What is quite apparent is that the greenshirts have enough strength in their ranks to bully lesser opposition (Egypt beaten 7-0 and Great Britain 8-2 are cases in point) and prevail upon competent opposition (Korea and India both outplayed with a 3-0 scoreline apiece). But when it comes up against world class opposition (Germany, Spain etc) it fails raise its level and ends up losing crunch games.

Pakistan sent one of its larger contingents to the Athens Games this time round, but most of these were wild card entries that a cash-rich IOC has now been throwing around in pursuit of the Olympic ideal of universal participation. None of these athletes, however, were expected to qualify even for the final heats. Hockey continued to be the only medal hope, and as such the expectations of an entire nation rested with the greenshirts.

Without an Olympic medal in the last 12 years, and gold going as far back as 20, this time round Pakistan seemed to have the promise to deliver a medal. Those hopes vanished with Pakistan caving in to Spain 0-4 in a must-win game for each of the two outfits to qualify for the last four. As it turned out, Spaniards had the resourcefulness and the resolve to overcome a strangely laden-footed Pakistan.

That game against Spain was an exception as in other matches, Pakistan had demonstrated the touch and ebullience of a champion. Even in their opening encounter against Germany, Pakistan had lost but not before putting its highly rated opponent through a thoroughly testing time and it would not be stretching things to say that with some luck it could have turned the tables on the eventual bronze winners.

After the disaster against Spain, Pakistan made a strong comeback in the next two games, beating

'Though Pakistan rustled up some good victories against lesser teams, winning its seventh game on the tro against the Indians, yet Germany and Spain were their only vital matches and they ended up losing both and thus were ,out of reckoning for I the medals'

Great Britain 8-2, then blanking India out 3-0 and beating New Zealand 4-2 in the classification games to end up at fifth. That was disappointing indeed for Pakistan had its moments and may have gone on to have a better finish had they kept their nerve against Spain. That really was the greenshirts' only poor game and they paid a heavy price for thet.

Some consolation.
Though Pakistan rustled up some good victories against lesser teams leading winning its seventh game on the trot against the Indians, yet Germany and Spain were their only vital matches and they ended up losing both and thus were out of reckoning for the medals.

There was scant consolation in Pakistan scoring the highest number of goals in the event (26) and Sohail Abbas being the scorer with 11 goals, in the process eclipsing legendary Abdul Hamid. Hamidi's Pakistan record tally of 15 Olympic goals four Games with 19 in two.

'There was scant consolation in Pakistan scoring the highest number of goals in the event (26) and Soh ail Abbas being the leading scorer with 11 goals, in the process eclipsing legendary Abdul Hamid Hamidi's Pakistan record tally of 15 Olympic goals from four Games with 19 in two'

The post-mortem.
There needs to be a serious postmortem of what went wrong at Athens. More so because Pakistan has a rather busy home schedule later this year with India coming over in late September with Pakistan crossing the border in early October for the twin rubber and then the Champions Trophy returning to its home base after six years.

They would need to do better and bring some consistency in their performances to lift themselves from the Olympic trauma.

What is quite apparent is that the greenshirts have enough strength in their ranks to bully lesser opposition (Egypt beaten 7-0 and Great Britain 8-2 are cases in point) and prevail upon competent opposition (Korea and India both outplayed with a 3-0 score-line apiece). But when it comes up against world class opposition (Germany, Spain etc) it fails to add those few notches to its level that is essential to winning crunch games.

What is in question is neither the skills nor the tactical understanding (which has improved quite discernibly, as has the fitness standard, with the input from the foreign staff on the bench), but it is the mental strength where they surely lack. That is one area that needs to be worked upon quite seriously if Pakistan intends to reach anywhere close to recapturing its former glory.