S2H Team
Is there a stronger or weaker pool at the 2024 Paris Olympics due to start on Friday? Opinions float around but given the serpentine method with rankings as the basis of drawing out the pools and little to choose from teams in clusters down the rungs, one might be tempted to declare both pools of death.
After a change in the tournament format 2016 onwards that now produces quarterfinalists rather than direct semifinalists, there’s hope for virtually everybody in making the next round from either six-strong pools.
Who can forget South Africa’s 4-3 win over four-time champions Germany in the men’s event at the last Olympics in Tokyo? The two meet again in Pool A and there’ll be a buzz for sure when they tread the pitch.
Don’t forget France, the hosts, who have been knocking on the doors of the top bracket for well over half a decade now.
India are in Pool B, dubbed the “group of death” by some. With the women at home after failing to qualify, the eight-time gold medalists who revived a 41-year-old medal drought at Tokyo 2020 when they won bronze may find the going tough. Ireland lurk in the shadows. In recent FIH Pro League encounters, the “outsiders” humbled defending Olympic champions Belgium twice in their own backyard and the results are bound to impact expectations when the two do battle.
Belgium and Australia are the big boys of the pool. Argentina and India must hope for the other two slots to progress but don’t discount New Zealand who beat India at the 2023 World Cup who will keep the pot boiling along with Ireland who will have the adrenaline flowing.
Here’s how the 12 nations line up in Paris:
Pool A
Germany, The Netherlands, Great Britain, Spain and France.
Pool B
Belgium, Australia, India, Argentina, New Zealand and Ireland.
According to an FIH newsletter, the competition will be razor-sharp with no quarter given nor expected. The communiqué suggests all 12 teams that have their sights firmly set on the podium and presents the following preview:
Analysis of Pool A
Germany: With four Olympic gold medals, three World Cup wins and eight European titles, Germany are one of hockey’s true powerhouse nations. Tactically astute and technically superb, Die Honamas have a habit of hitting form ahead of Olympic Games and World Cups, a fact proven by their sensational triumph at the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023, played on Indian soil in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela.
Their performances in India were hugely impressive, with the team coached by master tactician André Henning – named Coach of the Year in the 2023 FIH Hockey Stars Awards – emerging unbeaten from a pool containing 2018 world champions and reigning Olympic gold medallists Belgium as well as Japan and Korea before producing a string of brilliant performances in the knock-out stages. Their semi-final clash against Oceania giants Australia will live long in the memory, as penalty corner weapon Gonzalo Peillat and rapid attacker Niklas Wellen scored twice in the final 90 seconds give Germany a stunning 4-3 triumph. Wellen and Peillat – the man who fired Argentina to Olympic gold at Rio 2016 – were again on target in the gold medal match against Belgium, as the two European giants played out a wonderful 3-3 draw before Germany snatched their third World Cup crown in a drama-filled shoot-out.
Wellen and Peillat are far from being the only superstars in the Germany squad, with brilliant attacker Christopher Rühr, captain Mats Grambusch and Jean-Paul Danneberg – shortlisted for the FIH Hockey Stars Goalkeeper of the Year 2023 award –just some of the many world class players they have at their disposal. At the delayed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, a narrow defeat at the hands of India in the bronze medal match saw Germany miss out on a podium finish for the first time since Sydney 2000, something they will be keen to rectify at Paris 2024.
Head Coach André Henning: “This could be the closest men’s hockey competition at the Olympic Games ever. Among the top 6 teams in the world, pretty much every team has beaten the others recently. So from the quarter-finals onwards, there will be completely open duels at eye level. We know our strengths and know that on a good day we can beat all our rivals. A medal is definitely within our reach – even gold. As you know, I prefer to focus on action goals. If we want to finish on the podium, we have to take control of what we can control so that we can deliver the best performance under the greatest pressure.”
The Netherlands: The Netherlands boasts an impressive Olympic track record, having secured gold at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Games, along with four silver and three bronze medals. However, after finishing sixth at the postponed Tokyo 2020 Games – their worst Olympic performance since Los Angeles 1984, where they also placed sixth – the team is determined to remind everyone of their exceptional abilities.
