the Aussies on the back foot and even threatened elimination, before a tight win over Great Britain and the aforementioned Brazil match got them back on track and firing for the quarter-finals.
The Netherlands had nearly the exact opposite run into the finals. After coming off huge 7-0 and 5-0 wins over Canada and Ireland respectively, the Dutch hit a road bump with a shaky, less than convincing, one-goal win over India leading in to the loss against Germany.
These two sides have plenty of history in the big tournaments, with an intense rivalry atop the hockey mountain.
Australia beat the Dutch 6-1 in the final of the 2014 World Cup, making it the fifth time in the last six World Cups that the two sides had knocked each other out in the semi or grand final, dating back to 1994.
Just to add that little extra spice, the Netherlands knocked out Australia in the semi-finals of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, denying them gold in front of their home crowd.
Prediction
This one could be a match of the tournament contender if both sides brush off the cobwebs of their earlier games and pull out their strongest performances, which they’ll need to if they want to get past either of the best sides in the world.
The Netherlands have looked stronger throughout the tournament so far for mine, with a deadly short corner and probably the best front line in world hockey.
Based off their games in the group stage, it’s going to be a tough hill to climb for the Kookaburras but they’re coming into the contest with a big win in their pockets and a lot of confidence.
It’s going to be tight, that’s a given, but my Australian bias aside I think it will be a draw, probably one-all, at the end of regulation time – and an Australian goal in extra time will get the job done.
DaniE
Roar Guru
Sigh and argh. Thanks Connor. It has been a nightmare campaign by the Kookas. How could the mighty have fallen in such a short period of time? Something's going on.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Australia - 0 Netherlands - 4 Bakker 1' De Voogd 28' Verga 32' Van Der Weerden 49'
Connor Bennett
Editor
The image that perfectly sums up today's game...
Connor Bennett
Editor
It's always hard to come back into a game when you concede a goal 49 seconds into the match.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Despite four goals on the board, it was actually the Dutch defence that won them the game and dominated the contest. Their orange wall of defence refused to give the Kookaburras an inch throughout the entire game. Even when giving up a pair of penalty corners, the Netherlands defused it with ease and swamped the Australian offence. With the few chances they had, Australia lacked that execution and final delivery that the Dutch were delivering up the other end.
Maria Sanders
Guest
Its going to be a tight match, Australia will win..... Because they are the nr 1 in the world and The Netherlands ranked nr 2? Jeez, if you watch hockey for a long time you know that you NEVER underestimate the Dutch hockey teams. Totally embarrassing performance by Australia, not even a single goal, world class hockey by The Netherlands.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
FULLTIME The final whistle blows and it's all over for the Australians. A bitterly disappointing ending to a fairly lackluster tournament overall. The Netherlands played like one of the best teams in the world that they are and they made the number one ranked side in world hockey look second rate. A dominating performance from start (quite literally) to finish and they're through to the semi-finals while the Australians go back and ponder what could have been. Australia - 0 Netherlands - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Can the Netherlands score again here.... Noooo Australia scramble back in numbers to deflate the counter attack. A fifth goal would just be opening up the wound, rubbing a lemon on it and then grinding an entire salt shaker into it. Australia - 0 Netherlands - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Hugely disappointing for Jamie Dwyer, Mark Knowles and co at their last Olympics. Australia - 0 Netherlands - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Australia have been throwing everyone forward and desperately trying to get back into this contest for the whole game, but they look defeated now with less than four minutes left on the clock. The urgency is disappearing and the heads are dropping. Australia - 0 Netherlands - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' We have a player down for the Dutch. Hertzberger gets the trainers out on the pitch for some attention. Looking a little ginger but he is up and walking.... mind you he's walking off the field, but walking nonetheless. Australia - 0 Netherlands - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Netherlands happy to knock it around the mids and across the back, but they've decided to head down the left flank towards the box. Maybe some players see an empty goal and a chance to get their names on the scoresheet. Australia - 0 Netherlands - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' The Australian goalie Andrew Charter is being taken off!! Last ditch effort from the Kookaburras to get something on the board here with an extra player in the field of play. They're risking letting in a lot more though. Australia - 0 Netherlands - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' All those penalty corners and resets burned through a lot of game time for the Dutch, but with the fourth goal it 's barely something they need to worry about now. Looks like game over for the Aussies. Australia - 0 Netherlands - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL NETHERLANDS!! Well it was really a matter of time there. The Dutch had four penalty corners in a row and they finally get it into the back of the goal. Mink Van Der Weerden stops taking out Australian defenders and gets one in this time, guiding the drag flick to the right of centre and taking a deflection of the goalies leg and into the net. Australia - 0 Netherlands - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Another foot!! Another penalty corner coming up!! Number four in a row. Australia - 0 Netherlands - 3
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Can you believe it!! It's happened again!! Van Der Weerden fires off the drag flick with incredible power and it's Dawson who cops one in the leg and he's down for the count as well!! Netherlands win a third short corner in a row. Who can they take out this time? Australia - 0 Netherlands - 3
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Fergus Kavanagh makes the save... with his leg!! He's hobbling off in a lot of pain after that one and the Netherlands win another short corner because of it. Australia - 0 Netherlands - 3
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Netherlands on the counter attack and the Australians have very little protection at the back!! And they win a penalty corner!! Wonderful stick work inside the D from Verga to force the short corner there. Australia - 0 Netherlands - 3