Hockey one, hockey two, hockey out?

The @Kookaburras are playing without a keeper to try and pinch a draw #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/T9OzvIiasp

— Alister Nicholson (@AlisterNicho) August 8, 2016

By Matthew Stirton

Australia’s hockey campaign in both the men’s and women’s is already faltering just days in to the Olympic tournament with the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras losing their opening matches.

The Kookaburras came into the Olympics ranked world number one and gold medal favourites but suffered a shock opening round loss to the 11th-ranked Spain, 1-0.

The Australians won their second match against New Zealand, 2-1, but, again, were unconvincing and even fortunate to escape with a win after the Kiwis had a late equaliser controversially cancelled out.

The Hockeyroos have similarly been disappointing and are in danger of an early exit after losing their first two matches.

The world number three-ranked Australians went down 2-1 to both Great Britain (world no. 7) and the USA (world no. 5).

The Kookaburras have medalled at the past six Olympics, including gold in Athens in 2004. The Hockeyroos have missed out on medals in the past three Games after winning gold in 1996 and 2000.

Both of those proud records are now in jeopardy…and time is running out.