Under the guidance of head coach Jeroen Delmee, the celebrated Dutch defender and two-time Olympic gold medallist, the Netherlands have achieved a remarkable consistency in their performance. Since taking charge in late 2021, Delmee has infused the Oranje squad with fresh talent, a bold move that has yielded significant rewards. The team has secured two first-place finishes and one second-place finish in the last three FIH Hockey Pro League seasons, won a World Cup bronze medal in India in early 2023, and claimed their seventh European title by triumphing in the EuroHockey Championships 2023 in Mönchengladbach, Germany, securing their ticket to Paris 2024 in the process.
The Netherlands squad selected by Delmee for Paris 2024 has all the attributes needed to be considered serious title contenders. Pirmin Blaak, the FIH Hockey Stars Goalkeeper of the Year for 2023, is without question one of the finest shotstoppers in world hockey, while the skill and creativity of Thierry Brinkman, Jorrit Croon and Seve Van Ass will be potent weapons. Having registered 15 goals in 15 FIH Hockey Pro League matches this season, penalty corner expert Jip Janssen is a prized asset capable of producing match winning moments.
Head Coach Jeroen Delmee: “As the reigning European champions, we are of course one of the contenders for an Olympic medal. The field of participants is extremely strong. We have done everything we can to compete for the prizes. We can’t wait to show the world what we are capable of.”
Great Britain: It has been 36 years since Great Britain’s men last medalled at an Olympic Games, but there is a genuine sense of optimism that their barren run since winning gold at Seoul 1988 could finally end in Paris this year. Team GB have secured podium finishes in the last two editions of the elite FIH Hockey Pro League, being runners up on 2022-23 and finishing third in 2023-24, while four successive wins at the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers, played in Muscat (OMA) in January, sealed their ticket to Paris before suffering a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Germany in the competition final. Ace striker Sam Ward netted eight times in Muscat to finish as the tournament’s top scorer, his tally being twice as many as his nearest rivals in the scoring charts.
The men’s squad features a promising mix of debutants and Olympians with captain David Ames and Ward representing Team GB for the third time while Jacob Draper, Rupert Shipperley, Phil Roper, Ollie Payne, Jack Waller and Liam Sanford have been selected for their second Games. The squad contains seven players making their Olympic debut including Gareth Furlong and rising star Conor Williamson, who both debuted for GB in this season’s FIH Hockey Pro League. The team is coached by vastly experienced, highly respected South African Paul Revington, who has held coaching roles with South Africa men, Malaysia men as well as two spells with the England and GB set-up. Fit, fearless and supremely talented, Great Britain have proven capable of not just competing, but beating the very best teams in the world.
Head Coach Paul Revington: “We have a team traveling out to Paris who enter the Games with a good level of form and consistency of performance over the past several months. The selected players and wider squad have all continued with preparation and final touches in the last few days of training at Bisham. We are ready to get started and I know the group will enjoy getting to the Olympic village before focusing again and giving their best on the field of play.”
Spain: Renowned for their flair, skill, and attacking prowess, the Spanish men’s team is among the most talented and unpredictable squads in the world. The Red Sticks have regularly produced sides that are capable of fighting for the biggest honours in the game, a fact proven by five silver medals at Olympic or World Cup level, not to mention two European championships and a Champions Trophy title.
Their team boasts exceptional talents such as elegant captain Marc Miralles, seasoned midfielder Alvaro Iglesias – Spain’s most experienced player with 230 caps – and Joaquin Menini, a player who won Olympic gold with Argentina at Rio 2016. Leading them is the highly respected head coach and former Argentina international Max Caldas, who previously achieved remarkable success with the Netherlands’ women’s and men’s teams, guiding the former to World Cup and Olympic victories and the latter to two European Championship titles.
Spain secured a berth at Paris at the 2024 FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier on home soil in Valencia, reaching the semi-finals unbeaten before goals from Rafael Vilallonga and Miralles earned a 2-0 victory over Ireland to secure their Olympic ticket. Despite an eight place finish out of nine in the 2023-24 FIH Hockey Pro League, the combination of supremely gifted athletes and world class coach makes Spain a dangerous opponent for all.
