Olympic Qualifiers 2012

I agree with your last two points, Andyface. I think it would be good for them to go to the Olympics (not that my opinion matters much ) and that they'd be better competition than the current women's outdoor Polish team.

I would hypothesise that it is far more likely that the reason they gave up their berth is something related to their performances in the Beijing Olympics than some conspiracy involving the FIH, however.

Probably, but that's not as exciting as a conspiracy!
It just seems odd, that's all.

actually, poland are playing in the qualifying tournament in india.. the Argentinian ladies were invited instead.. wasn't that the starting point of this discussion?

Poland is playing instead of Cuba if I remember...
Generally problem of SA is really big. I agree with Inselaffen ...

I was watching Canada play Singapore. It is uncanny. The Singapore team is being stopped exactly at the half-line or thereabouts. Also, the Canadian team has more than 3 players inside the opposition scoring 'D', when it is in the area. The Singapore defense is spirited. But, the last score I saw was 6-1, Canada. The mid-field of Canada are attacking and defending. I did not see the Canadian defenders. The Singapore team sent a long pass, deep into the Canadian half. There were two Singapore forwards waiting, one behind the other, but neither could trap the ball. Which means, the Canada defence were not there.

Aditya, the tournament format consists of a round-robin and then straight final. Because CAN lost to POL 3-2, it is likely that their chances of making the finals will be based upon goal difference.

I was watching the match too and I think they were just throwing everything forward, trying to get as many goals against SIN as possible. IND beat SIN 15-1, FRA beat SIN 9-0, and POL have yet to play SIN. Tough tournament they've been having, the poor Singaporeans.

nothing poor about them other than the quality of the side.

If you stand two metres in front of the guy you are supposed to be marking, don't be surprised if the ball is passed behind you. `

Very disappointed to not see the Singaporean player get a straight red card for hitting the French guy in the face with the butt of his stick. I can only assume the umpire didn't see it.

In an ideal world this will generate some humility in the side who tend to play for a single club on the island which is heavily pandered to by the national association and in turn the umpiring community. Pleasant they are not.

Additionally, it would good if this encourages the Singapore Hockey Federation to undertake their umpires to adopt a more 'international style' of umpiring. This would be

1. beneficial to the national team as they often look completely dumbfounded when the whistle is blown because the interpretation of the rules here is so wide of the mark
2. beneficial to the local leagues which have a high proportion of extremely frustrated ex-pat players.

The Singapore team had a friendly against a group of expats from the 3 expat clubs here 2-3 weeks ago, with a hungover Taekema guesting. The Expat team had never played together before and most were past their best. 1-0 to Singapore. so no surprise about the scorelines so far.

Singapore keeper was very poor but if you watch Singapore Prem League games again that won't come as a surprise.

I love the way that TV keeps showing Sunil Prasad as the Singapore coach. Firstly that ain't Sunil its Khabaria (and he knows a thing or 2 about poor umpiring) and secondly even if it was Sunil he's not the Singapore coach, he's the assistant!

Can anyone point me in the direction of highlights/videos of these matches?

You are a scholar and a gent.

To tell the truth, India were not exactly outstanding. They were not playing to potential. Understandable, with scorelines of 9-1, etc. Perhaps, when India plays Holland, Australia, Germany, etc, we will appreciate it more.
I am a very big admirer of the Holland Team.

India have fast and skilled forwards that are very efficient on counter-attacks.
The other way of scoring for India is of course Sandeep...
If Sandeep got injured or if the other team keep good marquing and steal the ball, it will be tough to score.

Tough game against Canada!
The blues have much better than against India...
Let's hope that India will do the job tonight against Poland!

Can't see India losing this, even if they take the foot of the gas a little (would love for Poland to have a go at it and be proved wrong though). India have been in superb form and have been tearing teams apart with their stick skills and passing. Hopefully we will see India push on again and get back into troubling the top 4 International Teams on a more regular basis. Feel a little sorry for the Singapore team though.

Looks like 4-2 win to India