Hot on the heels of yesterday’s preview of the men’s teams, we now switch our attentions to the women’s nations that will challenge for the Rabobank Hockey World Cup title in The Hague. World number 1 and reigning Olympic champions The Netherlands come into the event as favourites, but 11 other world class sides also have their eyes on the prize and know that anything is possible. More information about the teams including complete squad lists can be found on the following link: http://www.rabobankhockeyworldcup2014.com/countries. Don’t forget, you can keep track of all the action from this mammoth event on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and the official tournament website. We hope you all enjoy the show.
Pool A – Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Japan, Belgium
Netherlands
Current FIH World Ranking: 1
How they qualified: Host nation
Rank in previous editions: 1974 – 1st, 1976 – 3rd, 1978 – 1st, 1981 – 2nd, 1983 – 1st, 1986 – 1st, 1990 – 1st, 1994 – 6th, 1998 – 2nd, 2002 – 2nd, 2006 – 1st, 2010 – 2nd
About the team: The Netherlands have long been one of the most dominant forces in world hockey, and in recent years have claimed many of the biggest prizes in the game. They are the Olympic Gold medallists from both the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games, and are red hot favourites to win the Rabobank Hockey World Cup in front of their home fans in The Hague. It would be fair to say that the team coached by former Argentina defender Max Caldas did not have their greatest year in 2013. A second place finish behind Germany in the Rabobank Hockey World League Semi-Final tournament in Rotterdam was followed by a third place finish at the TriFinance EuroHockey Nations Championships in Boom, Belgium, where the team failed to defend the European crown that they won both in 2009 and 2011. However, the side ended the year on a massive high by winning the Hockey World League Final competition in San Miguel de Tucumán (ARG) despite fielding a severely weakened team. Attacking talents Naomi van As, Eva de Goede and Kim Lammers were missing from that event but are reported to be fit, healthy and raring to go for the World Cup. Combined with various other world class players such as Ellen Hoog, Lidewij Welten and peerless captain Maartje Paumen, the Netherlands are unquestionably the team to beat.
Australia
Current FIH World Ranking: 4
How they qualified: Continental champions of Oceania
Rank in previous editions: 1981 – 4th, 1983 – 3rd, 1986 – 6th, 1990 – 2nd, 1994 – 1st, 1998 – 1st, 2002 – 4th, 2006 – 2nd, 2010 – 5th
About the team: It has been some time since the Hockeyroos were the dominant force in world hockey, but the momentum that the current group is gathering under coach Adam Commens suggests that they should be considered as championship contenders at the Rabobank Hockey World Cup. Following a fifth place finish at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Australia’s young guns have hit some seriously impressive form. Early signs of progress were seen when the team claimed the FIH Champions Challenge 1 tournament in September 2012, a success which was quickly followed in 2013 by first place finishes at the Hockey World League Semi-Final (London) and Oceania Cup continental championship before claiming a stunning Silver medal at the Argentina Hockey World League Final in San Miguel de Tucumán. The majority of the squad that competed in Tucumán have gained World Cup selection, including star players Casey Eastham, Madonna Blyth and Anna Flanagan, the 2012 FIH Young Player of the Year. Sadly though, the group will be without experienced defender Teneal Attard who misses the event due to a stress reaction injury in her lower leg. Australia’s last World Cup success came on Dutch soil at the 1998 event in Utrecht. Can they repeat the trick in The Hague?
New Zealand
Current FIH World Ranking: 5
How they qualified: 4th place – Rabobank Hockey World League Semi-Final, Rotterdam (NED)
Rank in previous editions: 1983 – 7th, 1986 – 4th, 1990 – 7th, 1998 – 6th, 2002 – 11th, 2010 – 7th
About the team: Under the guidance of coach and former Australian international Mark Hager, New Zealand’s Black Sticks have enjoyed arguably the most successful period in their history. In 2011, the team claimed their first ever Champions Trophy medal when they took third place at the tournament in Amsterdam, and a year later narrowly missed out on an Olympic medal when they were beaten by Great Britain in the fight for Bronze. The results did not go entirely to plan in 2013, finishing fourth at the Rabobank Hockey World League Semi-Final in Rotterdam before losing out to Australia in the final of the Oceania Cup, which was played on home soil in Taranaki. Teenagers Elizabeth Thompson and Sophie Cocks were both given their international debuts at the Oceania Cup and have since secured a dream selection for the World Cup. New Zealand ended the year with a solid 5th place finish at the Argentina Hockey World League Final event in San Miguel de Tucumán and will be looking forward to challenging for the silverware in The Hague. Players to watch include attacking midfielder Krystal Forgesson, quick-silver forward Anita Punt and midfield dynamo Kayla Whitelock (formerly Sharland), the latter of which was shortlisted for the FIH Player of the Year award both in 2012 and 2013.
