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 over the Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallists to confirm their ticket to Paris before winning the qualifying tournament outright by beating hosts Spain 2-1 in the final. The team recently claimed their second successive fourth place finish in the FIH Hockey Pro League, the highlight of which was a sensational 2-1 win over the Netherlands on Dutch soil in Amsterdam. Englebert and Vanden Borre scored the crucial goals, giving Belgium a remarkable victory against a team that ended up winning 15 of their 16 Pro League matches.
The team is coached by Raoul Ehren, who guided Den Bosch women to unprecedented club success both in the Netherlands and Europe and is clearly working his magic at international level. With talent in abundance and a fantastic, ambitious coach with big ideas, this team can mix it with the very best.
Head Coach Raoul Ehren: “We are so excited to join Paris 2024. Three of our players were already in London 2012, but for the rest it will be a new experience to play at the Olympics. From our results in the last years, we have the confidence that we have a strong and very competitive team. We want to go for a spot in the quarter finals. We will take it game by game for a maximum result”.
Germany
Having won every major title on offer and always genuine contenders for a place on the podium, 2004 Olympic gold medallists Germany have an international record to be proud of. The team coached by Valentin Altenburg – who guided Germany men to Olympic bronze at Rio 2016 – proved their class once again in August 2023, taking the bronze medal at the EuroHockey Championships, which were played on home turf in Mönchengladbach. Remarkably, Die Danas conceded only once during that competition, with that solitary goal condemning them to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Belgium in the semi-final. However, the host nation finished on a high, with goals from penalty corner star and 2023 FIH Hockey Stars Player of the Year award nominee Sonja Zimmermann, Charlotte Stapenhorst and Jette Fleschütz sealing a superb 3-0 win over England to bag the bronze medal.
Germany’s place at Paris was confirmed at the qualification tournament in Ranchi (IND), where an Olympic ticket was on offer for the top three finishers. Wins against Chile (3-0) and Czech Republic (10-0) came either side of a 1-1 draw against Japan, setting up a semi-final clash with hosts India. A pulsating match finished 2-2 with Germany eventually triumphant 4-3 in the shootouts, with goalkeeper Julia Sonntag denying four India players to seal both a place in the final – where they defeated USA 2-0 – and Paris 2024.
Germany’s form since Ranchi has been impressive. Die Danas claimed eleven wins out of 16 matches in the 2023-24 edition of the FIH Hockey Pro League, with their second-place finish sealing qualification for the 2026 FIH World Cup to be played in Belgium and the Netherlands. With a squad brimming with confidence and quality, Germany – captained by tenacious defender Nike Lorenz – are serious contenders for the gold medal in Paris.
Head Coach Valentin Altenburg: “We are travelling to Paris to attack the world’s best. And that’s why our first goal is to reach the quarter-finals. We will face obstacles along the way and we are determined to use them to grow as a tournament team.”
Japan
Having featured in every Olympic Games since Athens 2004, Japan’s women’s hockey team will once again be in action on the world’s greatest sporting stage.
The Cherry Blossoms qualified for their sixth successive Olympics thanks to a third place finish at the 2024 FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier in Ranchi (IND), which offered Paris 2024 tickets to the top three finishers. Wins against Czech Republic (2-0) and Chile (2-0) either side of a 1-1 draw with Germany ensured a safe passage through to the semi-final, but their qualification hopes were dashed when they suffered defeat at the hands of USA. Their final chance came in the 3-4 play-off where they faced tournament hosts India, who had suffered an agonising shoot-out loss in their semi-final against Germany. Remarkably, Japan emerged victorious thanks to a solitary goal from Kana Urata, who converted a penalty corner in the sixth minute to send her team to France at the expense of the home favourites.
