Team USA 2020 FIH Women's Pro League Season Preview, Schedule, How to Watch
Jan 23, 2020
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 27: Danielle Grega of USA in action during the Women's FIH Field Hockey Pro League match between Great Britain and USA at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on April 27, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images for FIH)
The United States Women's National Field Hockey Team begins play in the 2020 FIH Women's Pro League this weekend. It's the second season for both the Pro League as a whole and Team USA competing in it.
After a disappointing finish in the inaugural season of the league last year, the young American squad gained valuable experience in the FIH Olympic Qualifiers as well as at the Pan American Games, where they won a bronze medal, that could serve them well for a better all-around performance in this edition of the Pro League.
Below you can find everything you need to know about Team USA and the FIH Women's Pro League before the 2020 season begins, including what's new, the Americans' full schedule and world ranking, how to watch and stream every game, players to watch, team highlights and how the league works.
Team USA and the FIH Pro League: What's new in 2020
In short, a lot. The second season of the Pro League will look very different than the first, both on a league-wide scale as well as within the United States team.
Let's start with the Americans. Team USA announced Caroline Nelson-Nichols as its new head coach in December, about a month after former head coach Janneke Schopman was fired. A former defender, Nelson-Nichols played in 165 games for the USWNT from 2007 to 2014, including competing in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. She had been the head coach at Columbia University since 2015.
"As a player coming up in the ranks, I think you always think how great it would be to represent your country as an athlete," Nelson-Nichols told B/R Live. "I felt really passionate about coaching, and I've dived into the profession...I can't say that I ever scripted the journey the way that it's gone, although I'm incredibly excited about the way that it's gone, and I'm totally honored to be able to lead Team USA."
The offseason turnover was not limited to the American coaching staff. Three players with a total of 472 international appearances announced their retirements in the last two months, leaving an already young team without three of its most experienced players.
Team captain and striker Kathleen Sharkey retired on Jan. 23 after 176 appearances for the team, which included the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the 2019 Pan American Games, where she scored four goals and led Team USA to the bronze. Caitlin Van Sickle, a reliable veteran defender, retired on Dec. 16 after recording 148 caps during her Team USA career, which also included the 2016 Rio Olympics. Another member of that Olympic team, striker Jill Funk, retired on Jan. 8 also finishing with 148 caps. Funk helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 2017 FIH World League in South Africa, where she led the tournament in scoring.
Team USA will also have a new home field for Pro League games in 2020. The squad will play all of its home games at the University of North Carolina's Karen Shelton Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The change comes as a result of the outdoor stadium at Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster, Pennsylvania failing to meet new FIH requirements for its venues and turf.
The pitch at Spooky Nook was also the subject of a petition filed by both the American men's and women's teams, which called it unusable and unsafe. That petition further criticized the teams' facilities, noting poor nutrition, medical care, uniforms and financial support. Still, the organization remains based in, and the women train at, Spooky Nook, where the domed indoor pitch remains in good condition.
However, in moving to Chapel Hill for games, the venue will be familiar territory for some of the team. Both Ashley Hoffman and Lauren Moyer played there so that familiarity should make the adjustment to a new home field for the 2020 season much smoother. You can learn more about Shelton Stadium here.
Speaking of home stadiums, easily the largest overall change from Year 1 to Year 2 in the FIH Pro League is the elimination of the home-and-home schedule design. In an effort to reduce travel during an Olympic Year, teams will no longer play every team at home once and on the road once. Instead, one team will host both games played between them, which will take place across the same weekend.
Team USA 2020 FIH Pro League Schedule, Team Rankings
The United States is one of nine teams competing in the Women's Pro League this season. Below are the teams in order of the most recent world rankings, which includes 75 total countries.
1. Netherlands 2. Australia 3. Argentina 4. Germany 5. Great Britain 6. New Zealand 10. China 12. Belgium 13. United States
While the home-and-home adjustment was made to the schedule, the number of games does not change. Team USA will still play eight home games and eight road games, beginning Jan. 26 and ending June 7. The Americans' full schedule is below (all times eastern).
United States vs. Netherlands
Sunday, Jan. 26, at 2 p.m. | This game will be worth double points to make up for the cancellation of the first game, originally scheduled for Friday, Jan. 24. That game was called off after Team USA manager and assistant coach Larry Amar died earlier in the week.
Argentina vs. United States
Friday, Feb. 7 and Saturday, Feb. 8, both at 4 p.m.
New Zealand vs. United States
Friday, Feb. 14 at 11 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 15 at 9 p.m.
United States vs. China
Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11, both at 2 p.m.
United States vs. Australia
Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3, both at 2 p.m.
Belgium vs. United States
Friday, May 15 at 12:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 17 at 8 a.m.
Great Britain vs. United States
Sunday, May 24 at 9 a.m. and Monday, May 25 at 8 a.m.
