China stunned Pool A winners Australia to seal their semi-final ticket, with Argentina producing an incredible fightback to get the better of Germany. The Netherlands proved too strong for Great Britain, while Belgium’s Red Panthers battled past Spain to reach the Olympic semis for the first time ever.
The result completed the line-up for the women’s semi-finals, with the Netherlands set to meet Argentina and Belgium facing China in the final four on Wednesday 7 August. The timings of the semi-finals can be found below, with a complete list of available fixtures and timings available here.
Women’s Semi-Finals – Wednesday 7 August 2024 (all times CEST)
14:00: Netherlands vs Argentina
19:00: Belgium vs China
More information on today’s matches can be found below, with additional details available here.
Australia 2-3 China
China recorded a stunning 3-2 victory over the previously unbeaten Australia, defying all expectations to storm into the semi-finals of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. It is the first time China have reached the Olympic semi-finals since Beijing 2008, where the host nation claimed the silver medal. Having finished sixth at London 2012 and ninth at both Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, China are now guaranteed their highest Olympic finish for 16 years.
“To reach the Olympic semi-finals is a big pay-off for us, a representation of the hard work that we have put in”. said China’s delighted captain Ou Zixia after the match. “They were the champion of their pool. I’m very proud of my team-mates and very proud of my coach (Alyson Annan).”
Argentina 1-1 Germany (2-0 after shoot-out)
Argentina became the second women’s team to seal a semi-final berth, despite falling behind three minutes from the end of their quarter-final match against Germany. Viktoria Huse netted a late penalty stroke for Germany before Eugenia Trinchinetti’s perfect penalty corner deflection forced a shoot-out.
Argentina goalkeeper Cristina Consentino was exceptional in the one-on-ones, keeping a clean-sheet as Julieta Jankunas and Zoe Diaz de Armas scored the goals in a 2-0 shoot-out victory, sparking wild celebrations both on the field and amongst the thousands of Leonas fans packed into Yves-du-Manoir Stadium.
“We are really happy, tired, but really happy”, said Argentina’s Agustina Albertarrio, who won silver with Las Leonas at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. “This is amazing. I love our team. I don’t have the words to explain it, but now we have to rest, and we have to keep fighting, because now we have a really hard game (in the semi-finals).”
Netherlands 3-1 Great Britain
Reigning Olympic champions the Netherlands overcame a stubborn Great Britain side to reach the final four, with Lune Fokke scoring twice in a 3-1 victory over the Rio 2016 gold medallists. The result means that the Netherlands will face Argentina in the semi-finals on Wednesday (7 August), a repeat of the gold medal game from Tokyo 2020. It was a valiant effort from Great Britain, but the Netherlands were worthy winners, qualifying for the Olympic semi-finals for the eighth successive Games.
Looking ahead to their semi-final meeting with their great rivals Argentina, Netherlands defender Renee van Laarhoven said: “I think we always have great, amazing games against Argentina. I mean, we know they have loads of passion. They give it their all. We saw it against Germany today, again. We always love to play against them, and I think they love to play against us as well. It’s always a great fight. And, yeah, we can’t wait to keep going.”
Belgium 2-0 Spain
Belgium’s women have reached the Olympic semi-finals for the first time in their history thanks to a hard fought 2-0 victory over Spain. On a historic night for the Red Panthers, Delphine-Daphne Marien and Charlotte Englebert netted fourth quarter goals to seal a semi-final place for their team.
Looking ahead to the semi-final meeting against China, Marien said that despite beating them in the pool phase, Belgium would not make the mistake of underestimating them. “They are really disciplined, they work so hard but we are going to do the same”, said goal-scorer Marien after the match. “Playing for the medals, everybody will be even more fired up. For sure we are going to be ready from the first whistle. And then hopefully, hopefully we can make to the final.”
While it was disappointing end to Spain’s impressive Olympic campaign here in Paris, there was a milestone moment for Beatriz Perez, who became her country’s highest capped female hockey player on the occasion of her 267th appearance for the Red Sticks.
Further information and statistics on all of today’s matches can be found by clicking here.
Notable figures attending the Olympic hockey at Yves-du-Manoir on Day 10 included King Filipe of Spain and Alejandro Blanco Bravo, President of the Spanish Olympic Committee.
Tuesday 6 August is men’s semi-finals day at the Yves-du-Manoir Hockey Stadium, with Germany, India, the Netherlands and Spain all just one win away from reaching the gold medal match at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The Netherlands face Spain at 14:00 CEST, with Germany taking on India at 19:00. A preview for these matches can be found here.
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.
Olympic Games Paris 2024 – Hockey
5 August 2024 – Day 10
Results – Women’s Quarter-Finals
Australia 2-3 China
Argentina 1-1 Germany (2-0 after shoot-out)
Netherlands 3-1 Great Britain
Belgium 2-0 SpainWomen’s Semi-Finals – Wednesday 7 August 2024 (all times CEST)
14:00: Netherlands vs Argentina
19:00: Belgium vs China
