S2H Team

Season 3 of the FIH Pro League starts on Wednesday, October 13, at the famous Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, a suburb of Amsterdam with the all-conquering Netherlands women’s team playing neighbours Belgium, nick-named the Red Panthers.

The Dutch, coached by Australian legend Alyson Annan, aim for a hat-trick of titles and given their total domination of the women’s game, few would bet against that happening.

After Wednesday’s clash, there will be a double header in Brussels where Belgium’s male and female teams take on their counterparts from Germany over the weekend.

Wednesday’s league opener is likely to be hugely entertaining. The Netherlands are the World Cup, Olympic, European and Pro League title holders – holders of an incredible Grand Slam.

Surely, the undisputed world No.1 side start firm favourites over the No. 9 ranked team, and their head-to-head over the Belgian ladies supports that theory. The Dutch have won 15 of their 18 matches with the Red Panthers winning two and the other match drawn.

The Netherlands have won all four prior meetings between the two nations in the FIH Hockey Pro League matches and prevailed over Belgium in the EuroHockey Championships semi-finals earlier this year on the way towards winning the title, leaving Belgium to win the bronze medal.

The Dutch have not been too affected by retirements following the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held in July-August and the encounter will see seven of the gold medal-winning team including captain Eva de Goede and Lidewij Welten.

The duo’s vast experience will be invaluable to a squad that welcomes three uncapped players in Marente Barentsen (Hurley), Joosje Burg (Den Bosch) and Sabine Plönissen (Amsterdam).

Eight players, however, have fewer than 20 international matches under their belts and Annan must surely be eager to field them in a high-profile event with an eye on the future.

Belgium, guided by Dutchman Raoul Ehren whose tutelage took Den Bosch’s women to unprecedented club success both in the Netherlands and Europe will enter the contest with all to gain.

The bronze medal won at the Euros after a 3-1 win over Spain must hold them in good stead. Barbara Nelen, Abi Raye and Ambre Ballenghien found the net for the Red Panthers to ensure a podium finish and duly find places in the squad of 32.

Belgium will also rely on experienced hands such as Alix Gerniers, Louise Versavel, Emma Puvrez and star goalkeeper Aisling D’Hooghe.

MATCH DETAILS

Netherlands vs Belgium (Women)

Where: Wagener Stadium (Amsterdam, NED)

Date: Wednesday 13 October 2021

Time: 21.30 (IST).18:00.

Current FIH World Ranking: Netherlands: 1 | Belgium: 9
Final standings – FIH Hockey Pro League 2019: Netherlands: 1 | Belgium: 5
Final standings – FIH Hockey Pro League 2020-21: Netherlands: 1 | Belgium: 7

Head-to-heads in all competitions (since 2013 – 18 matches)
Wins: Belgium: 2 | Netherlands: 15 | Draws: 1
Goals scored: Belgium: 9 | Netherlands: 47