The Women’s Hockey World League Semi-Final in Valencia is a wide open competition, that could see a few surprises. There are some experienced sides taking to the field in the shape of Great Britain, Argentina, China, South Africa and Germany, and it would be no surprise to see any of these teams battling it out for the top three places.
However, all of these teams have their weaknesses and both Germany and Great Britain, in particular, have failed to impress at recent major tournaments. China will be match sharp after their recent participation in the Hawkes Bay Eight Nations in New Zealand and South Africa come to this tournament with several international matches under their belt, but although these nations are perennial competitors on the world stage, neither has yet shown the necessary consistency to win major honours.
Argentina, currently ranked third in the world, is adjusting to a life without Luciana Aymar, while the other top 12 ranked team, USA, is a team that has been making its way up the rankings and now needs to turn all its hard work and careful preparation into tangible results. Neither team fared well at the Hawkes Bay tournament, but the USA will take heart from a test series win over their Pan-Am rivals earlier in the year.
All of which leaves the door ajar for the lower-ranked teams. Canada has enjoyed a good build-up to the event, and has moved two places up the world rankings to number 20 in recent months. The Canadian team has just played a four match series against fellow Valencia competitors Ireland, and both teams will have taken good and bad points form their performances – at the time of writing Ireland were winning the series 2-1.
Uruguay comes to the event as the lowest ranked team competing in a Hockey World League Semi -Final but with several team members now regularly playing club hockey in Europe, the South American team will be no pushover.
And what about home advantage. Spain is ranked 15 in the world and has been steadily rebuilding its squad under the careful tutelage of Adrian Locke. At the Champions Challenge in Glasgow in 2014, the side looked skilful but naive. A year on, a home crowd behind them, opponents who are all feeling the pressure to perform. Could Valencia provide the platform for the the reign of Spain?