Korea
Current FIH World Ranking: 8
How they qualified: 3rd place – Rabobank Hockey World League Semi-Final, Rotterdam (NED)
Rank in previous editions: 1990 – 3rd, 1994 – 5th, 1998 – 5th, 2002 – 6th, 2006 – 9th, 2010 – 6th
About the team: It has been a difficult last 12 months or so for Korea. The side missed out on winning the 2013 Asia Cup when they were beaten in the tournament final by lower ranked Japan last September, while an eighth place finish at the Argentina Hockey World League Final in San Miguel de Tucumán at the end of the year was certainly below expectations. Their most recent disappointment came at the Champions Challenge 1 event in Glasgow, where they arrived as tournament favourites and left without a medal, in fifth place. That being said, Korea have always been a wonderfully capable team and will be absolutely determined to give their best possible showing at the Rabobank Hockey World Cup. Star striker Park Mihyun is the most capped player in the current squad with well over 210 senior international appearances, while 21-year-old Kim Hyun Ji is set to make her senior international tournament debut in The Hague. The team is captained by forward Kim Jong Eun, a player who is rapidly closing in on the 200 caps mark. Korea are known for being one of the most well-organised international sides in the game, and on their day they are capable of giving any team a run for their money.
Japan
Current FIH World Ranking: 9
How they qualified: Continental champions of Asia
Rank in previous editions: 1978 – 6th, 1981 – 7th, 1990 – 11th, 2002 – 10th, 2006 – 5th, 2010 – 11th
About the team: Over the past decade the Japanese women’s team has been making in-roads on the international hockey scene and will be looking to upset the FIH World Rankings in The Hague, something which they did on a number of occasions during 2013. Their most notable performance last year came when they defeated the higher-ranked Korea in the final of the 2013 Asia Cup, a superb result which secured a place at the Rabobank Hockey World Cup for the “Cherry Blossoms”. Their first foray into the Olympics in 2004 earned them an eighth place finish, and they have qualified for all subsequent Games. The team has a longer history in the World Cup; they came sixth in the 1978 World Cup and seventh in 1981. This was followed by a barren spell with only one appearance in 1990, when they finished 11th. Since 2002, Japan has appeared in every World Cup, finishing in tenth, fifth and eleventh place. Three players have played more than 100 times for Japan – Keiko Manabe (110+ caps), Mayumi Ono (170+) and Miyuki Nakagawa (230+). The squad also contains three players who at the time of writing each had less than ten caps to their respective names: Yoshino Kasahara, Hazuki Yuda and Shoko Kanefuji.
Belgium
Current FIH World Ranking: 12
How they qualified: 6th place – Rabobank Hockey World League Semi-Final, Rotterdam (NED)
Rank in previous editions: 1974 – 5th, 1976 – 4th, 1978 – 3rd, 1981 – 8th
About the team: Belgium is one of the rising superpowers of global hockey. Very much like their male counterparts, the women’s national team – known as the “Red Panthers” – have made massive strides forward in recent years, powering up the world rankings from 27th in 2005 to their current position of 12th. 2012 proved to be something of a landmark year for Belgium’s women thanks to a brilliant performance at the Olympic qualifying event on home soil in Kontich, where they stormed to the title and secured their first ever appearance at an Olympic games. The side finished 11th in that tournament courtesy of a 2-1 classification match victory over USA. Their performances in 2013 provided further evidence that they are a growing force on the world stage, with a fourth place finish at the TriFinance EuroHockey Championships and qualification for this summer’s Rabobank Hockey World Cup in The Hague, Netherlands being their two stand-out achievements. The side recently took part in the Champions Challenge 1 tournament in Glasgow where they finished in 6th place following a shoot-out defeat at the hands of Korea. Coach Pascal Kina has selected eight players who have broken through the 100 senior international caps barrier – Louise Cavenaile (140+ caps), Stephanie de Groof (140+), Anouk Raes (170+), Lieselotte van Lindt (120+), Emilie Sinia (160+), Barbara Nelen (150+), Jill Boon (180+) and team captain Charlotte de Vos (190+). Striker Jill Boon is the sister of Tom Boon, a star player for the Belgium men’s international team.