United States vs. Germany
Friday, June 5 at 6 p.m. and Sunday, June 7 at 2 p.m.
Team USA Players to Watch
In 2019, the United States women competed in the inaugural FIH Women's Pro League, Pan American Games and FIH Olympic Qualifiers, yielding extremely valuable international experience for a young team. And in 2020, the team will lean on its young core again, with those who broke out last season looking to take that next step in their development.
"Every player has really surpassed my expectations," Nelson-Nichols said. "Looking at each of these athletes that are continuing to grow and show a lot of potential for future success, I've been really happy that the entire team -- every individual in our group -- looks to be reinventing the player they want to be moving forward. With that, the strength of what we do is going to be in our whole collective group."
Nelson-Nichols built the roster after a trial at the beginning of the year and commended the returning players' ability to mesh with new additions. You can find the full roster here. She added that 2019 standouts like Erin Matson, Mackenzie Allessie and Margaux Paulino, who are all still in college, chose to focus on their academics during this semester and will have the opportunity to rejoin the squad in the future. Below are a few players who will be keys to success for the United States this Pro League season.
Danielle Grega
Grega was the leading scorer for the U.S. in the Pro League last season, scoring four goals from her midfield position. With only 28 career appearances for the team, that annual goal total could grow very quickly as she gets more time on the pitch.
Another midfielder with just 28 caps, Gonzales scored two goals in the league and added the winning penalty shot to seal one of the team's victories last season.
The pair of midfielders provided big sparks for the U.S. in 2019, with Moyer tallying three goals in the league and Magadan scoring twice in the nearly-epic comeback in Olympic qualifying. Both have played in more than 70 international games, giving the Americans reliability in the middle along with dynamic scoring quality.
With the roster turnover, defender Ali Froede becomes the player with the most international appearances on the team at 91. She'll lead the backline while Hoffman, a midfielder who will get her 69th cap once the Pro League begins again, will bring strong experience and presence to the midfield.
How to Watch Team USA in the 2020 FIH Women's Pro League
The Women's FIH Pro League returns in 2020 to B/R Live, where fans can watch every Team USA game live and stream full replays on-demand.
Subscribe to the B/R Live Pass to watch all of the action featuring the American squad this season. The pass is $9.99 per month and includes every FIH game as well as access to stream nearly all other sports content on B/R Live, including leagues like UEFA Champions League, National Lacrosse League, All Elite Wrestling and more.
Fans can also stream each Team USA match on an individual basis for $2.99, which includes access to both the live game and the full replay.
For more information on watching Team USA and to get the B/R Live Pass, go here. FIH Pro League matches are available to stream on B/R Live to fans in the United States and Canada.
How the FIH Women's Pro League Works
There are nine teams competing in the Women's FIH Pro League in 2020. Every team will play the other teams twice, with an equal number of home and away matches. Teams receive three points for a win in regulation and zero for a loss. If regulation ends in a tie, each team receives one point, and a penalty shootout decides the winner. That winning team earns one bonus point, giving it a total of two for the game.
The team with the most points at the end of the season wins the Pro League. With the Olympics later this summer, there will be no Grand Final this season to determine a winner. Last year, the final four teams at the end of the regular season reached the Grand Final—semifinals and a final—for the league title, eventually won by the Netherlands.
And with the Olympic field set for Tokyo 2020, the stakes for the Pro League revolve around ranking points. More match wins and higher finishes in the standings mean more ranking points and eventually better seedings for the large tournaments, like the World Cup in 2022 and Olympics in 2024.
Field Hockey Olympic Qualifiers: How to Watch Team USA, How It Works, Schedule
Oct 24, 2019
LIMA, PERU - AUGUST 09: Danielle Grega of United States competes for the ball with Denise Krimerman of Chile during Hockey Women bronze medal on Day 14 of Lima 2019 Pan American Games at Hockey Field of Complejo Deportivo Villa Maria del Triunfo on August 9, 2019 in Lima, Peru. (Photo by Daniel Apuy/Getty Images)
The 2020 Summer Olympics are less than a year away, setting up the final wave of qualifying for men's and women's field hockey. The FIH Olympic Qualifiers begin Friday, with 28 men's and women's teams playing for the final 14 spots in Tokyo.
The women of Team USA are one of those teams, and they will play two matches against host India in what is the last chance to clinch a berth in the Olympics. The winner on aggregate score after the two matches will qualify.
Below find everything you need to know about FIH Olympic Qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, including the men's and women's teams playing, how the process works, the full match schedule and how to watch and stream the games.
