Germany and the Netherlands played a two-game test series on Tuesday evening and today with the Dutch coming out on top with 2-0 and 2-1 wins.
The games were played in Arnhem on a blue pitch, with the same set-up as the one that will be used at the London 2012 Games and featured two of the top teams for the upcoming Olympics. The first encounter was a defensive battle with Germany having problems finding its scoring touch, and junior international Charlotte Vega scoring in her first cap as she and 4 other players celebrated their debuts in the senior squad. In this morning’s second game, Germany took a lead but eventually saw the reigning Olympic Champions pass them by again through goals by Eva de Goede and Kitty van Male.
In other exhibition action:
The Argentina men’s national team has left home to travel to Belgium for a three-game series, facing off with the Red Lions on 3, 4 and 6 April in Brussels. The series is sure to be a key test for the two Olympic qualified squads. The Belgian men are on a roll after beating neighbor rival, Netherlands, last week in Kontich in an exhibition game at the Road to London Tournament.
The Australian men concluded their series against China at home in Australia yesterday and had no problems handling the 17th ranked Chinese squad. The Aussies took a clean sweep of the series posting 10-1, 10-0 and 7-0 wins. The Kookaburras are staying in motion and heading right into the next test series, taking on the Japanese men, ranked 15th in the world, who are preparing for their qualification tournament next month, in three test matches tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday. In other Australia news, the women’s team is getting ready for a series against the U.S. when they travel to the Down Under land with 3 test matches scheduled for 5, 7 and 8 April in Buderim. After the test series, both teams move across the Tasman sea to Auckland to participate in a 4 Nations Tournament with fellow Olympic qualified New Zealand as well as India.
The Azerbaijan women are also preparing for their appearance in the remaining Olympic Qualifier in Kakamigahara, Japan, with test matches against Dutch clubs Were Di, Voordaan and Alecto scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Monday.
