Tokyo 2020 - ‘They keep talking about us’ – Team GB hockey stars hit back after gold-winning Dutch call them ‘arrogant'

ByTom Bennett

Published 06/08/2021 at 14:48 GMT

“It’s an interesting one because they say all these comments,” Laura Unsworth said. “I don’t know that we’re arrogant – but obviously we are in their heads. I’m not sure why they waste so much time speaking about us if they don’t think we’re that good. It does spur us on a little bit.” You want it? We have it. Stream every Olympic event live on discovery+.

Team GB’s hockey stars hit back after being called “arrogant” by the Netherlands following the Dutch side’s semi-final win over the British team.

Great Britain beat their European rivals to gold in Rio 2016, ending the Netherlands’ domination of the event following wins in 2008 and 2012.

But the Dutch reclaimed gold in Tokyo, following on from their semi-final win over Team GB with victory against Argentina in the final.

Tokyo 2020

Netherlands back on top with convincing win over Argentina in hockey gold medal match

06/08/2021 at 13:22

Team Netherlands celebrate victory in the Women's Gold Medal match between Netherlands and Argentina on day fourteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 06, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan

Image credit: Getty Images

And beating Britain en route to reclaiming their title certainly felt extra-sweet for Dutch captain Eva de Goede.

“We have the feeling that those girls always have a lot of bravado, almost arrogant,” she said in the build-up to Friday’s final.

I think everyone had their own personal reason why we wanted to beat them so badly. It was pure luck what they put down in Rio. It’s great that we’re sending them home like this.

“We really wanted to show today that they certainly don’t come near us. I’m glad we were able to play our own game and knock them all out.”

‘The power!' - Watch Balsdon’s winner as GB edge India in seven-goal thriller to win hockey bronze

Team GB bounced back from their semi-final disappointment to beat Italy 4-3 to claim a bronze medal in Japan.

And Britain’s Laura Unsworth hit back at the Dutch, saying their comments show that Team GB are still “in their heads”.

“It’s an interesting one because they say all these comments,” Unsworth said.

“I don’t know that we’re arrogant – but obviously we are in their heads.

I’m not sure why they waste so much time speaking about us if they don’t think we’re that good. It does spur us on a little bit.

“We beat them in the Euros the year before (in 2015 going into Rio). If that’s what they want to think, that’s what they can think.

“They have been very good this cycle, they are probably the No.1 side. We will keep coming back stronger and stronger.”

- - -

Watch every unmissable moment live from Tokyo 2020 across Eurosport, the Eurosport app and discovery+. Download the Eurosport app for iOS and Android now.

Tokyo 2020

‘The power!' - Watch Balsdon’s winner as GB edge India in seven-goal thriller to win hockey bronze

00:01:03

|

06/08/2021 at 06:20

Tokyo 2020

Tokyo 2020 - Great Britain vs India - Hockey - Women's Bronze Medal - Olympic Highlights

00:01:36

|

06/08/2021 at 04:17

Tokyo 2020

GB edge India in seven-goal thriller to win hockey bronze

06/08/2021 at 06:23