FIH Olympic Qualifiers: Teams
Twelve women's teams and 12 men's teams will make up the field hockey tournament at the 2020 Games. Five teams in each division have already qualified. Those teams are:
Women's: Japan, Argentina, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa
Men's: Japan, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, South Africa
That leaves seven spots available on each side, to be contested by the following 14 women's and men's teams:
Women's: United States, India, Australia, Russia, China, Belgium, Spain, Korea, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Chile, Ireland, Canada
Men's: Spain, France, Netherlands, Pakistan, Canada, Ireland, India, Russia, New Zealand, Korea, Germany, Austria, Great Britain, Malaysia
Qualifying for the field hockey tournament in the Olympics is a process that has taken place since the start of 2019 that involves the results of the FIH Pro League and Series Finals, continental championships and FIH world rankings.
Japan automatically receives a spot as the host nation. The top four finishers in the Pro League automatically qualify, as do the five total top finishers in the FIH Series Finals. Teams that won their continental championships, like Argentina's men and women winning gold medals at the Pan American Games, also automatically qualified.
In some cases, a continental champion and a top FIH finisher was the same team, creating an open slot. As a result, that's how we enter the FIH Olympic Qualifiers with seven Olympic spots on the line. The teams competing for those places are the 14 highest-ranked teams remaining in the latest FIH world rankings, which were released in September.
Once those rankings came out, FIH held a draw to determine the match pairings for the final Olympic Qualifiers. The qualifiers will be two matches played on back-to-back days at the same venue. The country with the higher ranking will host both matches.
The overall winner of the two matches, based on aggregate score, will qualify for the Tokyo Games. Here are more details on the qualifying draw.
Full Schedule (all times Eastern)
Women
No. 9 India vs. No. 13 United States | Friday, Nov. 1 at 8:30 a.m. Watch here, and Saturday, Nov. 2 at 8:30 a.m. Watch here.
To learn more about Team USA's preparation for these matches, go here
No. 2 Australia vs. No. 19 Russia | Friday, Oct. 25 at 3 a.m. and Saturday, Oct. 26 at 7 a.m.
No. 10 China vs. No. 12 Belgium | Friday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Oct. 26, both at 6 a.m.
No. 7 Spain vs. No. 11 Korea | Friday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Oct. 26, both at 2 p.m.
No. 4 Germany vs. No. 17 Italy | Saturday, Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. and Sunday, Nov. 3 at 8:30 a.m.
No. 5 Great Britain vs. No. 18 Chile | Saturday, Nov. 2 at 9 a.m. and Sunday, Nov. 3 at 7 a.m.
No. 8 Ireland vs. No. 15 Canada | Saturday, Nov. 2 at 2:50 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2 p.m.
Men
No. 8 Spain vs. No. 12 France | Friday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Oct. 26, both at 12 p.m.
No. 3 Netherlands vs. No. 17 Pakistan | Saturday, Oct. 26 and Sunday, Oct. 27, both at 10 a.m.
No. 10 Canada vs. No. 13 Ireland | Saturday, Oct. 26 and Sunday, Oct. 27, both at 5 p.m.
No. 5 India vs. No. 22 Russia | Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2, both at 10:30 a.m.
No. 9 New Zealand vs. No. 16 Korea | Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2, both at 10 p.m.
No. 6 Germany vs. No. 20 Austria | Saturday, Nov. 2 at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 3 at 10:30 a.m.
No. 7 Great Britain vs. No. 11 Malaysia | Saturday, Nov. 2 at 12:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 3 at 10 a.m.
How to watch, streaming information
Both Team USA women's matches and most of the remaining FIH Olympic Qualifiers will stream live on B/R Live. The links above will take you directly to each Team USA game.
Fans can stream individual matches for $2.99 each or subscribe to the B/R Live Monthly Pass to watch every FIH Olympic Qualifier on B/R Live for $9.99 total.
For the full women's FIH Olympic Qualifiers schedule and to watch those matches, go here. For the full men's FIH Olympic Qualifiers schedule and to watch those matches, go here.
Youthful Team USA Field Hockey Squad Learning on the Fly in New FIH Pro League
Apr 12, 2019
LANCASTER, PA - MARCH 29: The United States celebrate their win against Belgium during the Women's FIH Field Hockey Pro League match at Spooky Nook Sports on March 29, 2019 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The United States defeated Belgium 5-4 in a shoot out. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
In the opening game of a new league, playing far away from home against one of the best players and teams in the world, a teenager stole the show.
Forward Mackenzie Allessie corralled a rebound, calmly made a move in front of goal and put the ball in the back of the net, lifting Team USA ahead of Argentina in the teams' debut in the new FIH Women's Pro League.
"So exciting," the 18-year-old told B/R Live of that first goal. "I mean it was just a dream come true."
It was that moment, as well as the remainder of that first game, that has encapsulated the Americans' journey in this league between national teams. Team USA scored again to go up 2-0 before world No. 4-ranked Argentina scored twice in the fourth quarter and won in a shootout.
Ranked 12th in the world, the U.S. has loads of young talent on its roster, but the other nations have the talent and the experience that knows exactly how to get a result when needed. Delfina Merino, the Argentine captain who scored the late equalizer, has more international appearances than most of Team USA combined.
