• Rewind to 1988

Where, oh where were the Germans?

The men's hockey team were one of five gold medals for Great Britain in Seoul © Getty Images

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"Where, oh where were the Germans? And frankly, who cares?" screamed commentator Barry Davies as Imran Sherwani scored Great Britain's third goal to seal gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

The British men's hockey team beat West Germany 3-1 to win gold for the first time in 80 years, and it was likened to the achievements of the 1966 football team winning the World Cup. And like Kenneth Wolstenholme's ageless 'They think it's all over,' Davies' remark went down in hockey folklore.

Having missed out on a place in the final at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Britain went one step closer at the 1986 World Championship, losing to Australia in the final. In 1988, goalkeeper Ian Taylor was named as flagbearer for the opening ceremony, and there was a feeling that perhaps this could be their year.

But things did not go all their own way, and in their opening match they threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against the hosts Korea. After a win against the Canadians, they faced West Germany. With the scores level at 1-1, Australian umpire Don Prior awarded a controversial penalty in the final minute, allowing the Germans to win 2-1.

But under the captaincy of Richard Dodds, victory over the Soviet Union and India ensured safe passage into the semi-finals, where they met the pre-tournament favourites Australia.

Britain took a 2-0 lead against the world champions, but the Kangaroos clawed their way back into the match. With the scores level at 2-2 with less than two minutes remaining, Sean Kerly completed his hat-trick to seal the victory and send Britain through to the final.

"The dreadful prospect of extra time in that sapping heat was almost unbearable," Kerly said. "But then I played a one-two with Imran Sherwani, and I was too exhausted to reach it with an authentic shot, so I lunged at the ball - it was half a dive and half a belly-flop."

Sean Kerly was a household name after the 1988 Olympics © Getty Images

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Britain were just 70 minutes from Olympic glory. But they had to beat West Germany first - Heiner Dopp's team had already beaten them in the group stages and Britain had not beaten Germany in 30 years. But in front of a crowd of 12,000 in Songnam Stadium, Britain achieved the unthinkable.

This time it was Kerly who set up Sherwani to put Britain ahead midway through the first half. Britain doubled their lead after 49 minutes, converting their only penalty corner - Kerly scoring his 15th Olympic goal. And when Sherwani scored his second from Steve Batchelor's cross they were on the verge of history - Dopp's goal in the 59th minute was merely a consolation.

The British hockey team became national celebrities overnight, and after Bobby Robson's England's disappointing performance at Euro '88, Kerly became the new Gary Lineker.

"When we came home, people started comparing what we did in Korea to what England's football team did at Wembley in 1966," said defender David Faulkner, who went on to become performance director for GB Hockey.

And former police officer Sherwani remembered the celebrity status they enjoyed on their return. "When we got back to Heathrow Airport it was bizarre for a hockey player to walk out to hundreds of cheering people," he said. "You see it with rugby and football but not usually hockey."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.