Pool B – Argentina, England, Germany, China, USA, South Africa
Argentina
Current FIH World Ranking: 2
How they qualified: Continental champions of Pan America
Rank in previous editions: 1974 – 2nd, 1976 – 2nd, 1978 – 3rd, 1981 – 6th, 1983 – 9th, 1986 - 2nd, 1990 – 9th, 1994 – 2nd, 1998 – 4th, 2002 – 1st, 2006 – 3rd, 2010 – 1st
About the team: Alongside the Netherlands, “Las Leonas” (The Lionesses) have been the dominant force in women’s hockey for well over a decade. The team are the reigning World Champions, having won the 2010 title in Rosario, the home city of star player Luciana Aymar. Even at the age of 36, Aymar – nicknamed “La Maga” (The Magician) – is still the driving force of the Argentina team and a player who is globally feared and respected in equal measure. She is widely expected to hang up her stick after this tournament and will be looking to go out on a high. The team is coached by Carlos Retegui, the man behind both their 2010 World Cup triumph and the Olympic Silver medal winning performance at London 2012. Ominously for the opposition, Retegui – who is also overseeing the Argentina men in The Hague – believes the Argentine women's team is approaching the level it showed in 2010, a bold statement which suggests that they are in fine fettle coming into this tournament. It goes without saying that Aymar is the star of the show, but she has a sensational supporting cast which includes some of the most gifted players in the world. Delfina Merino, Carla Rebecchi and Rosario Luchetti are all potential match winners for Argentina, as is classy defender and penalty corner expert Noel Barrionuevo. With so much talent at their disposal it is hardly surprising that they are considered to be among the frontrunners for the Gold medal.
England
Current FIH World Ranking: 3
How they qualified: 2nd place – Investec Hockey World League Semi-Final, London (ENG)
Rank in previous editions: 1983 – 5th, 1986 – 5th, 1990 – 4th, 1994 – 9th, 1998 – 9th, 2002 – 5th, 2006 – 7th, 2010 – 3rd
About the team: England have earned the respect and admiration of every hockey playing nation thanks to a string of medals at world levels events in recent years. The team claimed Bronze at the 2010 World Cup in Rosario (ARG) before going on to form the majority of the Great Britain team that would take Olympic Bronze at the London 2012 Games.2013 proved to be another special year for the team coached by former England & GB men’s boss Jason Lee, who guided the women to Silver and Bronze medals at the European Championships and World League Final respectively. The squad remains largely unchanged from those events, although one notable omission is the vastly experienced midfielder Helen Richardson-Walsh, who has been suffering with ongoing back problems. Lee has also named two relative newcomers in attacker Ellie Watton and defender Zoe Shipperley, while talented young players like Sophie Bray and Lily Owsley are really starting to establish themselves on the international scene. With three World Cups under her belt and a Bronze medal from the 2010 event, England captain Kate Richardson-Walsh will be hoping her side can improve on third this time around. Pacy striker Alex Danson is a key player for England, and her consistently excellent performances over the years have earned her a reputation as one of the most feared strikers in world hockey. Having beaten the top two sides in the world last year - the Netherlands and Argentina – England head into the tournament as genuine contenders.
Germany
Current FIH World Ranking: 6
How they qualified: Continental champions of Europe
Rank in previous editions: 1974 – 3rd, 1976 – 1st, 1978 – 2nd, 1981 – 1st, 1983 – 4th, 1986 – 2nd, 1990 – 8th, 1994 – 4th, 1998 – 3rd, 2002 – 7th, 2006 – 8th, 2010 – 4th
About the team: Following the retirement of legendary striker Natascha Keller at the end of the London 2012 Olympics, many wondered how “Die Danas” would cope without their Olympic Gold medal-winning superstar. However, if the last 18 months are anything to go by, the post-Keller era is shaping up to be something very special indeed. In June 2013, the team, coached by former Germany men’s international Jamilon Mülders, produced a string of sensational performances at the Rabobank Hockey World League Semi-Final tournament in Rotterdam, powering through to the event final with four straight victories before defeating host nation and reigning Olympic Champions the Netherlands in a dramatic penalty shoot-out. Two months later, the team proved that their return to form was no fluke by storming to the TriFinance EuroHockey Nations title, defeating England to claim the Gold medal. The side suffered a slight dip in form at the Argentina Hockey World League Final in San Miguel de Tucumán where they could only manage a seventh place finish in searing temperatures, but you can be sure that they will be 100 percent on their game in The Hague. Although the Germany team has plenty of exciting young players such as Marie Mävers, Kristina Hillmann as well as teenagers Anne Schröder and Hannah Gablac, there is also a huge amount of experience within this squad. Eight players have surpassed 100 international caps, among which the influential trio of Tina Bachmann, Maike Stöckel and team captain Julia Müller have each moved past the 200 cap marker.
