PARIS:
The Netherlands, reigning Olympic champions, secured a decisive 3-0 victory against Argentina in the women’s hockey semi-finals at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.
Midfielder Luna Fokke, who came off the bench, made a significant impact by scoring a goal and providing an assist in the second quarter.
The Dutch team has maintained a remarkable record by reaching every final since the 2000 Sydney Games, where they earned a second consecutive bronze. They are now poised to make history by potentially achieving double gold if both the women’s and men’s teams win the tournament, affirming their status as a hockey powerhouse.
The top-ranked Netherlands men’s hockey team advanced to the Paris Olympics final on Tuesday, securing a decisive 4-0 victory over Spain. They will play the final against Germany who defeated India 3-2, day earlier. India will now face Spain in the bronze medal match.
“We have nine girls who have never played in the Olympics,” stated coach Paul van Ass. “The beauty of Dutch hockey is that we can continue nurturing talent with new generations. When we eliminate unforced errors, we are usually very strong. It might look easy, but it’s like how Roger Federer made tennis look easy at his best.”
Belgium and China were set to compete in the second semi-final later on Wednesday, vying for a chance to face the world’s top-ranked team, the Netherlands, who are appearing in their sixth consecutive final. Both Belgium and China previously lost to the Netherlands in the pool stage, each conceding three goals.
Argentina, defeated by the Netherlands in the Tokyo final, now has the opportunity to aim for their third Olympic bronze medal.
The Netherlands opened the scoring in the 21st minute when midfielder Fokke received a deep pass, maneuvered past the defense, and struck the ball into the right corner of the net, beating Argentina’s goalkeeper Cristina Consentino stick-side. Five minutes later, Laura Nunnink redirected a hard cross from Fokke, extending the Dutch lead past Consentino’s outstretched leg.
“It’s nice to just play good hockey, and scoring a goal is an amazing feeling,” remarked Fokke. “We are expecting a competitive final. We will watch tonight and then prepare our game. It’s a final, so there’s a lot of tension.”
Yibbi Jansen, the tournament’s leading scorer, added to the Dutch tally in the 35th minute with a penalty corner goal, marking her eighth in Paris. Belgium’s Ambre Ballenghien is the second-highest scorer, with six goals from open play.