16 best men’s teams from around the world are converging in Odisha, India As we count down the last free days till the start of FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023. Each team arrives with the aim of becoming world champions, but only one team can earn the highest honor at the end of the World Cup. The first hurdle for all 16 teams in the event comes in the form of their pool opponents. Winning the pool gives the teams a major advantage, as it directly qualifies them for the quarter-finals, while the second- and third-placed teams play an additional cross-over round.
Here is a preview for the teams in Pool D:
England
Having participated in every edition of the FIH Men’s World Cup, England have always been able to achieve great things. He has reached the semi-finals of the last three World Cup events, but missed the podium on each occasion. That is something they will be desperate to change this time around, as they aim to clinch a first FIH Men’s World Cup medal since winning silver on home soil in 1986 in Willesden, London. They certainly have a very good squad of players, but first they need to get out of a tough pool that includes home favorites India, in-form Spain and neighbors Wales.
England – coached by Paul Revington, former head coach of South Africa and Malaysia and assistant coach of Great Britain women – were outstanding at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, with striker Nick Bandurak finishing as the competition’s top scorer with 11 goals. Because his team took away the bronze medal. Only one team managed to beat the British in that competition, with mighty Australia – a side that has only ever won gold in the Commonwealth – overturning a two-goal deficit in the semi-finals to win 3–2. Captain Zac Wallace, midfield ace Phil Roper and attacker Sam Ward were all key players in Birmingham and will hope to replicate that form in Odisha. If they do, the sky’s the limit.
India
After years of sliding down the FIH world rankings, which culminated in their failure to qualify for the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 – a competition they had won a record eight times – India returned to the top table of global sport. has gone. The bronze medal at the delayed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 was a historic moment for the team, which followed it up with a third-place finish in the 2021-22 edition of the FIH Hockey Pro League.
Head coach Graham Reid has been getting the best out of the group, injecting a tactical discipline to their trademark efficient, fluid playing style, making them a team both respected and feared in equal measure. The star of the show is Harmanpreet Singh, a formidable defender and one of the game’s best drag-flickers, while goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, midfield ace Manpreet Singh and striker Mandeep Singh are all capable of game-changing moments.
Despite the undeniable pressure that comes with being the hosts of the competition, this Indian team has all the qualities needed to claim their first FIH Men’s World Cup title since 1975.
spain
Known for their flair, skill and offensive prowess, the Red Sticks men are one of the most talented and unpredictable teams, proving on countless occasions that, in their day, they could mix it up with the best teams in the world Huh. , Along with rare talents such as impressive attacker Enrique González, experienced midfielder Marc Miralles and classy captain Álvaro Iglesias, they are also blessed with a revered head coach in Max Caldas, who has enjoyed great success with the Netherlands women and men. , Guided East. World Cup and Olympic glory and two European Championship titles later.
In August 2022, the Red Sticks showed strong form on home soil in the recent EuroHockey Championship Qualifier event in Orense, defeating the Czech Republic, Portugal and Poland to seal their ticket for the 2023 EuroHockey Championships. The team scored 20 times without losing in that competition, with Pau Cunil (Rising Star Nominee – FIH Hockey Stars Awards 2021-22), Iglesias and former Argentina international and 2016 Olympic gold medalist Joaquin Menini scoring three times each. .
They followed up the success with a stellar start to their 2022-23 FIH Hockey Pro League campaign, going unbeaten in their first four matches, claiming remarkable wins over New Zealand and Pool C rivals India, which took place in the World Cup host city. . Bhubaneswar.
wales
After decades of trying, Wales finally secured FIH Men’s World Cup qualification for the first time thanks to a tournament-winning performance at the European Qualification Event on home soil in Cardiff. After claiming a 2–0 victory against Italy in their quarter-final, Wales were drawn to face Ireland, with the winner not only earning a place in the final of the competition but also one of two tickets to the World Cup. Competition.
Wales fell behind in the very first minute of the match when Michael Robson fired home, but Joe Nogalty’s equalizer early in the second quarter proved enough to send the match into a winner-take-all shoot-out. Successful tries from Rupert Shipperley and Jack Pritchard gave Wales a 2–1 lead before the final period, goalkeeper Toby Reynolds-Cotterill doing enough to deny Ireland’s Lee Cole and create a moment of Welsh sporting history.
The team ended the competition on a great high by recording a 2–1 victory over higher-ranked France thanks to goals from Luke Hawker and Shipperley, the latter arriving just five minutes from the end.
Current Great Britain internationals Shipperley and Jacob Draper are both key players for Wales, as is penalty corner specialist Gareth Furlong, a regular source of goals. Despite being one of the lowest ranked teams in this competition, Wales have proven themselves capable of punching above their weight and are certainly not here to make up the numbers.
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