Team Captain Álvaro Iglesias: “We have had a great preparation for the Olympics and we are very confident on our possibilities. We have to go and play to win every game, which is not the same as winning every game”
France: Host nation France are taking part in their first Olympic men’s hockey competition in 52 years, with their last appearance coming at the 1972 Olympiad in Munich, Germany. Their return to the Olympic stage has been a long time coming, and while their ticket to Paris 2024 was granted by virtue of being hosts, the team’s recent progress ensures that the home favourites will be fiercely competitive. In 2018, Les Bleus arrived in Bhubaneswar, India for their first FIH Men’s World Cup for 28 years. In the same pool as Rio 2016 Olympic champions Argentina, Spain, and New Zealand, many expected them to be on the first plane out of India. However, after suffering a narrow opening match defeat against the Black Sticks, Les Bleus achieved a set of results which would see them go all the way to the World Cup quarter finals. A draw with higher-ranked Spain was followed by a stunning 5-3 victory over Argentina, sealing their place in the knock-out stages of the competition, where they beat China to reach the quarter-finals before their magnificent run was brought to an end by Australia.
While their 13th placement at the 2023 FIH Men’s World Cup was below expectations, France – now coached by legendary former player Frederic Soyez – have regularly proven themselves capable of mixing it with the very best. They registered stunning victories against India, Argentina and South Africa in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2021-22, finished fifth in the 2023 EuroHockey Nations Championships and grabbed the silver medal in this year’s FIH Hockey Nations Cup, where penalty corner ace Victor Charlet finished joint top scorer with seven goals. Towering defender Charlet and outstanding attacking talent Timothée Clément are likely to be key players for France in their quest for glory at Paris 2024.
Team Captain Viktor Lockwood: “We want to take advantage of this incredible event that is the Olympic Games at home to promote hockey in France. And for that, it requires good performances on the pitch. We have prepared like never before to create the feat so we will give 100% on the field to make our dream of a medal come true!”
South Africa: South Africa have been the dominant force in African hockey for the past three decades, being crowned continental champions on eight occasions and winning various Olympic and World Cup qualification events. Their players regularly compete in the top club leagues in the world, representing teams in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, England and beyond.
While success on the global stage has been rarer, they have proven with regularity that they are capable of matching – and occasionally beating – the very best in the world. At the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021 they claimed a stunning 4-3 victory over hockey powerhouse Germany in the pool phase. The following year, the team stormed to glory in the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup 2022, played in Potchefstroom, with team captain Dayaan Cassiem scoring twice in the competition final as the hosts recorded a 4-3 triumph over Ireland. The team were back in Nations Cup action earlier this year, this time finishing third behind New Zealand and France. South Africa booked their Olympic ticket at the African Hockey Road To Paris 2024 qualification event by winning all five of their matches, scoring 38 goals and conceding just twice.
The outrageously gifted Cassiem brothers – captain Dayaan and younger brother Mustaphaa – are arguably the stars of this current South Africa team, but there are plenty of others capable of making an impact. Striker Tevin Kok and Nqobile Ntuli are both reliable sources of goals, while Mathew Guise-Brown is a threat from penalty corner situations. The team is coached by Cheslyn Gie, who guided the team to their Nations Cup success in 2022, just months after stepping up from assistant coach.
Team Captain Dayaan Cassiem: “We look at these Games as an opportunity to make sure we can show after our training camp and hard work that we can compete. We are playing for the badge on our chest. Our expectation is to just take it game by game and focus on what we can do more than the opposition. Final message is that we are here to play for something bigger than ourselves and to make the country proud.”
Analysis of Pool B:
Belgium: With masses of experience, quality and self-belief, reigning Olympic champions Belgium will be considered amongst the favourites for the men’s gold medal at Paris 2024.
Belgium’s rise from European also-rans to the summit of global hockey has been one of the standout hockey stories of the past two decades. Between 2018 and 2022, the Red Lions won every major title on offer, including the World Cup (2018), Olympic Games (2021), European Championship (2019) and FIH Hockey Pro League (2020-21). They came within a shoot-out of successfully defending their World title at the FIH Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023, with Germany winning the one-on-ones 5-4 after a thrilling final finished 3-3. Striker Tom Boon excelled at that event, netting eight times including in the quarter final, semi-final and a 59th minute equaliser in the gold medal game to force the shoot-out. A small measure of revenge was achieved in August 2023 when Belgium defeated Germany to seal bronze at the EuroHockey Championships 2023, with Nelson Onana and Florent van Aubel helping the team to a 2-0 win over the hosts nation in Mönchengladbach.
