Cullen Ready for Team GB

Crista Cullen insists she has totally recovered from her ankle injury and is ready to play her part in Team GB's quest to win Olympic gold in London.

The Boston-born Leicester Ladies defender, 26, sustained the injury at the Olympic 2012 test event in May and missed the Investec London Cup in June.

But Cullen told BBC Lincolnshire: "It was frustrating but I am back on the pitch now and in full training.

"There are no concerns. I will be fully fit come the Games."

Cullen rolled her ankle when scoring the second of her two penalty corner goals in the 2-0 win over world champions Argentina at the Olympic Park.

She added: "It was a frustrating time but you can only manage it as best you can and try to stay positive.

"We have a great medical team who supported me through the whole process so I am confident that I will be fine at the start of the Games."

Argentina Beat England in Rosario

A single penalty corner strike by Silvina D’Elia late in the first half meant Great Britain’s women collected the silver medal at the Champions Trophy in Rosario on Sunday night. 

Despite losing to the World Champions by the narrowest of margins, the result represents Great Britain’s best ever finish in a World level event and comes just under six months before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

D’Elia’s penalty corner strike just over five minutes before half time proved decisive in a match that saw both defences on top with Great Britain’s Reading goalkeeper Beth Storry pulling off a string of good saves from penalty corners. 

Leicester's Crista Cullen came closest for Great Britain when her goal-bound penalty corner flick was deflected to safety from in front of the line by Rosario Luchetti. Cullen was later named the tournament's top goal scorer after she scored five times in Rosario.

Slough's Nicola White created two half chances for herself at the top of the circle but couldn't quite get her shots off while Alex Danson narrowly failed to find fellow World All Stars nominee Helen Richardson late on.

Despite a late fightback Great Britain could not penetrate a well marshalled Argentina defence and so it finished 1-0.

After the match Great Britain Head Coach Danny Kerry said, “I thought Argentina played very well tonight. They defended well, they didn’t create too many opportunities and their defence held out. We started to get back into it in the second half but it wasn’t to be.

“We won four, drew one and lost just one in a major world level tournament. We’ve made history tonight winning the silver medal.

“After yesterday’s game we had three or four players trying to find their game, we know where we need to improve and we will go forward and work on those areas. We have set ourselves high standards and I have to match the standards that the players have set themselves. That is the pressure I feel going into the Olympics.”

Great Britain Captain Kate Walsh said, “I am proud of the team tonight. We’re devastated not to have won. Argentina took their chance well but all in all it’s a disappointment. But, it will fuel us on our way to London.

“It was a great crowd and a great atmosphere. We thrive and get excited playing in front of a big crowd; hopefully we can get the same support at home in the Investec London Cup, the Olympic Test Event and at the Olympic Games.”

Cullen Strikes Sinks China

Crista Cullen continued her free-scoring form as Great Britain beat Olympic silver medallists China to progress second through the group stages at the women's hockey Champions Trophy in Rosario.


Cullen took her tournament tally to five goals in three games with a penalty corner double while Ashleigh Ball also scored in the 3-1 victory.


Danny Kerry's side - who beat Japan and drew with world number one side Holland in their other matches - will now face the third place team from Pool B on Thursday.

“It was a very, very tough game," said Kerry.

"We covered a lot of distance out there. I know we can play better but it’s a good result against the Olympic silver medallists.

“I think we have been consistent over the first three matches, especially in hot conditions. This was better and we could attack more and overall I’m reasonably happy with the three matches.

“We should have scored more and equally China could scored more. It was close. Where we came in the group was always up to us and not reliant on anyone else.”

Great Britain - who play as England in non-Olympic years - have never won hockey's third most prestigious tournament, with a third place in Nottingham two years ago their best previous performance.

However, recent matches - including a friendly win over world champions Argentina - mean they are looking ahead with confidence.

“We know we can play better and hopefully we can show this as the tournament progresses," added captain Kate Walsh.

Cullen netted from her first penalty corner after just five minutes, threading the ball through Chinese goalkeeper Zhang Liu's legs.

She waited until after the break to add a deflected second before Fu Baorong reduced the deficit.

But just as China looked to have found a way back into contention, a moment of excellence from Chloe Rogers set up Ball for the decisive strike.