The FIH Pro League, which has both a women's and men's division, is unique in a sport that has been defined internationally by tournament play.
The women's league features nine of the top 13 teams in the world and takes place over six months from January to June. Every team plays each other home and away for a total of 16 games, and the top four teams in the standings advance to the Grand Final playoffs, which crowns a league champion.
The biggest payoff, however, is those top four teams all earn direct placement into qualifying events for the 2020 Olympic Games in Beijing.
"It's really valuable that we're playing consistent, international matches over the course of six months," said U.S. captain Kathleen Sharkey, whose 156 caps are by far the most on the team but still more than 100 behind Argentina's Merino. "It's hard to replicate that intensity in just a test match. ... We're growing and improving with each of these games since we are learning so much, so I think we're just trying to play to our potential each game."
After Wednesday's 2-1 loss at Belgium, Team USA returns to the pitch in the Netherlands on Sunday (10 a.m. ET, watch on B/R Live).
These teams have played in the league once already, a 5-0 masterclass in February delivered by the top-ranked team in the world. After all, the coach of the American squad is Janneke Schopman, who won an Olympic gold medal and world championship as a Dutch player.
Aside from that game, Team USA has been in its other six games, which included a shootout win over Belgium. As the Americans chase their first regulation win, there's a balancing act between wanting results now and finding positives to give the young players confidence moving forward.
"We do have young girls, but they're so skilled and so athletic and they can take on anyone in international hockey," Sharkey said. "So I think just making sure that they actually believe that and they're showing that on the field."
To fully understand just how youthful this team is, a glimpse at their collective birthdates will do the trick: All but one player on the Team USA roster were born in the 1990s.
The exception is Allessie, who was born in 2001. Danielle Grega, the team's leading scorer in FIH Women's Pro League play with three goals, is 22 years old and has eight caps. Midfield standout Erin Matson just turned 19 and already has 48 caps. Striker Margaux Paolino, who has broken out in her 15 appearances, is 21.
"I like the speed of the game (internationally)," Matson said.
"I would say different just intensitywise," Paolino added. "Competitiveness is definitely a little higher."
It's an even bigger jump for Allessie, who will play collegiately at Ohio State but has literally gone from high school competition to playing against the best players in the world. The Pennsylvania native and her teammates have studied their competitors on film in order to continue to develop their games.
"So much different, so much faster," the midfielder said. "But honestly the team's so great. They're like a family to me already. They're great role models. I can look up to every single one of them and trust them, and they are really supportive."
Their drive and youth is evident everywhere. After the 5-4 shootout win against Belgium in March (after the teams tied 1-1 in regulation), Matson and Paolino reviewed their penalty shots (Paolino scored, Matson did not) and then jumped into trash talk about March Madness.
Both play significant minutes at the international level while also starring at prominent college programs. A score update revealed Matson's North Carolina Tar Heels were down by 15 points, which drew a laugh from Paolino, who had plenty of confidence her Duke Blue Devils would win later that night (they did, barely).
"Like we know we're kidding...kind of," Matson said about their rivalry discussions.
"But there's some competitiveness deep down," Paolino confirmed.
It's that juxtaposition—young and inexperienced at this level, but competitive about everything—that points to such a bright outlook for Team USA.
Another key to that future is the home facility where the team plays and trains.
Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is the largest indoor sports complex in the United States and serves as the U.S. women's national team's home base in a deal that runs through 2022. The 700,000-square-foot facility features multiple turf practice fields and courts, weight training and fitness rooms, a hotel and restaurant, a domed practice pitch and a 2,000-capacity outdoor stadium.
Spooky Nook sits in the middle of the nation's field hockey hotbed, evidenced by the fact that 11 of the 25 players on the U.S. roster are from the Keystone State. On a cold weekend at the end of March, two near-sellout crowds watched Team USA's shootout victory over Belgium on Friday and a 3-1 loss to Great Britain on Sunday in the team's first two league games at the complex. The players noted the energy they felt throughout the matches. FIH specifically wanted every game of its season to be played at a country's home stadium for that reason exactly.
"Especially the atmosphere and the energy, it's so exciting to come to a pitch and facility like this where everyone's supporting and there's so much going on," said Paolino, who's from Villanova, Pennsylvania. "It just makes it 10 times more exciting."
EuroHockey Championship 2015 Men's Final: Netherlands vs. Germany Score, Recap
Aug 29, 2015
Netherlands' Robbert Kemperman, left, is hugged by teammate Netherlands' Jeroen Hertzberger, right, after Kemperman scored 1-0 during the men's final of the Field Hockey World Cup between Australia and The Netherlands in The Hague, Netherlands, Sunday, June 15, 2014. Australia won the match with a 6-1 score to win the World Cup. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
The Netherlands stunned Germany 6-1 in the 2015 EuroHockey Championship Men's final. The Germans were attempting to retain the gold medal but found themselves five goals down by half-time.
