Germans Win Playboy Gold

Katharina Scholz without a jersey....
Katharina Scholz (centre) of the German team in realaction in Beijing.

BEIJING, Aug 14 (Reuters) - German hockey player Katharina Scholz fears news of her being a Playboy covergirl might overshadow her Olympic campaign.
Scholz and three other German Olympic sportswomen will appear on the cover of the German edition, adding their names to the list of athletes baring all for cash or a cause.
"I think now I have to play hockey and later talk about things like that. I think it a good opportunity but now it’s not important for me for now," Scholz told Reuters after her team’s 4-2 victory over United States on Thursday.
Sailor Petra Niemann, canoeist Nicole Reinhardt and judoka Romy Tarangul are the other German Olympians who will feature.

Germany Last Furious Pace

BEIJING (AP) — Germany scored three second-half goals to beat the United States 4-2 in Olympic women’s field hockey on Thursday.
The 2004 gold medalists improved to 3-0 in Pool B and greatly improved their chances of making the medal round again.
The United States dropped to 0-1-2. Although the Americans have been competitive with draws against top-five teams Argentina and Japan, they will be hard-pressed to earn one of the top two slots in the six-team pool that qualify for the medal round. The U.S. has two games remaining in pool play.
The Germans had several quality chances early, but each time, U.S. goalie Amy Tran denied them. The United States took a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute when Tiffany Snow scored off a deflection. Germany answered in the 34th minute when Natascha Keller drove, then put a reverse stick shot past Tran to tie the score right before halftime.
Germany’s Fanny Rinne scored in the 49th minute on a penalty corner. Her shot got under a diving Tran, who touched the ball but only slightly redirected its course as it went into the goal.
Natascha Rodewold gave the Germans a 3-1 lead before Angie Loy intercepted a German clearing attempt near the goal and flicked the ball in to trim Germany’s lead to 3-2 in the 60th minute.
Germany’s Anke Kuehn scored just three minutes later to end the U.S. threat. Germany captain Tina Bachmann said the team will need better performances Saturday against Argentina and Monday against Japan.
“We are not playing the way we’d like to play,” she said. “The first match was a good standard, then we couldn’t keep the standard. We were fighting hard for the wins.”
Earlier, the Netherlands hung on for a 1-0 win over host China in a matchup of undefeated teams. The Netherlands, ranked No. 1 in the world, improved to 3-0 in Pool A. China, which entered the game unscored upon, fell to 2-1.
Maartje Paumen scored on a high shot near the edge of the circle in the 21st minute, and the Netherlands took that lead into halftime.
Despite a boisterous and hopeful crowd, No 6 China struggled to create scoring opportunities in the second half. Its best chance came in the 69th minute, but Zhao Yudiao’s shot was high.

When They Tumble and Fall

Cheerleaders perform during a break in a 2008 Beijing Olympic Games men's field hockey match between the Netherlands and Great Britain in Beijing on August 13, 2008. The Netherlands won 1-0.

Ronald Brouwer (R) of the Netherland's and Richard Mantell of Great Britain fall in a 2008 Beijing Olympic Games men's field hockey match in Beijing on August 13, 2008. Former champions the Netherlands joined Australia at the top of the pool with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Britain, Taeke Taekema scoring the winner seven minutes before the final whistle.

The Netherlands goalkeeper Roever De Lisanne stops an attempt by China during their 2008 Beijing Olympic Games women's field hockey match in Beijing on August 14, 2008. The Netherlands won 1-0.

Jesse Gey (L) of the US gains control of the ball as Tina Bachmann (R) of Germany falls on the ground during their 2008 Beijing Olympic Games women's field hockey match in Beijing on August 14, 2008.

US players celebrate after scoring a goal against Germany during their 2008 Beijing Olympic Games women's field hockey match on August 14, 2008. Germany won 4-2.

Netherlands' Minke Smabers, center, jumps to avoid the ball hit by China's Li Hongxia, left, as Netherlands' Janneke Schopman comes in during the field hockey competitions at the Olympic Hockey Center at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008.