Predictions of Richard Charlesworth on the outcome of the Olympic hockey prospects come almost true. After watching the latest elite competition before the Beijing event – the Rotterdam Champions Trophy held in July – Ric predicted the four finalists based on their form in the Rotterdam, supplemented by the 17th Azlan Shah Tournament. Ric was there in Ipoh in May to observe, among others, the Beijing bound teams’ performance.

He observed in his signature write up after Rotterdam: .. it will greatly surprise if Australia and Spain don’t figure in the semi finals from Pool A. …. Germany with Christopher Zeller fit would be expected to make it with Spain yet they have been enigmatic recently… .

He also predicted Spain a slot for the final.

He has emphatically predicted doom for Pakistan.

We produce verbatim the complete report of Ric for the readers to decide for the accuracy of the legendary players’ predictions.

The recent Champions Trophy in Rotterdam provides the best picture of the state of the teams for the Olympics while of course being aware of the different circumstances that Beijing will provide…it will be hotter and it will be the ‘Olympics’ and there will, as always, be some who exceed expectations and some who disappoint.

However, given the heat and need for experience in the big event it will greatly surprise if Australia and Spain don’t figure in the semi finals. They were the most impressive teams in Rotterdam. It is hard to see the Netherlands not getting through in their pool as only Great Britain will challenge in that pool. They should not be underestimated. Pakistan is off the pace and perhaps will soon appreciate the difference that Oltmans made four years ago. Canada and South Africa will just make up the numbers while occasionally doing something.

It is the other pool that looks harder to assess. Germany with Christopher Zeller fit would be expected to make it with Spain yet they have been enigmatic recently and Korea, China at home and New Zealand are all capable of surprises. Perhaps they do not have the consistency of Germany. It is a pity that for the second Olympics in succession the pools are unbalanced but this ‘pool of death’ should see any except Belgium and China join Spain. Korea’s form in Rotterdam showed such a degree of uncertainty in defence that it may be hard to mend in a month

If they don’t meet in the semifinals then Australia and Spain are likely to meet again in the final. While the score in Rotterdam was convincing it belies the closeness of the game there so expect a cliff-hanger. We will see…

Argentina and India would have rounded off an Olympic tournament of the ‘best’ teams in the world but unfortunately they will not be there. The ‘new’ qualifying process might promote the game better but it creates anomalies and some ridiculous mismatches that benefit nobody.

Surely qualifying tournaments for one Olympic Qualifying tournament would be preferred and treat all teams more fairly. Most countries would like to see this and then the ‘one-off’ match for the Olympic birth would occur less often…it throws up anomalies too frequently in a low scoring game like hockey.

Incidentally, we should not be surprised by Argentina’s recent form for they have been progressing nicely for a while and are clearly in the best 6 nations now. Perhaps it is now time for eight or ten in the Champions Trophy and to hold it every second year but ensure the Champions Challenge winner competes in the same year they win a place. I’m sure it can be arranged