Goals from Billy Bakker, a brace from Mink van der Weerden and further strikes from Jeroen Hertzberger and Rogier Hofman accounted for the first-half scoring. Mirco Pruijser netted the Netherlands' lone goal after the break, following a lung-bursting, pitch-length sprint.
Most of the damage came on the counter as Germany were obviously rattled by falling two goals behind by the end of the opening quarter. Another key was how efficient the Dutch were in front of goal, from both corners and open play.
The tournament's official Twitter feed showed the opening goal, scored by Bakker:
The Dutch didn't try and boss possession in the first half. Instead, they merely waited for moments to break. It was a canny tactic that caught the Germans cold.
Despite Germany's desire to salvage some pride, the third quarter passed by without much incident. The tournament's Twitter account dubbed those 15 minutes "sedate."
But the fourth quarter saw things liven up again. It began with a sixth goal for the Orange men, coming via Mirco Pruijser.
Yielding a sixth actually seemed to galvanise the Germans, albeit briefly. Christopher Ruhr ensured the defending champions wouldn't be shoved aside with a whitewash.
His goal came courtesy of some spectacular play:
GOAL! Superb 3D ball juggling from Christopher Rühr pulling one back for the Germans. NED 6-1 GER. #EHC2015#MNEDvGER
— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) August 29, 2015
But that was merely one final whimper from the eight-time European champions. Their usually physical and stingy defence had deserted them when they needed it most.
For the Dutch, this was a first win in seven attempts against the Germans in these finals, according to the tournament's official site. To break the duck in such emphatic fashion will only add to the Netherlands' joy.
In fact, it was the biggest margin of victory in these finals, per Euro Hockey League Twitter:
Wow, what a performance from the Netherlands, 6-1 winners over Germany - biggest ever @eurohockeyorg final victory! First win since 2007
— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) August 29, 2015
This was a stunning upset, in a game that was truthfully no longer a contest after the five-goal salvo in the first half. Now the Dutch have the gold.
Men's Hockey World Cup Final 2014: Date, Start Time, Live Stream and Preview
Jun 14, 2014
England players, left, and right, look dejected as the Dutch team celebrates winning the Field Hockey World Cup semifinal match men between the Netherlands and England in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, June 13, 2014. The Netherlands won the match with a 1-0 score and continues to play the final on Sunday. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
It's clear who the dominant nations at the 2014 World Cup of Hockey are, with the Netherlands and Australia having qualified for the finals in both the Men's and Women's tournament.
Defending champions Australia rolled past an Argentine squad early on Friday, putting together a dominant display of attacking hockey to win 5-1.
The hosts survived a thriller against England, taking the lead in the first half and clinging on for dear life until the final whistle, the score still 1-0.
Both teams topped their respective group after the group stages and have yet to lose during the 2014 World Cup. It's the one match all fans were hoping to see, and on Sunday, these two teams will give us the perfect conclusion to two weeks of top-class hockey.
Date: Sunday, June 15
Time: 2.15 p.m. BST/9:15 a.m. ET
Venue: Kyocera Stadium, the Netherlands
TV info and live stream: The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports, with mobile coverage available via the Sky Go app (subscription required) and the ESPN Player.
Preview
The Netherlands
Oranje will be playing in their first final in 16 years, thanks to a penalty corner from specialist Mink van der Weerden after 30 minutes of play.
Goalkeeper Jaap Stockmann was called into action on several occasions, but overall the Dutch defence held up well against England's late attacking onslaught.
The hosts scored 14 times and conceded four during the group stages, and that ratio was influenced a great deal by the comfortable 7-1 win over South Africa.
The 2-1 win over Korea Republic, the draw against New Zealand and the narrow 1-0 win over Germany all highlighted the fact this Dutch team has issues, particularly on the offensive end.
The team scores the majority of its goals on penalty corners and has struggled tremendously converting chances from open play. The Dutch aren't devoid of creativity—they just fail to hit the target when they take their chances.
Manager Paul van Ass spoke to the press after the team's 1-0 win over England, and as reported on the event's official website, he explained why the match against England was such a difficult one:
They gave us the midfield, and I understand why. But I like to play more attacking hockey, and when it is like that, we can always concede a goal.
The Netherlands have looked solid defensively and play best when they have space in the opposing half, so Australia's attacking style of play will suit the hosts nicely.
Australia
The Kookaburras will be playing in their fourth consecutive World Cup final, and looking at their performances over the past two weeks, the defending champions look to have their chances of defending that title.
Group A was supposed to be the tougher of the two groups, with England, Belgium, Spain and even India capable of challenging the Australians for the top spot.