Team captain Yuri Nagai is the most experienced member of Japan’s squad, with the 32-year-old having represented her country 232 times. Yuri’s younger sister Hazuki, 29, is also a double centurion in terms of international appearances, with the siblings all set for their third Olympic Games after competing at Rio 2016 and on home soil in Tokyo three years ago. The squad is coached by former India men’s goalkeeper and Sydney 2000 Olympian Jude Menezes, who took charge of the team late in 2021 after two years with New Zealand women as assistant coach.
Head Coach Jude Menezes: “These games provide Sakura Japan with a great opportunity to inspire the next generation of hockey players in Japan. Our expectation is to perform to the best of our ability. We have discussed taking it one match at a time. Our first focus is to finish in the top four in our pool and make it to the quarter finals. After that, anything is possible. At this stage, it’s one step at a time. We would like to thank our families and fans for their unwavering support to get us this far. Please keep supporting us and we will do everything possible to perform at our best at the Olympic Games.”
China
After clinching gold at last October’s postponed Asian Games 2022 to secure their spot at Paris 2024, China will be feeling optimistic about their chances for Olympic success. The Beijing 2008 Olympic silver medallists were sensational on home soil in Hangzhou, winning all six of their matches without conceding a single goal. They defeated Japan (2-0), India (4-0), and Korea (2-0), scoring an impressive total of 49 goals as key players Gu Bingfeng (9 goals), Zhang Ying (7), and Zhong Jiaqi (7) claimed the top three spots on the competition’s top scorer chart. The team is led by Alyson Annan, the legendary former Australian international and two-time FIH Player of the Year, who took over as coach in 2022. Annan’s appointment, along with the addition of fellow Australian icon Ric Charlesworth and Dutch penalty corner expert Taeke Taekema – named China’s assistant coach for Paris 2024 – demonstrates China’s high ambitions.
Recent results show that Annan’s project is beginning to bear fruit. Having never finished higher than seventh in the first four seasons of the elite FIH Hockey Pro League, China achieved fifth place in the 2023-24 edition, with notable victories over Australia, Germany, India, Belgium, and the USA. With a fabulous coach – Annan was named female FIH Coach of the Year in the 2023 FIH Hockey Stars Awards – and numerous talented players, China should not be underestimated.
France
Although granted a place in the Paris 2024 hockey competitions by virtue of hosting the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, the French teams have no intention of simply making up the numbers. This moment has been years in the making, with both the men’s and women’s teams working tirelessly in readiness for the once in a lifetime chance to compete in a home Olympic Games.
While the performances of France’s men’s team have caught the eye, the women have also been making steady progress ahead of their Olympic debut. As recently as 2019 the team found themselves in the third tier of European competition, but two promotions in the last in the last three events means that next time around they will feature in the elite EuroHockey Championship, their first appearance since 2005. France were utterly dominant at the EuroHockey Championship II 2023 event in Prague, beating Lithuania, Wales, Austria, Ukraine and host nation Czech Republic to return to Europe’s top table. Paola Le Nindre top scored for her country with four goals, with Philippine Delemazure, Alice Lesgourgues and Eve Verzura each netting three times. Le Nindre and Delemazure, who was named Player of the Tournament, were both just 17 years old at the Prague event, with the teenage duo now set to showcase their talents on the Olympic stage.
Drawn in a ferociously competitive Pool A featuring reigning Olympic, World and European champions the Netherlands, Les Bleues know safely negotiating their way to the quarter-finals will be a mightily tough task. However, with the passionate support of the home fans behind them, this talented and enthusiastic squad are certainly capable of springing a few surprises.
Team Captain Emma Ponthieu: “Taking part in the Olympics for the first time, in our own country, in front of our families and fans, is really special for us. We’re very proud to make history as the first French women’s team to compete in the Olympics. We can’t wait to play, give our all and fight for every game. It’s a unique and unforgettable experience that will unite us forever.”
The hockey competitions at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will take place from 27 July to 9 August 2024. Both the men’s and women’s competitions feature 12 teams, split into two pools of six ahead of quarter-finals, semi-finals and medal matches. For more details about the competition, visit Olympics.Hockey.
Source: FIH.hockey
