The four teams competing in Pool A at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Spain & Netherlands 2022 bring with them a range of styles and experiences that will provide some fascinating match-ups.
Chile (World Ranking 17), Germany (WR:6), Ireland (WR: 12) and Netherlands (WR:1) will be getting their World Cup campaigns underway on 2 July in the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen. Germany will face Chile at 16:30 (local time), while Netherlands and Ireland will have a re-match of the 2018 World Cup final when they meet at 19:30 (local time).
Chile’s first ever appearance at the World Cup comes courtesy of a second place finish at the Pan American Cup. The team, known as Las Diablas, beat USA in the semi-final of the Pan American Cup in Santiago on shoot-out and the celebrations of the home crowd and the delight of the players demonstrated just what this achievement means.
For players such as Claudia Schuler, the goalkeeper who starred in that shoot-out, Camila Caram and Manuela Urroz, this has been a long time coming. All three have more than 200 caps apiece and bring a wealth of experience with them. Add into the mix the fire-power of Denise Losada-Krimerman and the energy of newer squad members such as Francisca Parra and Fernanda Arrieta and you know that the South American side could be a disruptive force at this event.
Coach Sergio Vigil has a great coaching pedigree as he steered Argentina to gold in the 2002 Women’s World Cup in Perth, Australia.
Click here to listen to Chile’s Camila Caram
The final FIH Hockey Pro League match between Germany and China showed just how much style, class and ability the German team has as they finished the season with an impressive 4-0 victory. The team sealed their place at this year’s World Cup with a silver medal at the EuroHockey Championships 2021 and they have been growing in stature ever since.
Germany has been crowed World Cup winners twice, in 1976 and 1981, and many observers consider a third title is long overdue for the European powerhouse.
Head Coach Valentin Altenburg has a wealth of talent at his disposal. Strikers such as Charlotte Stapenhorst, Cecile Pieper, Leena Micheel and Pia Maertens can rip defences apart and then there are the cool heads of Nike Lorenz and Sonja Zimmermann in the midfield and defence to provide the platform from which Germany can play their flowing hockey. Anything less than a podium finish will be a huge disappointment to this squad.
Click here to get the thoughts of Germany’s Nike Lorenz and Sonja Zimmermann
All eyes will be on Ireland to see if they can repeat their fairytale result from the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup London 2018. A silver medal after a momentous journey through the pool and knock-out stages was the defining memory of 2018. The team qualified as winners of the 2021 European Qualifier in Pisa, Italy and this will be their fifth appearance at a World Cup.
Many of the 2018 squad remain, including the 2018 Goalkeeper of the Tournament Ayeisha McFerran, the inspirational Katie Mullan and the experienced campaigners Elena Tice and Deirdrie Duke. Young guns Sarah McAuley and Christina Hamill will be adding flair and fearlessness to a squad that lacks neither.
Click here to hear captain Katie Mullan’s thoughts on Ireland at the World Cup
The fourth team to make up Pool A needs no introduction. The triumphs of the Netherlands over the past two decades makes for glorious reading if you are an Oranje fan. The team qualified through victory at the EuroHockey Championships 2021. They have won the World Cup on eight previous occasions, including the previous two editions.
A team full of superstars was buoyed in recent days by the return to the squad of one of the greatest contemporary players, Eva de Goede. The midfielder underwent an ACL operation in November 2021 and has been fighting to get back to the squad for this World Cup.
Add to de Goede the names Lidewij Welten, Frederique Matla and the incredible Xan de Waard and you are looking at a group with a huge number of World Cup and Olympic trophies to their names. Those athletes are now joined by the exciting new talents such as Freeke Moes, penalty corner specialist Yibbi Jansen and the fleet-footed Felice Albers.
Click here to get Laura Nunnink’s thoughts ahead of the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup 2022
Pool A gets underway on Saturday 2 July in the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen. For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please consult FIH.hockey, follow the FIH social media channels - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and download the Watch.Hockey app.
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