After drawing the first match with Spain, three time champions Pakistan will play their second match against Argentina in the 2012 London Olympic Games at Riverbank Arena on Wednesday (August 1). This group A match will start at 23.30 hours (PST).
This will be the fifth match between Pakistan and Argentina in Olympic Hockey. Pakistan has a perfect record against Argentina. They have won all four matches against the South American team.
Pakistan which currently ranks eighth in the FIH World Ranking are one of the most decorated teams in world level competition, boasting eight Olympic medals (including three gold medals) and six World Cup medals (including four gold medals). But unfortunately Pakistan has slid away from the international podiums. Their last top-three finish was the 1994 World Cup (gold). Pakistan finished eighth at the Beijing Olympics in 2008,. They stood last at the 2010 World Cup and ended a disappointing sixth at the Commonwealth Games the same year.
ROAD TO LONDON:
The Green Shirts regrouped to win the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, grabbing the only automatic Olympic berth for Asia ahead of Malaysia, India and Korea. Pakistan has since been plagued by recurring internal problems and erratic team selection. Several senior players were suspended, leaving an inexperienced team to go to the recent Azlan Shah Cup where they lost to Olympic opponents New Zealand, Korea, India and Great Britain triggering a new shuffle to the line-up.
STAR TO WATCH:
Penalty-corner specialist Sohail Abbas, the top goal-scorer in the history of game, was on the team for the Azlan Shah Cup, but at 36, is far from the record-breaking form of his glory days. He will however play at London, as the captain. Abbas who was born on June 9, 1975 has scored 345 goals in 345 international matches since making his debut against India in 1998
Veterans Shakeel Abbasi, Rehan Butt and Mohammad Waseem were also named to the extended 20-man squad for the Olympic Games. All well-known on the international scene, with appearances on the FIH All-Star Team (2008 and 2010 for Butt, and 2006 for Abbasi), their experience will be important for their younger teammates.
PAKISTAN-ARGENTINA IN OLYMPICS:
Year Venue Round Result Score
1968 Mexico Group match Pakistan beat Argentina 6-2
1972 Munich Group match Pakistan beat Argentina 2-1
1988 Seoul Group match Pakistan beat Argentina 3-1
1996 Atlanta Group match Pakistan beat Argentina 5-0
