The Hero Hockey World League Finals at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium from Jan 10 to 18 features eight of the finest men’s international teams in the world and is the culmination of a journey which began back in August 2012 when the first rounds of the Hockey World League were played.

The teams that will do battle in Pool A are: Germany, England, New Zealand and India while Pool B consists of Australia, The Netherlands, Belgium and Argentina.

Brief facts about each team (inputs from FIH news)

GERMANY

Current FIH World Ranking: 1

How they qualified: 1st place – Hockey World League Semifinal, Johor Bahru (Malaysia)

About the team: The year 2013 was yet another great year for Germany. Building on an incredible 2012 which saw the side become Olympic champions for the second time in succession, the team coached by Markus Weise powered to glory at the Tri-Finance EuroHockey Nations continental championships before taking a first place finish at the Hockey World League Semifinal in Johor Bahru.

The Germany line-up is missing dazzling striker Christopher Zeller (exams), ace defender Max Muller (injury) and 2012 FIH Player of the Year Moritz Furste (representing Germany in the EuroHockey Indoor Championships in Vienna, Austria), but the inclusion of world class talent such as Martin Haner, Tobias Hauke, Benjamin Wess and Florian Fuchs ensures that the Olympic champions will be among the front runners in New Delhi.

ENGLAND

Current FIH World Ranking: 4

How they qualified: 3rd place – Hockey World League Semifinal, Johor Bahru (Malaysia)

About the team: England come into the Hero Hockey World League Final boosted by the return of two key players. Midfielder Ashley Jackson and attacking forward Mark Gleghorne both have recovered from injuries and re-joined the squad. They did not play when England finished fourth at the TriFinance EuroHockey Nations event in Boom, Belgium.

The team finished third at the Hockey World League Semifinal in Johor Bahru, and produced enough evidence to ensure that they will be a team to be feared in New Delhi. England coach Bobby Crutchley has named a strong squad for the HWL Final, with experienced trio Simon Mantell, Adam Dixon and Nick Catlin being named alongside brilliant captain Barry Middleton, a player considered to be among the very best attackers in the game. However, the team will be without defender and penalty corner specialist Richard Smith, who looks likely to miss much of the 2014 calendar due to a knee surgery.

Players to watch: Ashley Jackson. Alongside team captain Barry Middleton, Ashley Jackson is one of England’s most gifted individuals. He possesses fantastic stick skills, a terrific eye for a pass and is one of the finest penalty corner drag-flickers in the world.

NEW ZEALAND

Current FIH World Ranking: 7

How they qualified: 4th place – Rabobank Hockey World League Semifinal, Rotterdam.

About the team: New Zealand, coached by ex-Belgium boss and former Australian international player Colin Batch, qualified for this event thanks to a fourth place finish at the Rabobank Hockey World League Semi Final in Rotterdam, Netherlands. A highlight of that event was an impressive 3-3 draw with host nation the Netherlands on the first weekend, although the side fell to a 4-1 defeat to the same opponents in the 3-4 placement game at the end of the tournament.

The Black Sticks squad has been strengthened by the return of two of its most experienced campaigners, with ace striker Simon Child and solid midfielder Steve Edwards being included following their return to international hockey at the recent Oceania Cup continental championship. Both Child and Edwards took a break from the team immediately after the London 2012 Olympic Games, and will be keen to make a big impression at the League Finals in New Delhi. Defender Kane Russell has been rewarded for his sublime form at the recent Hero Hockey Junior World Cup, with his seven tournament goals earning him a place in the Black Sticks squad for the HWL Final.

INDIA

Current FIH World Ranking: 10

How they qualified: Tournament hosts

About the team: India may have only managed a 6th place finish at the Rabobank Hockey World League Semifinal event in Rotterdam, but a strong showing at the Asia Cup continental championship provided plenty of evidence that they are really stepping up their game. A youthful India team battled to an impressive second place finish behind Korea at the Asia Cup, winning four of their five matches and giving a spirited showing against a Korea team packed with experience. The performances were extremely encouraging, and will give the team great confidence ahead of the challenge of facing the world’s best at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

The team selected for the Hero Hockey World League Final continues to look to the future, with only brilliant captain Sardar Singh (27) – being older than 25. Recently appointed head coach and former Australia international striker Terry Walsh will be greatly looking forward to seeing how his team performs in this show-piece tournament.