Carrying the ball in along the right baseline, midfielder Rogers drew the goalkeeper before confidently flicking it over her. As it came down, the audacious chip looked to be heading over the line until the intervention of Yibo Ma. 

However, Ma’s clearance was momentary as Ball followed up to strike an upright reverse stick shot home.

Cullen Goals in GB Comeback

A Great British comeback took place at the Champions Trophy in Rosario on Sunday as two Crista Cullen goals helped Great Britain fight back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with the world’s number one team, the Netherlands.

Leicester defender Cullen scored both of Great Britain’s goals from second half penalty corners in a match that also saw the 26 year old and captain Kate Walsh fail to convert penalty strokes. And Great Britain had EuroCanterbury goalkeeper Abi Walker to thank for an inspired performance in goal as the Scottish stopper pulled off a series of excellent saves from second half penalty corners.

Great Britain Head Coach spokes afterwards about his side’s belief being key to getting results. “The girls need to believe in themselves more,” he said. “At half time we spoke about belief and for them [the players] to decide if they are good enough.”

Great Britain’s Welsh star Sarah Thomas made her 50th appearance in a GB vest while birthday girl Abi Walker came in for Beth Storry, who sat out the match with Walker’s clubmate Natalie Seymour. 

Great Britain had fallen behind to a scrappy goal from the Netherlands’ Naomi Van As in the seventh minute as the Dutchwoman volleyed home after the ball fell to her inside the British circle. They Brits thought they had equalised though midway through the first half after a good advantage was played at a penalty corner. However, the whistle had already gone to award Great Britain a penalty stroke, which captain Kate Walsh could only put wide of the goal.

Things got worse for Great Britain three minutes before the break when Kim Lammers doubled the Dutch tally.

After a rallying half time team talk Great Britain returned for the second half and five minutes in Crista Cullen gave them the lifeline they needed as she converted a penalty corner to make it 2-1. 

And Cullen had the chance to make it 2-2 from the spot when Great Britain were awarded a second penalty corner in the 56th minute. Despite putting her effort on target, the Leicester player was thwarted by Joyce Sombroek in the Dutch goal. 

At the other end, Scottish goalkeeper Abi Walker made a series of top drawer saves to prevent the Netherlands from extending their lead and her contribution was to prove critical as the match entered its final stage.

With nine minutes remaining, up stepped Cullen to net her second penalty corner of the match to equalise and earn Great Britain a share of the spoils against the world’s number one ranked team.

Afterwards, Head Coach Danny Kerry said, “We’re disappointed with our first half performance. The girls need to believe in themselves more. At half time we spoke about belief and for them [the players] to decide if they are good enough.

“I’m disgusted that we’re being asked to play in such high temperatures; it’s dangerous and wrong.”

Despite earning the draw, Captain Kate Walsh added, “We’re disappointed with our performance today. We turned the ball over too cheaply. We needed to be stronger. We created chances and gradually put them under more pressure as the game went on. It was a more buoyant second half and we can take that forward into the rest of the tournament.”

Great Britain now have a rest day on Monday before the final Pool A fixture against China on Tuesday. In the other match in the Pool, Olympic silver medal holders China beat Japan 2-1.

Cullen Goal Helps Beat Argentina

Great Britain's women continued their preparation for this month's Champions Trophy with a superb victory over world champions Argentina in Cordoba.

After opening the Four Nations with a 3-1 win over South Korea, goals from Kerry Williams and Crista Cullen saw GB beat hosts Argentina on Thursday.

The win means GB have already qualified for Sunday's final ahead of Saturday's last group game against New Zealand.

The Champions Trophy will begin in Rosario, Argentina, on 28 January.

GB coach Danny Kerry said: "It was a thoroughly professional and disciplined performance against a full-strength Argentina side. We showed excellent concentration, which allowed them very few opportunities while we created good chances of our own."

The Champions Trophy is the last ranking event before the Olympics and therefore significant for several of the eight nations involved.

Great Britain, who qualify automatically for the Games as hosts, have taken a squad of 22 players to Argentina.

FOUR NATIONS FIXTURES

Great Britain 3-1 Korea

Great Britain 2-0 Argentina

Great Britain v New Zealand, Saturday, 2000 GMT

Bronze medal match, Sunday, 2000 GMT

Final, Sunday, 2230 GMT