Harpal Singh Bedi in Bhubaneswar
The crowded 14th edition of the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup with 16 teams spread over to 19 days, commencing in the capital of Odisha on Wednesday is being touted as most open in recent times with at least six teams in running for the coveted title.
So far only five teams- Pakistan (4 times) Australia, Holland (3 each), Germany (2) and India (1) have won it but the experts feel that defending champion Australia will have a tough to win it again for the third time in a row.
The teams are divided into four groups. With topper of the each group qualifying for the quarter finals and the last team of each team getting eliminated. the second and third team of a pool will play a cross over e g 2 A vs 3 B, 2 B vs 3 A, 2 C vs 3 D, 2 D vs 3 C
Pool A consists of Argentina, Spain, New Zealand, France. Pool B: Australia, England, Ireland, China , Pool C: Belgium, India, South Africa and Canada, Pool D: Holland ,Germany, Pakistan and Malaysia”
That means a team will have to win at least two of the three matches in their pools to stay alive in the tournament in the league phase.
Pool D is group of death with three teams Holland, Germany and Pakistan ,having won a total of 9 titles between them and Malaysia , a semi finalist 1975.
Following is a brief look at the teams:
Argentina. World Ranking 2. Olympic Champions 2016. Best – Bronze at WC 2014 at The Hague. Playing 13th WC missed Utrecht 1998. Surprised experts with their maiden Olympic title two years later and were ranked world number one.
Spain :Ranking 8. WC Silvers in 1971 & 1998. 3 time Olympic Silver. Never missed World Cup .It’s been a few years since their last podium finish but the Red Sticks have the talent and unity required to do extremely well..
New Zealand: Ranking 9. 10th appearance. Best finish 7th on 4 occasions. Olympic champions 1976. Coach Darren Smith will be hoping that his side can build on the silver medal won earlier this year at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
France; Ranking 20. 3rd appearance. Earlier 1971 & 1990, both 7th.
Making a return after 28 years. They have been making a steady improvement over the past few years.
POOL B
Australia : Ranking 1. 13th WC. Missed 1973 Amsterdam. 3 WC champions 1986, 2010 & 2014. 9 medals. Most successful men’s team in WC.Looking for third back to back title. Even though they had a slight dip in form when they finished sixth at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, their 15th Champions Trophy title triumph over the Netherlands this summer reflects that they are in form, and will be the team to beat at Bhubaneswar.
England Ranking 7. 13th WC. Missed 1971. Silver in 1986. Finished 4th in 2010 & 2014.
Olympic champions in 1988. Coach Danny Kerry, has opted for a mix of players who have competed in multiple World Cups, although for thirteen it shall be their first.
Ireland Ranking 10. 3rd WC. Last position in both 1978 & 1990. The bronze medallists of the last Euro hockey championship have a talent packed squad
China: Ranking 17. 1st WC, China qualified for their maiden WC with their 8th place finish at the World League semi final at London in 2017 .
Pool C:
Belgium: d Ranking 3. 6th WC. Never finished on podium. Best 4th in 2014. Silver in Olympics 2016.The Red Lions are the success story of the past eight years gradually moving up in the world rankings.
India: Ranking 5. 14th WC. Winner in 1975, Silver 1973, bronze 1971. 43 years without podium finish.
The Junior WC 2016 title has provided renewed optimism and ignition for the Harendra Singh coached team showing some improvement albeit erratic at times. The Indians will have the full throated support of the home crowd spurring them on for a memorable finish.
Canada Ranking 11. 6th WC. Best 8th in 1998. Canada shocked India in the World League semi final at London last year in the 5/6 playoff. Goalkeeper David Carter will lead the Red Caribou into battle.
South Africa: Ranking 15. 6th WC. Never finished below 10th.Not much expected from this team even though they possess some good individual talent .
POOL D: This is the Pool of Death with the Netherlands,, Germany (twice champions), Pakistan (record four time champions) and Malaysia (semi finalists in 1975)
Netherlands: Ranking 4. WC winners in 1973, 1990 & 1998. Olympic champions in 1996 & 2000. Current European champions. the Dutch are a very gifted team that are capable of beating any team on their day.They have had eight podium finishes, thrice apiece as champions and runners up and twice bronze medalists.
Germany : Ranking 6. WC winners in 2002 & 2006. Olympic champions 4 times. European champions 8 times. WC podium finish 8 times.
Even though they had a disappointing sixth place finish in 2014, their lowest ever in the WC, there have been signs of recent upswings in the Test series against Spain
Malaysia: Ranking 12. 8th WC appearance. Best 4th place in 1975. This Roelant Oltmans coached squad certainly has something to prove at Bhubaneswar
Pakistan: Ranking 13. Winners in 1971, 1978, 1982 & 1994. Runners up twice. Olympic champions in 1960, 1968 & 1984. 13th WC missed in 2014.
Pakistan have an enviable record in the competition, having lifted the trophy a record four times. They became the thirteenth team to qualify at the quadrennial event after their seventh placed finish in the World League semi finals at London last year.