Instead, Australia scored 19 goals and conceded just once, winning each of their five matches by at least a two-goal difference (Belgium came the closest to beating the team, losing 3-1).
The team's dominance continued in the semi-final, with Kieran Govers opening the score after just four minutes with a brilliant solo effort, winning a penalty corner and converting it himself.
Australia have scored in every possible manner this tournament, displaying excellence on the penalty corner, creativity in the circle and sheer athleticism on the counter-attack.
There's a reason this team has been consistently excellent in this tournament—they're scarily good.
The Kookaburras will take advantage of any mistakes the opposing team makes, and with everyone on the team always moving forward, they don't give up a lot of chances.
Their wide-open style of play will give the Dutch team space to work with, and the Dutch attack is stronger than any they have seen up until this stage of the tournament.
But with the sheer amount of bodies Australia can put in front of goal, even Stockmann will struggle keeping his nets clean. The hosts will be backed by a fiery home crowd, but there's no denying Australia are heavy favourites going into the final.
Men's Hockey World Cup Final 2014: Keys to Victory for Australia and Netherlands
Jun 13, 2014
England players, left, and right, look dejected as the Dutch team celebrates winning the Field Hockey World Cup semifinal match men between the Netherlands and England in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, June 13, 2014. The Netherlands won the match with a 1-0 score and continues to play the final on Sunday. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Defending Rabobank Hockey World Cup holders Australia have returned to the final and will face the Netherlands. Both nations enjoyed contrasting semi-finals.
The Dutch survived a gruelling affair, thanks to a solitary goal that beat a resolute England team. Meanwhile, the Hockeyroos outlasted a talented Argentina squad, eventually winning, 5-1.
The Australians produced a powerful display of attacking quality with some familiar names dominating on the day.
The Australian attack was in rampant form against Argentina.
Here are some keys for victory for both teams ahead of the final.
Jaap Stockmann's Form in Goal
It was all about defensive solidity for the Netherlands. That will be a major key against the rampant Australians. Jaap Stockmann will be a vital figure in the Netherlands' attempts to frustrate the Hockeyroos.
He was aided by a stout defensive showing against the English in the semi-finals. The Dutch swarmed high up the field.
That meant Stockmann wasn't exposed too often, as The Times Of Indiahighlighted:
England were constantly under pressure from the Dutch strikers, but managed to build some raids into the rival circle.
Dutch custodian Jaap Stockmann, however, was not unduly troubled by the English shots at the goal.
But Stockmann won't have such a comfortable ride against the Australians. The defending champions are bold and expressive going forward.
Netherlands coach Paul van Ass credited the Hockeyroos with playing an expansive game, and he was quoted as saying that he would rather play them. "I would prefer it to be Australia," said van Ass, via the International Hockey Federation website.
Van Ass may be welcoming an open match, but he'll still need Stockmann to be at his best to help limit Australia's ample scoring potential.
Netherlands Must Return to its Attacking Game
Of course, the Dutch are equally capable of attacking with verve and style. Unfortunately, England rarely gave them the chance to show it, stifling the Netherlands' natural attacking instincts.
Van Ass was not impressed by the claustrophobic nature of the semi-final, per FIH.ch: "They gave us the midfield, and I understand why. But I like to play more attacking hockey, and when it is like that, we can always concede a goal."
If Van Ass wants a return to his team's forward-thinking style, he'll need players such as Mink van der Weerden and Rogier Hoffman on top form.
Jeremy Hayward Must Deliver
Jeremy Hayward was in match-winning mood in the semi-final demolition of Argentina. He's skilled and dangerous and has so far delivered in the big matches.
But it won't all be about Hayward in the final. Kieran Groves is certainly not shot-shy. His confidence, allied with the acceleration of Hayward, forms Australia's primary means of scoring.
If players like Jacob Whetton can also pull the Netherlands across the field, the Dutch will struggle to cope with Australia's forward proficiency, even on home soil.
The Netherlands boast home advantage, along with a willingness to break forward in numbers. However, Van Ass might regret being too progressive against the kookaburras.
Australia simply possess too many potent weapons. The Hayward-led attack can propel them to a second-straight final victory.
Women's Hockey World Cup Final 2014: Date, Start Time, Live Stream and Preview
Jun 13, 2014
Australia's Georgie Parker, center, and Australia's Kellie White, right, hug Jodie Kenny, left, who scored the decisive goal in the shootout during the Field Hockey World Cup semifinal match women between the U.S. and Australia in The Hague, Netherlands, Thursday, June 12, 2014. The match ended in a 2-2 draw, Australia won the shootout 3-1 and continues to the final. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Hosts the Netherlands and Australia will play the 2014 Hockey World Cup Women's final at the Kyocera Stadium in The Hague on Saturday, in a re-match of arguably the single best fixture fans got to watch during the group stages.
