Paris, France: The 12 best teams (men’s and women’s) from around the world are converging in Paris as we countdown to the final few days till the start of the Hockey competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024! Each team comes with the aim of standing on the Olympic podium, while only one can claim the gold medal at the end of the Games.
The first obstacle for all teams in the event come in the form of their pool opponents. The 12 teams have been split into two pools of 6 teams each, with the top four teams from each pool qualifying for the quarterfinals. In today’s preview, meet the teams in Pool A of the women’s competition, and find out the unique playing styles they will bring to Paris.
Netherlands
As the reigning Olympic, World, European and FIH Hockey Pro League champions, it comes as little surprise that the Netherlands will be considered as hot favourites to successfully defend the gold medal they won in 2021 at the delayed Tokyo Olympiad.
The Oranje were in sparkling form at the 2023 EuroHockey Championships in Mönchengladbach, Germany, claiming five wins out of five – including an emphatic 7-0 thrashing of England in the semi-finals – to seal their record extending 12th European title and guarantee their participation at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The mighty Dutch followed it up with their fourth FIH Hockey Pro League title, winning 15 out of 16 matches with Yibbi Jansen claiming an impressive 19 goal haul, eight clear of Argentina’s Agustina Gorzelany at the top of the scorer’s chart. Jansen will be a huge penalty corner threat for the Netherlands in Paris, one of numerous world class players head coach Paul van Ass has at his disposal. In striker Felice Albers and team captain Xan de Waard the Netherlands have the two most recent winners of the FIH Hockey Stars Player of the Year award, while Frederique Matla, Freeke Moes, Pien Dicke, Maria Verschoor and goalkeeper Anne Veenendaal are all extraordinary talents.
Having finished on the podium at every Olympic Games since Atlanta 1996 and contested the last five finals, the Netherlands will take some stopping.
Head Coach Paul van Ass: “The Dutch women’s hockey team has been at the top for many years. But we also realise that staying at the top is very difficult. But be assured we still work very hard to present ourselves in the best possible way. And yes, hopefully we can be an inspiration for a new generation with the prolongation of an Olympic medal.”
Belgium
Over the past six years, Belgium’s women have established themselves as a genuine European powerhouse, claiming silver medals at the EuroHockey Championships in both 2017 and the 2023 event in Mönchengladbach, Germany. At the 2023 competition the Red Panthers defeated Italy, Spain and Germany en route to the final, eventually losing 3-1 to the Netherlands in the gold medal match. Despite that painful loss, it was another milestone moment in the development of a gifted group of players, with young talents such as gifted teenager Emily White and ace midfielder Charlotte Englebert producing performances to match those of established performers like Barbara Nelen, Alix Gerniers and Stephanie Vanden Borre.
Belgium sealed their place at Paris 2024 with a string of fine performances at January’s FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier in Valencia, bouncing back from 0-0 draw against Ireland to record crushing wins against Korea (10-1) and Ukraine (13-0) to set up a semi-final against Great Britain. Goals from Nelen, Vanden Borre and Justine Rasir earned a 3-2 triumph
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