The Dutch men's hockey team would go step by step and match by match, said head coach Roelant Oltmans on Sunday, without indicating a clear goal at the Beijing Olympics.
"We will perform what we are able to," said Oltmans. "First, to win the first game and it's the most important, second, to get into the semifinals and third, to win a medal."
The Netherlands, ranked third in the world, will play in pool B against the world No. 1 and defending champions Australia, by whom their search for a third straight Olympic gold was frustrated at Athens.
"So many teams are able to win the medal, and it will be a very tough competition," said the coach, adding that no tournament will finish according to the rankings. "Every tournament is surprising, and maybe Canada, Pakistan or China will give us a surprise."
The 15th-ranked Canada and the seventh-ranked Pakistan are the Dutch's opponents in the pool. China, ranked 17th in the world, won the silver medal at 2006 Doha Asian Games, which were their best-ever achievement.
The Dutch arrived in Beijing on July 31. "We come here early to get used to the weather, the food, and the environment here."
Beijing sees a much higher temperature than the Netherlands. "We are getting adapted to it day by day," said the coach.
(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2008)