What better way to welcome back FIH Hockey Pro League action than with a marquee clash – Netherlands vs Germany!The date is set early in March at the iconic Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, The Netherlands.
Teams of either gender will go head-to-head on both Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 March, but the matches will be played devoid of spectators because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Health and safety precautions will be strictly followed but the the matches will be caught on camera and will enjoy a global broadcast.
The men’s matches will be played later in the day. The Netherlands are placed way above their arch rivals Germany in both the FIH Hockey Pro League standings (NED: 2 | GER: 8) and the FIH World Rankings (NED: 3 | GER: 6).
The Dutch, however, have played far more matches than the Germans – nine against four. Oranje scored two splendid wins over Great Britain in October and in November were involved in a thrilling 4-4 draw against Belgium who grabbed the bonus point via the shootout.
Germany’s encounter against Belgium resulted in a 1-6 defeat but they drew cheer in a shoot-out bonus point after a 1-1 in the second match. Doubtless, though, the Germans would have learned a lot from the clashes with the Red Lions, especially head coach Kais Al Saadi which will hold his team in good stead as they build up for the Olympic Games in Tokyo later this year. Significantly, the Germans will clash with Belgium and the Netherlands in Pool A. Then there’s June’s EuroHockey Championships, at the very Wagener Stadium.
Due to restrictions and precautionary measures in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic which has affected travel in Europe, both teams have agreed that the on-field umpires may come from one of the competing nations.
The umpiring team consists of Laurine Delforge (Belgium), Coen van Bunge (Netherlands), Céline Martin-Schmets (Belgium) and Jonas van’t Hek (Netherlands), with Edna Rutten (Netherlands) the match manager. There will be a video umpire for referrals, however, unlike the last set of matches which were affected by issues over the pandemic-induced safety protocol concerning travel.
As for the women’s matches, the Dutch, coached by Australian legend and twice FIH Player of the Year Alyson Annan. Oranje top the FIH Pro League standings as well as the World Rankings. The Dutch women have garnered 23 points from eight matches and are six points clear of second-placed Argentina who have played as many games.
The Netherlands start clear favourites but Germany are at seventh position, 17 points behind the league leaders and have only played twice in the protracted league that started in January last year.
The German women played in September’s double-header against Belgium, where under the tutelage of former Belgium international Xavier Reckinger, they recorded 2-0 and 3-1 victories over the Red Panthers in Düsseldorf.
Germany are third in the FIH World Rankings and are mindful that they play the Netherlands in Pool A of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 later this year. This makes for intriguing fixtures in Amstelveen.
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Fantastic