Preview Day 1 – Women – Pool B

Japan v New Zealand

> The only previous Olympic match between Japan and New Zealand came at Athens 2004, when Japan won 2-0.
> The last meeting between these teams came at the 2005 Champions Challenge: Japan - New Zealand 1-2.
> Japan qualified for the Beijing Olympics by winning a silver medal at the Asian Games.
> New Zealand qualified for Beijing 2008 as Oceania Cup champions.
> Korea's Yoo Seung-Jin is in charge of the Japanese team, making Japan one of two women's teams that are led by a foreign head coach.
> At age 37, Japan's Akemi Kato is the oldest hockey player in the women's competition at Beijing 2008.
> Misaki Ozawa celebrated her 23rd birthday two days before the match.
> Ten players on the Japanese squad were present at Athens 2004.
> Nine players on the New Zealand squad were present at Athens 2004.
> 18-year-old Gemma Flynn (NZL) and 19-year-old Chinami Kozakura (JPN) are two of nine teenagers in the Women's hockey competition at Beijing 2008.

Argentina v USA

> Argentina have won all three previous Olympic encounters with the United States.
> In 1988 Argentina beat the USA 2-1 and 3-1. In 1996 Argentina won 2-1.
> These teams last met in the final of the 2007 Pan American Games, when Argentina beat the USA 4-2.
> Argentina have won a medal in each of the last two Olympics: silver in 2000 and bronze in 2004.
> Argentina qualified as Pan American Games champions.
> The United States qualified by winning the Qualification tournament in Kazan, Russia.
> For the US women's team this is the first Olympic Games participation since Atlanta 1996, when they finished fifth. Their best result came in 1984 when they won the bronze medal.
> Agustina Soledad Garcia is top scorer for Argentina in Olympic competition with 8 goals. She leads Luciana Aymar by one goal.
> Luciana Aymar celebrates her 31st birthday on the day of the match.

Germany v Great Britain

> Germany and Great Britain have met three times before at the Olympics. In the 1992 semi-finals and the 2000 Final 7-8 Germany beat Great Britain. At Atlanta 1996 Britain beat Germany 3-2.
> Reigning Olympic Champions Germany aim to become the second nation after Australia (in 2000) to successfully defend their Olympic title.
> Six players return from the golden Athens squad: Anke Kühn, Fanny Rinne, Mandy Haase, Marion Rodewald, Natascha Keller and Tina Bachmann.
> Germany qualified as EuroHockey Nations Champions.
> Germany have been present at every Olympic tournament since they made their debut in 1992.
> Germany's biggest win in Olympic history came against Great Britain (2-0 in 2000).
> Great Britain qualified when England claimed bronze at the EuroHockey Nations Championship.
> Great Britain have finished in the top four in four out of five previous Olympic participations.
> 17-year-old Charlotte Craddock (GBR) is the youngest female hockey player at Beijing 2008.