The Dutch were the big favourites going into that match but were overrun by the Australian team in the early proceedings, and it took two second-half goals to eventually give the hosts the win.
Australia needed a penalty shoot-out to end the USA's magnificent run in this tournament, while the Dutch dominated defending champions Argentina 4-0 in the semi-finals.
With everything on the line, Saturday's final looks like it could be an all-time great.
Date: Saturday, June 14
Time: 2.15 p.m. BST/9:15 a.m. ET
Venue: Kyocera Stadium, the Netherlands
TV info and live stream: The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports, with mobile coverage available via the Sky Go app (subscription required) and the ESPN Player.
Preview
The Netherlands
The hosts did exactly what people expected them to do during the group stage—dominate. Scoring an impressive 17 goals and only conceding once, the team won every single match on their way to a semi-final date with defending champions Argentina.
It was the one draw the Dutch girls had hoped to avoid, and with two teams in Group A clearly playing on another level, everyone assumed the group match between Holland and Australia would be played to see who would avoid the Argentine team.
But a surprise draw against China saw the Argentine team finish as runners-up to the USA, setting up the match everyone expected to see in the final.
The Argentine team clearly didn't play up to their usual standards in 2014, and the Netherlands demolished the team during the first half of the semi-final, the score 3-0 at half-time. Holland have played fast, technical hockey since the start of the tournament, and the penalty corners looked absolutely lethal against Argentina.
Kim Lammers added a fourth goal late in the second half, again displaying her effectiveness playing close to goal. Holland's semi-final performance was nearly flawless, and the team looks like a safe bet to add the World Cup to their Olympic title.
The Dutch are fast, they defend well and they have one of the world's best goalkeepers in Joyce Sombroek. They simply don't concede many goals, and as masters of the penalty corner, stopping Holland from scoring is nearly impossible.
Australia
The Hockeyroos won three of their group matches by just a single goal and drew with New Zealand on the final matchday, doing just enough to make it through to the semi-final.
Against the USA, Australia failed to defend a one-goal lead on two occasions, and the team's tendency to concede easy goals at their worst possible time is worrying going into a final against a powerful Dutch team.
Rachael Lynch can hardly be faulted, with the Australian goalkeeper playing a phenomenal World Cup so far.
Outside of Anna Flanagan, the team's biggest strength is perhaps the lack of a designated star. Instead, the Hockeyroos work hard collectively, and their constant movement close to the opponent's goal often leads to chances coming seemingly out of nowhere.
Australia are perhaps the only team in the world that can match the Dutch on an athletic level, but the reigning Olympic champions have proven time and time again they're on a different level technically.
If the Hockeyroos can match the intensity they played with during the teams' first meeting and Lynch can be protected a little better by her defender, an upset could be in the making. But with home-field advantage, anything but a Dutch World Cup win looks unlikely.
Women's Hockey World Cup Final 2014: Preview for Netherlands vs. Australia
Jun 12, 2014
Teammates hug Netherlands' Xan de Waard, second right, after she scored 1-0 during the Field Hockey World Cup semifinal match women between the Netherlands and Argentina in The Hague, Netherlands, Thursday, June 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
One particular international sports competition is getting a vast majority of media coverage at the moment, but Saturday also marks the 2014 Women's Hockey World Cup final. The hosting Netherlands should see an enthusiastic home crowd out in support of their battle for the title against Australia.
Both sides advanced through Group A, and the Dutch got the better of the first meeting, claiming victory by a score of 2-0. Australia will be out for revenge this time around, now with the Cup on the line.
Below is a preview of what to expect in this marquee field hockey matchup at The Hague's Kyocera Stadion. For viewing information, check out the listings for each country at the International Hockey Federation's official website.
It's going to be pretty tough for Australia to topple the Netherlands, who scored 17 goals and conceded just one in fix group games. A 4-0 triumph in the semi-finals over Argentina followed.
Argentina was thought to be a legitimate contender to repeat as World Cup champions after beating the Netherlands in 2010's final. However, the Dutch dismantled them, jumping out to an early lead and never looking back. Oranje star Kim Lammers led the way with two goals, and noted afterwards how vital it was to seize the momentum from the beginning, per FIH.ch:
When you have scored two goals in the first 20 minutes you make it very hard for the opposition to play their game. We played a really good game tonight; probably the best we have played so far in the competition. Yes, we were scoring, but our defence and our tackling all over the field was also very good.
England cricket star Jonathan Bairstow chimed in with his simple yet effective analysis:
The Netherlands' all-around display is enviable, and their form suggests they are indomitable at the moment. They are the reigning Olympic champions as it is, so that has to be intimidating for any adversaries. In 1998, Australia defeated the hosting Oranje in the final 3-2, so there should be even more motivation for the Dutch to bounce back, even though the two teams are totally different now.
