KEY POINTS:
Affected by injury to a key player and with a psychological barrier to overcome, the Black Sticks will have to produce something special if they are to beat Argentina and win a trip to the Beijing Olympics today.
They managed something closer to their A game to beat
France 2-0 yesterday and book their place in this afternoon's final of the Olympic qualifier against top seeds Argentina.
The challenge now is to lift their game further and shrug off the lacklustre effort they turned in against the South Americans in pool play. Going into the last of the round-robin matches at Crown Relocations Stadium aware that any win would get them through to final against an Argentine side which had just been upset 1-0 by Ireland, New Zealand showed they meant business.
They went 2-0 ahead inside 15 minutes through a Ryan Archibald penalty stroke and a superb solo Phil Burrows goal. Sadly, that was their lot. Too many of the bad old traits misdirected passes, turnover ball and weak finishing returned.
New Zealand depends on key players Archibald, Burrows and Blair Hopping. Against Argentina on Wednesday, they were missing in action - contributing little as the Black Sticks were embarrassed 3-1 to hand the psychological advantage firmly to the visitors.
The trio stepped up yesterday with Hopping controlling the defensive effort, Archibald the midfield and Burrows the strikeforce. But around them there was not the same intensity.
The home side were 23 times in the French circle. All they had to show for it was Archibald's 14th minute stroke (when Ben Collier had his stick hacked as he weaved into the circle) and Burrows' goal a minute later when he intercepted and charged to the edge of the circle, where he let rip with a cracking reverse stick shot.
Elsewhere, the finishing was woeful. Gareth Brooks was twice in one-on-one situations with goalkeeper Antoine Gouedard Comte, contests he never looked like winning. There were similar chances for Bevan Hari and Dave Kosoof.
"Strikers have to score those goals," said Black Sticks coach Shane McLeod. "That aspect was disappointing. But in the end we have to be happy to be in the final. We have set up the situation we wanted at the start of the week.
"I'm sure the players have, and will, learn from their mistakes. Today was a game against a different team with different tactics and in the end it was nice we finished it off early."
Once Ireland had beaten Argentina by just that one goal - scored by Ronan Gormley in a messy finish to a 56th minute penalty corner - McLeod and his players knew they were through to the final, provided they beat France.
Argentina, ranked three places higher than New Zealand at No 7, provide a different challenge.
The South Americans are masters at the off-the-ball stuff and telling the umpires how the game should be played. The New Zealanders must counter that.
They were caught out in the earlier clash by well-taken Argentine free hits. Any repeat lack of concentration could be fatal.
The Irish showed, by taking the game to the South Americans, they could open them up and New Zealand must attempt to do the same.
The home side, with fervent support and a 100 per cent effort, can beat an Argentina which, in truth, have not really hit their straps. Both teams have everything to play for.
At their best, New Zealand can prevail but only if, come the end of the game, the 16 players have played themselves to a standstill.
Anything less will not be good enough.
OLYMPIC QUALIFIER
* New Zealand 2
* France 0
