Argentina's Succi on her guard at the back

As Belen Succi discovered, being the goalkeeper behind an Argentine team that romped to an 11-0 win in their Pan-American Games field hockey opener could lead to dangerous overconfidence.Doubts can start to creep in if your team falls a goal behind early as was the case on Friday when the women's world champions were forced to rally for a 7-3 victory over Canada in a tight Pool A clash.After the early lapse, Argentina's Leonas (lionesses) scored four goals and appeared to be cruising to victory but the Canadians hit back with two in the last five minutes of the first half to keep it a one goal game.Succi, who helped Argentina win the world crown on home ground in Rosario last year, reacted angrily when the third Canadian goal went in."The truth is it's difficult when (opponents) get to your goal three times and score three times, you start to feel a bit insecure as a goalkeeper and you have to manage that mentally," Succi told Reuters after match."You're the world champions but anyone can beat you if your mind is not right for controlling the game," added Succi, who has also won the Champions Trophy three times and helped Argentina to gold at the 2007 Pan-Am Games.Succi, who turned 26 last Sunday, said the team made defensive adjustments against Canada at the half and controlled the contest with the skills of their forwards to close out a tense victory."When we came out for the second half with a better balanced defensive system, that gives you the necessary confidence to give the team confidence (in you)," she said.Coach Carlos Retegui was already looking ahead to a semi-final against Chile before Argentina's third pool match against Barbados on Sunday.Succi said motivation was not a problem for Argentina despite their overwhelming superiority at the tournament unfolding in Guadalajara."We are constantly stimulated, we never relax, the coaching staff keep us on our toes," said the 1.75 metres tall Succi, nicknamed 'Goofy' for the gap between her top front teeth."You've got to give your all as if it were the world final. If you go out to regulate (your performance) or play defensively, you're not showing the presence you have to show as number one (team)," Succi said."There are new girls (in the team) for whom the Pan-Americans are something new and they are nervous, anxious and that's good."Teams are always changing. We're not always the same and that makes us create new expectations."