Pool B

AUSTRALIA

Current FIH World Ranking: 2

How they qualified: 2nd place – Rabobank Hockey World League Semi Final, Rotterdam (NED)

About the team: Ric Charlesworth’s Australia are always among the front runners of every tournament that they enter and have an abundance of talent at their disposal. There can be no doubt that the Kookaburras will be considered as one of the tournament favourites. The reigning world champions are boosted by the return to fitness of two key players, with experienced defender Mark Knowles (ankle) and dangerous striker Kieran Govers (hamstring) both back in the fold following lengthy injury lay-offs.

A powerful squad also contains the considerable tallents of Russell Ford, Jason Wilson, Glenn Turner, Simon Orchard, Liam de Young and the exceptional Eddie Ockenden, a player widely considered to be among the very best attacking midfielders in world hockey. The Kookaburras come into the event as Oceania champions, having defeated host nation New Zealand in the tournament final to take the trophy.

NETHERLANDS

Current FIH World Ranking: 3

How they qualified: 3rd place – Rabobank Hockey World League Semifinal, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

About the team: By their own very high standards, the Netherlands had a disappointing 2013 thanks to third place finishes at the Tri-Finance EuroHockey Nations continental championship in Belgium and the Rabobank Hockey World League Semifinal on home soil.

However, the team produced occasional flashes of brilliance in those events, giving everyone a little reminder of the qualities that took them to an Olympic Silver medal at the London 2012 Games. The Netherlands squad for this event contains a glittering array of world class talent including midfield dynamo Robert van der Horst, drag-flicking defender Mink van der Weerden, playmaker Billy Bakker and quicksilver goal-scorer Jeroen Hertzberger. Ahead of the event, head coach Paul van Ass stated that team preparations had been going very well and that his charges were greatly looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead in New Delhi. If the Dutch are on their game, they will take some stopping.

BELGIUM

Current FIH World Ranking: 5

How they qualified: 1st place – Rabobank Hockey World League Semifinal, Rotterdam

About the team: Belgium have made incredible strides forward over the past few years, a trend that very much continued throughout the 2013 period. Head coach Marc Lammers, the legendary Dutchman who guided the Netherlands women to Olympic Gold at Beijing 2008, has moulded Belgium into one of the most feared attacking sides in the world, a fact proven by their two victories over reigning world champions Australia on their way to winning the Rabobank Hockey World League Semi Final event in Rotterdam.

The Belgium side that competes in New Delhi is hugely experienced, with eight players having surpassed the 100 international appearances mark – John-John Dohmen (251 caps), Cedric Charlier (169), Thomas Briels (195), Jeffrey Thys (101), Felix Denayer (163), Simon Gougnard (138), Alex de Saedeleer (161) and Tom Boon (142). Despite their vast on-field experience, the fact that this group does not contain anyone over the age of 26 suggests that this talented pool of players are likely to remain together for many years to come. Although Belgium were narrowly beaten by Olympic champions Germany in the final of the Tri-Finance EuroHockey Nations continental championship in the summer, they will come into the Hockey World League Final tournament as one of the tournament favourites.

ARGENTINA

Current FIH World Ranking: 11

How they qualified: 2nd place – Hockey World League Semi Final, Johor Bahru, (Malaysia)

About the team: Argentina has always produced international teams with plenty of talent, but over the past year the current men’s team has developed into a side that can challenge the best in the world. Coach Carlos Retegui, the man who guided the Argentina women to World Cup glory in 2010, is overseeing the revolution, helping “Los Leones” (The Lions) to realise their massive potential.

Argentina, who come into this event as Pan American champions, were hugely impressive in the HWL Semifinal in Johor Bahru, reaching the event final before eventually losing to Olympic champions and world number 1 Germany. Fourteen of the 18 competitors from Johor have been selected for the Hero Hockey World League Final, including free-scoring attackers Matias Paredes and Facundo Callioni as well as rising star Gonzalo Peillat, the drag-flicking defender who netted seven times at the event in Malaysia. The South Americans may be the lowest ranked team in the competition, but their superb recent form and fearless attacking style provides plenty of evidence that they truly are a team to be feared.

ends