After completing 4 of the 5 days of WOMEN’s Hockey Competition in the league stage, only defending champions Netherlands (Pool A) have confirmed a place in the semi-finals, while other three spots are still up for grabs, and will be known only after the conclusion of the pool matches.

Both Great Britain and China (from Pool A) stand a chance of making it to the semi-final. Would  it be China or Great Britain, will be known after the later completes their match against the defending champions Dutch, who have 4 wins of 4 matches in the competition till now. The silver medallists from Beijing, China will play must win match against Japan at 13:45 BST, while the hosts Great Britain will be up against Netherlands at 19:00 BST. In another match of Pool A, Korea will take on Belgium at 16:00 BST.

The Pool B situation is even more interesting. Top 4 teams (Argentina, New Zealand, Australia and Germany) from Pool B stand chance to be in Semi-Final, but finally it boils down to the results of first and last match of the day i.e. New Zealand Vs Germany at 08:30 BST and Argentina vs Australia at 21:00 BST respectively and the final goal differences. While the 2nd match (10:45 BST) of the day USA vs South Africa, will decide whether USA will play for 7th position or will have to play for 9th position.

Pool A Ifs and Buts

These are some of the possibilities, but not limited to, of China or Great Britain reaching the semi-finals of WOMEN’s Hockey competition of London Olympics:

• If China win against Japan, that is highly likely, and Netherlands beat Great Britain, then China will finish at 2nd place in Pool B, after the Dutch.
• If China beats Japan with more than 4 goals margin, and Netherlands and Great Britain ends up playing a draw, then China will go to the Semi-Final, while the hosts will play for 5th position.
• If Great Britain beat the defending Champions Netherlands or Japan hold or beat defending Silver Medallists China, then Great Britain will be in the semi-finals.

Pool B Ifs and Buts

These are some of the possibilities, but not limited to, for deciding 2 toppers of Pool B, who will play in semi-finals of WOMEN’s Hockey competition of London Olympics:

• If both the matches Argentina Vs Australia and New Zealand Vs Germany are drawn and Argentina and New Zealand win, then they will play in the semi-finals.
• The winner of Argentina and Australia match will be through to semi-final, but the loser can also go to semi-final on the basis of tie-breaker (i.e. goal difference, number of wins, goal conceded etc.) if and only if Germany beats New Zealand.

Schedule of Day 5 of WOMEN’s Hockey Competition at London 2012:

Date-Time (BST)	Matches
06/08 08:30		NZL	– x –	GER
06/08 10:45		USA	– x –	RSA
06/08 13:45		JPN	– x –	CHN
06/08 16:00		KOR	– x –	BEL
06/08 19:00		GBR	– x –	NED
06/08 21:15		ARG	– x –	AUS

Points Tables after 4 days of WOMEN’s Hockey Competition at London 2012:

Pool A:

Team	Pts	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
1   Netherlands	12	4	4	0	0	10	4	6
2   Great Britain	9	4	3	0	1	13	5	8
3   China	7	4	2	1	1	6	2	4
4   Korea	3	4	1	0	3	6	12	-6
5   Belgium	2	4	0	2	2	1	7	-6
6   Japan	1	4	0	1	3	3	9	-6

Pool B:

Team	Pts	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
1   Argentina	9	4	3	0	1	12	4	8
2   New Zealand	9	4	3	0	1	9	5	4
3   Australia	9	4	3	0	1	5	2	3
4   Germany	6	4	2	0	2	6	7	-1
5   United States	3	4	1	0	3	4	6	-2
6   South Africa	0	4	0	0	4	2	14	-12

Related posts:

London 2012 Hockey WOMEN – Day 4 Preview London 2012 Hockey MEN – Day 3 Preview London 2012 Hockey WOMEN – Day 3 Preview