Australia’s Kookaburras will meet Holland in knockout quarterfinal

AUSTRALIA’S Kookaburras will take on London silver medallists Holland in their knockout quarterfinal on Monday morning after a pool round that almost never went to plan.

The Kookaburras are through to the quarterfinals. Photo: AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

AUSTRALIA’S Kookaburras will take on London silver medallists Holland in their knockout quarterfinal on Monday morning (AEST) after a pool round that almost never went to plan.

The world’s most dominant side had to work for every victory, finishing third in their pool with three wins and a pair of 1-0 losses.

Finally against Brazil last night Australia was able to coast to victory against easybeat Brazil in a 9-0 win that included a Glenn Turner hat-trick.

With the host nation conceding 48 goals for the entire tournament it was a morale booster but nothing more.

The win means they will be matched up against one of the most consistent Olympic performers of all time in dangerous Holland.

The Netherlands have won two gold and two silver medals in men’s hockey since 1996 and loom as a major threat.

If Australia had shown their form of the past three years — they have won every major tournament since their 2012 Olympics loss — their quarter-final could have been a walk in the park.

The Kookaburras made light work of Brazil. Photo: AP Photo/Hussein Malla

Finishing first in their pool would have seen them take on India, which won only two of five pool games in Rio.

But they can be thankful there are quarterfinals at all after a change to the format for 2016.

Under the London format that saw teams go to straight semi-finals the Kookaburras would have been eliminated from the medal rounds already.

Holland are the world no. 2 behind Australia and narrowly failed to beat Germany — winner of the past two Olympic gold medals — in a 2-1 defeat in their pool round.

Australia’s effortless win over world no. 30 Brazil at least gave Australia a chance to finetune their attacking arsenal.

Five-time world player of the year Jamie Dwyer scored his first two goals of the tournament, a clever flick from a tight angle then a back-stick push into an open goal.

And Australia’s penalty corner battery started to fire from repeated chances, with Glenn Turner tuning up with a hat trick that included two from set plays.

Blake Govers and Matt Dawson also slotted penalty corner goals in the rout, with Govers finishing with the match’s final two goals.