Advertisement

'Arrogant' GB hockey women were 'lucky to win in 2016' say Dutch after thrashing Brits 5-1

TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 04: Eva Roma Maria de Goede, Pien Sanders and Felice Albers of Team Netherlands celebrate the fifth goal scored during the Women's Semifinal match between Netherlands and Great Britain on day twelve of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 04, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
The Netherlands team celebrate a goal during the women's semi-final against Great Britain at the Oi Stadium. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

The Netherlands' top female hockey stars labelled their GB rivals "arrogant" after beating them 5-1 on Wednesday, and said the Brits' Olympic gold victory over them in 2016 was "pure luck".

The convincing win over Team GB at the Oi Stadium means the Dutch world No 1 side have reached their fifth successive Olympic final.

Since their Rio Olympic final defeat five years ago, the Dutch have played over 100 matches and lost just two competitive internationals. They are now 45 matches unbeaten following their dismantling of Great Britain, who will next play for bronze on Friday.

Alyson Annan's side largely kept their counsel after Rio, instead taking out their anger on the pitch.

Watch: What inspired hockey-player Georgie Twigg to become an Olympic athlete?

TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 04: Team Great Britain huddles up during the Women's Semifinal match between Netherlands and Great Britain on day twelve of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 04, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Great Britain take in the 5-1 defeat against the Netherlands, which has put them into a bronze medal match. (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

However, some players took umbrage at comments by Team GB ahead of the semi-final that the famous shoot-out defeat would still be in the back of the Dutch team's minds.

“They may say it hurts us, but that just gave me energy,” Margot van Geffen, who played in Rio and starred in their latest win, told hockey.nl, Dutch hockey federation's official website.

“I can remember a lot of quarter-finals, semi-finals and other tournaments where we humiliated them.

“Take, for example, the European Championship in 2019, in which we won 8-0 [against England]. That hurts too, don’t you think? You also see today: it was pure luck what they put down in Rio. It’s great that we’re sending them home like this today.”

TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 04: (EDITOR’S NOTE: Alternative crop of image #1332244689) Susannah Townsend and Lily Owsley of Team Great Britain react after losing the Women's Semifinal match between Netherlands and Great Britain on day twelve of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 04, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Team GB players take in their 5-1 defeat to the Netherlands in the Tokyo semi-finals. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Eva de Goede, the current Dutch captain, also weighed in on their r.

“I think everyone had their own personal reason why we wanted to beat them so badly," admitted De Goede.

“We have the feeling that those girls always have a lot of bravado, almost arrogant. We really wanted to show today that they certainly don’t come near us.

“I’m glad we were able to play our own game and knock them all out.”

2016 Rio Olympics - Hockey - Women's Victory Ceremony - Olympic Hockey Centre - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 19/08/2016. Susie Townsend (GBR) of Britain, Kate Richardson-Walsh (GBR) of Britain, Sam Quek (GBR) of Britain and Alexandra Danson (GBR) of Britain celebrate winning the gold medal. REUTERS/Matthew Childs FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
Team GB women players celebrate a memorable gold medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016. (Reuters/Matthew Childs)

After their superb shoot-out win against Spain in the quarter-finals, Team GB will now play either India or Argentina as they attempt to win a third successive medal at the Olympics following London 2012 bronze.

Following the Dutch defeat, goalkeeper Maddie Hinch said: "We can still be proud. We haven't become a bad team after one game, and we are still going to fight for this bronze medal, which we would be incredibly proud of if we come away with it."

Watch: The new Olympic sport of breakdancing explained