In Vincent Vanasch and Loic Van Doren they have two world class goalkeepers, while Arthur Van Doren, Victor Wegnez, Felix Denayer, Van Aubel, Arthur de Sloover, penalty corner goal machine Alexander Hendrickx and legendary midfielder John-John Dohmen – a man with a world record 475 international caps having surpassed Netherlands icon Teun de Nooijer’s mark of 453 in 2023 – are all extraordinary talents. The team is coached by Dutchman Michel van den Heuvel, who stepped up from assistant coach in 2021 following New Zealander Shane McLeod’s decision to step away after guiding the team to the Olympic gold at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games. McLeod will be part of van den Heuvel’s team at Paris 2024, being one of three assistant coaches.
The team secured their place at Paris 2024 with first place finish at the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier event in Valencia (ESP), winning all five of their matches. Tom Boon was instrumental in that success, finishing as competition top scorer (7) and being named player of the tournament.
Head Coach Michel van de Heuvel: “We are looking forward to defending our title as Olympic Champions in Paris. It’s an incredibly close competition this time around and whilst we have the experience and quality to be successful, I believe these Olympics will be one of the most competitive tournaments we have ever seen.”
INDIA: After years of sliding down the FIH World Rankings which culminated in failure to qualify for the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 – a competition that they had won a record eight times – India’s men are back at the top table of the global game.
A bronze medal at the delayed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 was a landmark moment for the team, following it with a third-place finish in the 2021-22 edition of the FIH Hockey Pro League. While a ninth-place finish on home soil at the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 was certainly far below expectations, India bounced back by taking fourth place in the 2022-23 FIH Hockey Pro League season before storming to glory at last year’s Asian Games competition in Hangzhou (CHN), guaranteeing their participation in the Olympic Games Paris 2024. India were 5-1 winners in the competition final against Japan, with team captain Harmanpreet Singh scoring twice. Harmanpreet is very much India’s star man, being a fabulous defender and one of the best drag flickers in the game. However, he is far from being their only exceptional talent, with two-time FIH Hockey Stars Goalkeeper of the Year PR Sreejesh, classy midfielder Manpreet Singh, striker Mandeep Singh and dazzling midfielder Hardik Singh, the current FIH Hockey Stars men’s Player of the Year all capable of producing magical moments. The team is coached by former South Africa international and triple Olympian Craig Fulton, who has held coaching roles with the national teams of Ireland, Belgium and his home nation.
Team Captain Harmanpreet Singh: “After 44 long years, the Indian Hockey Team is travelling to the Olympic Games as a reigning medallist, and I am happy to lead this unit. I know there are a lot of expectations of us from back home, and we are ready to deliver on our promises. Our team has shown tremendous growth and resilience in recent years. As we gear up for Paris 2024, we’re focused on doing our best to change the color of the medal, and represent India with pride. We’re hungry for success and determined to bring glory to our nation on the Olympic stage.”
Australia: After suffering a heartbreaking shoot-out defeat at the hands of Belgium in the Tokyo 2020 gold medal match three years ago, Australia will be determined to stand atop of the podium at Paris 2024. Judging by their excellent recent form in the FIH Hockey Pro League, they have every chance of adding a second Olympic gold medal to that won so famously by Jamie Dwyer and co. at Athens 2004 some 20 years ago.
In June the mighty Kookaburras, coached by legendary Australia striker Colin Batch, claimed their first Pro League title since 2019 by winning ten of their 16 matches and recording notable victories over the likes of Germany, India, the Netherlands, Spain and Great Britain. Striker Blake Govers scored 12 times in 12 Pro League matches with eight penalty corners, three field goals and one penalty stroke.
Australia secured their ticket to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 by winning the 2023 Oceania Cup, claiming a 2-1 series victory over hosts New Zealand in Whangarei. It was Australia’s 12th continental championship title, one that will give world class talents such as Govers, Aran Zelewski, Eddie Ockenden, Jake Whetton and Tim Brand the chance to surpass Tokyo silver with gold in Paris.
Head Coach Colin Batch: “We’ve learnt a lot this year and developed our game and found solutions through difficult and challenging situations. We expect the tournament to be close and we will use our experience and belief to perform well. While we are an experienced team and will draw on that, we also want to embrace and enjoy the challenge of performing at the Olympics. We are excited to be playing in Paris and we will carry that mindset through each game.”
Argentina
The Olympic champions from Rio 2016 are Pan American hockey’s most potent force, having been crowned continental champions on 15 separate occasions.
Their most recent continental title came last November at the Pan American Games 2023 in Santiago, Chile, where Los Leones won all five of their matches, scoring a remarkable 40 goals and conceding just three. Tomas Domene claimed a 14-goal haul in the competition, scoring nine penalty corners and five times from open play. The team coached by Mariano Ronconi sealed their berth at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 with a 3-1 win over host nation Chile, with Lucas Martinez (2) and Agustin Bugallo getting the all-important goals.
