Argentina puts their stamp on the Women's Hockey World Cup with a resounding 3-1 Gold Medal win over the Netherlands in Argentina on the weekend.
The Hockeyroos finished fifth with a 2-1 win over Korea while England won the Bronze with a strong 2-0 showing over Germany.
Looking back on this 2010 Women's World Cup of Hockey, Pool B in which Argentina and England played illustrated that the two leading teams put paid to their competition in that pool. England lost their semi-final against the Netherlands on penalties, not in field play.
Although the Netherlands looked sharp throughout their Pool B tournament, defeating both Germany and Australia on their way through, it appeared to observers that they were more tired than their rivals in the Final.
Against the home team in the final, the Dutch met their match and must have rued the day they found themselves in such a tough pool.
Argentina on the other hand experienced comfortable victories through Pool B and their final B match against England gave them the right kind of preparation for the semi-final round against Germany.
Germany battled every Pool A game and in their final Pool's match over Australia winning by that one penalty corner goal, they looked a little jaded when facing the high flying Argentina in their semi-final losing 1-2.
The goal differences also told a similar tale. Argentina scored 15 and only had two goals scored against them in Pool B. The Netherlands likewise had 15 goals for but had 8 goals scored against them. Moreover those statistics need some clarifying as they scored 7 of those 15 against India.
Clearly the Argentinian girls were the team to beat, they had the best run through the Pool round, and showed their true class on home soil to come away with the World Cup trophy.
The Hockeyroos on the other hand had an altogether different result, retaining their 2011 Champions Trophy place by beating the Koreans for fifth place. In pool A they beat Japan, India and New Zealand, but lost to the Netherlands and the Germans.
It was the last match of Pool A to which they rue when the Hockeyroos were beaten by Germany by that one penalty corner marginal goal. Moreover coach Frank Murray acknowledged that the Germans were more precise in the field of play.
One goal, one lapse of defence, meant that the Hockeyroos were fighting for a place in the 2011 Champions Trophy (top 6 national teams annual competition). Women's International Hockey is that tight as is the men's competition.
The theological lesson from the Hockeyroos result can be likened to that of a track athlete who has trained well and feels good, is positive and ready, but at the big track meet is minimally unable to attain a PB (personal best).
Solomon said that of his father David in his prayer as recorded in 2 Chronicles, that although David was not permitted by God to build the Temple, he was nonetheless blessed and honoured that it was in his heart to do so.