Planet Field Hockey

This year this annual competition takes place in Zagreb, Croatia. As usually it includes teams from Austria, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Switzerland and Croatia. Competition is played in two pools of three teams. Pool A Italy, Croatia and Switzerland, pool B Austria, Czech R. and France.

After opening ceremony the first match of the day was Austria vs France, last year?s winners. French team here consists of their U21 players, who are preparing for the Junior World Cup in Hobart. The match starts very cautiously on both sides. France is first to in danger opponent?s goal but with no success. Later on teams fail to realize one penalty corner each. That leads to a peaceful draw at halftime 0:0. Second half starts with an Austrian pressure on the French half, while young French team orients on quick counter-attacks. Things happen to develop more quickly after 50th minute when an Austrian player is yellow carded. Several seconds after that, penalty stroke is awarded for France and converted byVerrier. The following minute French player is carded for a bad tackle. Teams playing 10-a-side looks better for Austrians as they score from a PC - tip in. The last ten minutes bring even more excitement. Again each team has a carded player within three minutes, but this time France jumps to a lead just three minutes before the end from a PC - hit. Austria goes to full pressure and wins a penalty corner as the siren signals the end. All Austrian players come to the top of the circle, push out, stop, Minar hits it straight home, past the goalie and sets the final result 2:2. A fair result after a very good performance by both teams.

Second match was in pool A Italy vs Switzerland. Swiss also came with a very young team, and they paid the price to lack of experience. After a not so dramatic match Switzerland was easily defeated 4:0. At the halftime it was obvious that Italians are this time too good. In the first half Switzerland missed a penalty stroke. Furthermore at one point in the second half Italy was two players down, but Switzerland couldn?t score, not even from penalty corners. Skillful Italian forwards made a big mess in Swiss defense several times putting another two goals in the back of the net. With this victory Italy announced their candidacy for the Sunday final. Tomorrow they have to confirm this against Croatia.

DAY 1
Results:
Pool B: Austria ? France 2:2 (0:0)

Pool A: Italy ? Switzerland 4:0 (2:0)

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