Argentina arrive in Paris on the back of a very solid FIH Hockey Pro League campaign, finishing in fourth position by claiming 29 points from their 16 matches. In addition to wins against Great Britain, Spain and Ireland, stunning triumphs against Belgium and Australia –both finalists at the delayed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – suggests that Argentina can mount a serious title challenge at Paris 2024. The goals of Tomas Domene, who in addition to his scoring exploits in Santiago also netted nine times in 16 FIH Hockey Pro League matches, will help their cause, while Maico Casella, Nicolas della Torre and Lucas Martinez are also capable of making an impact on the scoreboard.
Captain Matias Rey and attacking midfielder Agustin Mazzilli bring a wealth of experience to this talented group with both having been part of the team that claimed Olympic gold at Rio 2016.
Head Coach Mariano Ronconi: “We are at a good level and we are aiming high but we understand that men’s field hockey is very even, anything can happen. The preparation was very positive and we are very excited, at the same time, working on anxiety. We are very grateful and pleased, it is a group that worked very hard to achieve great goals.”
New Zealand
New Zealand will make their 14th Olympic appearance at Paris 2024, with the gold medallists from Montreal 1976 having secured qualification at the expense of four times Olympic champions Pakistan.
After suffering semi-final defeats at the 2024 FIH Olympic Qualifier in Muscat (OMA), the Black Sticks and Green Shirts faced each other in a winner takes all 3-4 play-off game. Trailing 2-1 with just eight minutes remaining, goals from Hugo Inglis and Scott Boyde – his second of the match – earned New Zealand a magnificent 3-2 triumph and a ticket to the world’s greatest sporting spectacle.
They followed Paris 2024 qualification with a string of superb performances at June’s FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup in Gniezno (POL), defeating hosts Poland, Austria, South Africa, Korea and Pakistan before meeting France in the final. With the full time score locked at 1-1, Kane Russell netted the title winning goal in the shoot-out as the Black Sticks regained their place in the elite FIH Hockey Pro League, a competition from which they were relegated in 2022-23, at the first attempt.
The Black Sticks are always a force to be reckoned with, being blessed with numerous world class players. Blair Tarrant is a fine defender who has represented his country more than 260 times, while the likes of veteran striker Simon Child, Sam Lane, Hugo Inglis and penalty corner weapon Kane Russell are all goal threats.
The team is coached by former South Africa striker Greg Nicol, who represented his country at the Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004 Olympic Games as well as the 2002 FIH Men’s World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Ireland
After winning silver at the 1908 Olympic Games in London, Ireland’s men had had a 108 year wait before returning to the Olympic hockey stage at Rio 2016, where they finished in 10th position. Their qualification for the Olympiad in Brazil was the defining moment for a hugely talented group that fulfilled their ambition of putting Irish hockey on the map.
The Green Machine are coached by former Ireland international Mark Tumilty, who guided them to Paris 2024 with a third place finish at the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier in Valencia (ESP), defeating Ukraine, Japan and Korea to seal qualification. It was the 3-4 play-off victory over the Koreans that confirmed their ticket to Paris, with Ireland taking a thrilling 4-3 win thanks to goals from Matthew Nelson, Ben Johnson, John McKee and Shane O’Donoghue.
Although Ireland’s participation in this year’s FIH Hockey Pro League ultimately ended in relegation, two magnificent triumphs over reigning Olympic champions Belgium were arguably the most eye-catching results of the entire competition. Their 2-1 and 4-1 victories over the mighty Red Lions, played on Belgian soil in Antwerp, were statement results giving a clear indication of what they are capable of. The Ireland squad selected for Paris contains three players that competed at Rio 2016, with Shane O’Donoghue, Michael Robson and former captain David Harte – who was named FIH Hockey Stars Goalkeeper of the Year both in 2015 and 2016 – bringing valuable experience. The team is captained by 27-year-old midfielder Sean Murray, who has 140 caps and 37 goals for his country.
Team Captain Sean Murray: “This is a hugely exciting moment for us as players, and it’s an honour to be able to represent this team and our country at the highest level of our sport. The team and the wider group have worked so hard to get here. No doubt the experience will stay with us forever but right now, we just want to get out there and compete.