China
Current FIH World Ranking: 7
How they qualified: 4th place – Investec Hockey World League Semi-Final, London (ENG)
Rank in previous editions: 1990 – 6th, 1994 – 7th, 1998 – 11th, 2002 – 3rd, 2006 – 10th, 2010 – 8th
About the team: China come into the Rabobank Hockey World Cup currently ranked 7th in the FIH World Rankings, landing their place in this elite event thanks to a fourth place finish at last year’s Investec Hockey World League Semi-Final event in London. It is fair to say that this China team is currently in something of a transitional phase. Gone are the great players of the past such as Fu Barong and Ma Yibo, the inspirational duo who helped the team to win Silver at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. There is a clear focus on youth these days, with the vast majority of their side being aged 23 or under. The group contains just three players who have 100 caps to their respective names, with Wang Mengyu, De Jiaojiao and Xu Xiaoxu being by far and away the most experienced players in the squad. China showed great form in the early stages of last September’s Asia Cup continental championship in Kuala Lumpur, topping pool A with three wins from three matches. However, they could not take their early form into the latter stages of the competition and finished fourth behind Japan (1st), Korea (2nd) and India (3rd). The youthful side recently performed admirably in a test series against New Zealand’s Black Sticks, losing the first game 3-2 before drawing the second match 1-1.
USA
Current FIH World Ranking: 10
How they qualified: 5th place – Investec Hockey World League Semi-Final, London (ENG)
Rank in previous editions: 1983 – 6th, 1986 – 9th, 1990 – 12th, 1994 – 3rd, 1998 – 8th, 2002 – 9th, 2006 – 6th
About the team: USA enter the Rabobank Hockey World Cup brimming with the sort of confidence that only a tournament victory can give you. The side powered to a stunning success at the recent Champions Challenge 1 event in Glasgow, defeating Ireland 3-1 in the tournament final to secure their place at the 2016 Champions Trophy. Katie O’Donnell netted five goals in the competition, finishing the event as joint top scorer alongside Korea’s Park Mihyun. Eight players have represented the USA senior side more than 100 times, with ace midfielder Rachel Dawson and team captain Lauren Crandall having also surpassed the 200 cap mark. Dawson, defender Katie Reinprecht and attacking midfielder Kathleen Sharkey were all named in the 2013 Pan American Elite Team, which recognises the finest players in the Pan Am region. The team is coached by Englishman Craig Parnham, with former Dutch international Janneke Schopman joining the staff in the role of assistant coach. Schopman, a double Olympic medallist, brings masses of world level experience to the table, being able to pass on her knowledge to a group that is aiming to build on their fine performances in Scotland.
South Africa
Current FIH World Ranking: 11
How they qualified: Continental champions of Africa
Rank in previous editions: 1998 – 7th, 2002 – 13th, 2006 – 12th, 2010 – 10th
About the team: Following his side’s Bronze medal performance at the recent Champions Challenge 1 event in Glasgow, Scotland, South Africa head coach Giles Bonnet initially named an unchanged team for the Rabobank Hockey World Cup. However, a late injury to double Olympian Lenise Marais has seen the return of legendary striker Pietee Coetzee, the 35 year old world record goal-scorer who has hit the target 280 times in 281 test matches. Alongside Argentina’s Luciana Aymar, Coetzee is one of only two players at the Rabobank Hockey World Cup to have also competed in the last joint men’s and women’s World Cup, the 1998 event in Utrecht. The African champions have a talented and experienced squad, with no fewer than 13 players who have made over 100 senior appearances for their country. Triple Olympian Marsha Cox (formerly Marescia) is South Africa’s most experienced player with more than 330 international matches under her belt. Following the Champions Challenge 1, the Rabobank Hockey World Cup is the second of three major international tournaments on European soil for South Africa, with the Commonwealth Games (Glasgow, SCO) also on the horizon. They will be looking for a strong performance in The Hague and are more than capable of causing a few upsets.