The road to the final hasn't been as easy for Australia, as they needed penalties to get past the United States 3-2. Jayde Taylor made history with her 100th cap for her victorious side:
Credit the Hockeyroos for fighting through the adversity and recovering from a 68th-minute goal by the USA's Kelsey Kolojejchick. That can be a rallying point, and the good news is that Australia can play with no holds barred, since they are to be a rather substantial underdog.
Since the inception of the Women's Hockey World Cup in 1974, the Netherlands has the most titles with six and has failed to reach the final just twice in the tournament. After bouncing back from the 2010 loss to Argentina, it would be a shock if they were denied by Australia.
With how aggressive the Hockeyroos should play, and the possibility of the Oranje having somewhat of a letdown after demolishing the competition with ease thus far, this should still be a tight title clash. Goalkeeper Rachael Lynch will keep Australia close, but in the end, the Netherlands will reign superior.
Just to get to the final is a victory in and of itself for Australia. Although it will be disappointing to head back home with a loss as their last result, there's no shame in losing to this high-octane Netherlands club. Lynch's heroics and the ability to grind past an up-and-coming U.S. team will give the Hockeyroos enough positive takeaways to build on for the future.
This prospective win would just confirm the Netherlands' status as the preeminent power in women's field hockey. It does help that they are hosting the World Cup, but under any circumstances, they have been the best international team all year long. They proved it in the 2012 London Olympics and now will confirm it in The Hague.
Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014: Forthcoming Fixtures and Predictions
May 31, 2014
Netherlands' Jacky Schoenaker, left, challenges Australia's Emily Smith, right, during the women's field hockey World League final game, in San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Paloma Cortes Ayusa)
The 12 best teams in world hockey will gather in The Hague from May 31 until June 15 for the Rabobank Hockey World Cup, international hockey's biggest tournament outside of the Olympics.
Hosts and favourites, the Netherlands, failed to take home the gold medal in both the men's and women's categories in 2010, and they will be backed by a fiery home crowd, with reports that all 16 matchdays have already sold out.
The Australian men and Argentine women will defend their titles from four years ago over the course of the next two weeks against one of the deepest fields ever assembled, with nations like Belgium and Spain also staking their claim to the title.
Here are the four groups that will be used in the 2014 World Cup:
Men's
Group A
Group B
Women's
Group A
Group B
Australia
Holland
England
Germany
Spain
South Africa
India
Korea Republic
Belgium
Argentina
Malaysia
New Zealand
Australia
England
New Zealand
Germany
Japan
Argentina
Korea Republic
USA
Belgium
China
Netherlands
South Africa
Teams will play all of their group opponents once, with the top two from every group advancing to the semi-final. Tie-breakers will go to wins first, with goal differential second.
The schedule for the first two days of competition:
England will be facing a difficult task escaping from a treacherous men's Group A including defending champions Australia, India, Spain and Belgium.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsSUDo_Rv3o
The Belgians defeated England during last week's Four Nations tournament on their way to an overall win, beating the Netherlands on goal difference.
One of the sport's emerging countries, Belgium, will be England's main rivals for the second ticket to the knockout stages, behind favourites Australia.
India have fallen down the pecking order of world hockey a bit, but the team is not to be underestimated, and the country seems to be taking the 2014 World Cup very seriously. Even cricket star Virat Kohli wants his compatriots to do well:
Michael Hoare believes England should be able to improve on their 2010 performance, which saw the team advance to the semi-finals. He told The Guardian's Rod Gilmour even the gold should be a possibility:
I don't see why we can't get gold; we've got the capabilities to beat anyone on our day. We've played a lot of the top teams recently in the last year and half and we've beaten all of them so I don't see why we can't do it.
Belgium's dominance on penalty corners gives that team the edge, however, and punters should be wary of the team's meteoric rise in world hockey.
The hosts and Germany are the clear favourites in Group B, where New Zealand will be looking to challenge either of the perennial contenders for a top-two finish.
The Argentine men have failed to duplicate the successes of the women's team in recent years, while South Africa simply don't have the depth to compete with some of Europe's top nations.
Predictions: Australia and Belgium advance from Group A, Netherlands beat out Germany for the top spot in Group B.
The Netherlands are the strong favourites for the women's gold, thanks to home-field advantage and a relatively easy draw in Group A, where Australia are the team's main competitors.
Unlike the men's team, the Belgian women's squad is young and experienced, and along with Korea, Japan and New Zealand, they shouldn't challenge the two title contenders all that much.
Group B features a nightmare draw for the English team, who will have to take on defending champions Argentina and a German team looking to improve on 2010's fourth-place finish.
Argentina will be the favourites by a slim margin, but the race for second is wide open. Both England and Germany feature a solid blend of youthful explosiveness and experience, and defence will be key when these two teams meet on the last matchday.
Predictions: Netherlands and Australia do what they need to do, England repeat their heroics from 2010 to join Argentina in the semi-finals.
