In just over a month the 12th Hockey World Cup will hit off in Delhi, India. With twelve of the fourteen nations, based on world rankings, any team will be capable of lifting the trophy.
Pool A will be contested by;
Germany
Currently ranked number one in the world, the Germans qualified after finishing 2nd in the European championship. They were the only team defeat Australia at last years Champions Trophy, with a 3-1 victory in the round robin stage. The main weakness for the German team is their inconsistency with the Germans losing games that they should win.The Germans will either be contenders or pretenders, and I’m predicting the former.
Prediction: 3rd
Netherlands
Considered to be the best Hockey nation in the world, the Dutch have struggled in recent years only winning one international tournament in the last 4 years (Champions Trophy 2006) and failing to finish above 3rd since then (including a disastrous 7th at the last World Cup). Their performance at the World Cup will dictate whether the Dutch are truly on the decline or if they can turn their slide in the world rankings around.
Prediction: 5th
Korea
The Koreans are the top ranked team in Asia going into the world cup and will look to improve on their 3rd place finish at last years Champions Trophy. The confidence that the Koreans would have taken out of last years Champions Trophy event (which included wins over the Dutch and Germans) and victory against the Kookaburra’s in Hobart should see them finishing top of Pool A, but I think that will be the highlight of the tournament for the Koreans
Prediction: 4th
New Zealand
The Black Sticks qualified for the World Cup through the second qualification tournament after losing the Oceania cup to Australia, beating 5 other teams through, including the likes of China and Malaysia. Unfortunately for the Kiwi’s they a lack of match practice against top teams will hold them back.
Prediction: 8th
Canada
Winning the Pan American cup gave the Canadians direct qualification to the World Cup, and whilst it is not the toughest qualification route the victory was certainly well earned. The Canadians also finished last in the Champions Challenge 1 in 2009 (the next tier after the Champions Trophy), I can’t see the Canuks improving on this making them the first of the also rans.
Prediction: 11th
Argentina
The Argentinians made the World Cup the hard way after finishing 3rd in the Pan American Cup behind Canada and the US (who failed to qualify), and winning their way through the 3rd qualifying tournament beating the likes of Belgium and the US. Whilst very strong in the womens side of the game this has failed to transfer through for the men and I can’t see them making much of an impact at the World cup.
Prediction: 10th
And Pool B;
Australia
The best team in the world even if the World rankings don’t agree, Australia has played an exhaustive series of matches over the last year against top ranked teams winning the vast majority of them. Included in this run was the Champions Trophy title, a 7-2 win over the Netherlands and 8-1 and 10-3 wins over Spain. I can’t see anyone challenging the ascendency.
Prediction: 1st
Spain
The wildly inconsistent Spanish team qualified by finishing 4th in the European Championship. No one can predict what they will do in any individual match, and while this makes them very hard to play against they don’t seem to be able to grind out the tough matches.
Prediction: 6th
England
Although England won the European Championship, they finished 6th (and last) at the champions trophy last year. While many people took some heart out of their performances, the English simply could not compete in the heat, and I can’t see this improving in the short term.
Prediction: 7th
Pakistan
Most of the spectators at the tournament will be cheering for 2 teams; India and whoever is playing Pakistan. Even though Pakistan had a tough qualification, it would not have prepared them for the atmosphere that they are going to walk into, their only hope is to defeat India in their first match.
Prediction: 9th
India
As one of the traditional powerhouses of Hockey, India will be trying to improve on their record of 1 world cup title, and their recent record in international competition. If the Indian team can overcome their internal difficulties the home crowd advantage should be enough to get them over the line against most of their opponents.
Prediction: 2nd
South Africa
South Africa had the easiest qualification to the World cup after not having to play another nation ranked in the top 20 in the world (the nearest is Egypt at 23). Even though they are ranked higher than Argentina (only because they gained more points by winning the African Cup of Nations), I can’t see them finishing anywhere higher than last.
Prediction: 12th
I see the placings as follows:
1.Australia
2.India
3.Germany
4.Korea
5.Netherlands
6.Spain
7.England
8.NewZealand
9.Pakistan
10.Argentina
11.Canada
12.South Africa
Bones
Guest
Well, looks like I was wrong about India, and Korea didn't quite pull it off. So I now say Australia, Germany, Netherlands and England for the top four. Also glad to see that South Africa will not finish last!
mjg
Roar Rookie
My predictions are: 1. Germany 2. Australia 3. Netherlands 4. England I expect Argentina to finish in the top eight.
JiMMM
Roar Rookie
100% right Sheek
JiMMM
Roar Rookie
It is a big if vinay, and I have heard a lot of conflicting reports about the pay dispute, you have touched on a lot of the reasons why India wont make the final and it makes for tough reading. But I'll stand by my prediction and see whether India make me a regular goose or one that lays a golden egg.
JiMMM
Roar Rookie
The Germans Lost to the Koreans and teh Dutch in last years champions trophy tournamnet and had unconvincing wins over Spain and England in the round robin stage, so if they finish second in thier pool they wont beat Australia in the final and will have to settle for the 3rd place play off. I also think Furste will be the most important player for the Germans at the tounament. If the Germans finish top in thier pool (which I don't think they will) they will beat whoever finishes second in pool B. I think Spain and possibly Pakistan are the major challengers with India for the second spot in Pool B and I think India at home in the conditions will have thier measure.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
JiMMM, The big "if" with India is their internal administration and you touched on this. Hockey India is a newly constituted body replacing the old Indian Hockey Federation. This was done at the instigation of the International Hockey Federation who have tired of India's administrators and given them an ultimatum. It was the International body that insisted Ric Charlesworth be appointed a Consultant in 2008. This was not allowed to work and Ric resigned in total disgust. India missed an opportunity there. The players are in the middle of a pay dispute and it must be remembered that the Beijing Olympics was the first time India had missed the Olympics since 1928. The skill and the talent is there. The pity is the administrators have been self serving in the past. I would like to see india do well but cannot see them making the finals.
sheek
Guest
JiMMM, It would be nice if as you suggest, India makes the final. As a historical heavyweight, it's been a long time between drinks for the Indians.
Fly on the Wall
Guest
India simply do not have the skills, fitness or mental strength to make the semis. Germany rarely lose big games and beat Australia in the last two World Cup finals after coming from behind. Don't forget the Germans led the Champs Trophy final 3-1 and it was only a 50-50 call straight after halftime that got Australia back into the match. And the Germans were without their most dangerous player for the tournament, Christian Zoeller. Australia are in the top 2 but still have the odd brain-snap at the back that costs a goal every now and then at crucial times. Spain could do anything. Delhi is a disgustingly filthy, polluted place and the fittest team will probably come out on top - that says to me a Aus-Ger final. Watch for the Germans to play a slow, methodical game to break down and frustrate the Aussies. For anyone who follows hockey closely, we usually do best when we have to play Germany or Holland in a pool game. Quite often recently at WCup and Oly, due to the rankings, we have avoided them until finals time.
JiMMM
Roar Rookie
I don't think there wil be too much angst at the Hockey, I think most of it will be directed at the higher profile Indian Premier League.
JiMMM
Roar Rookie
Don't disagree with anything you said Bones, the top four is a bit of pot luck. Korea is playing the Netherlands in the last pool match, I think Korea should have enough to beat them, but it should be an absorbing clash. I think South Africa are going to get thumped in every game, they just don't have enough big game experiance. I say even though they have to be my second team as my wifes South African.
JiMMM
Roar Rookie
Apples and Oranges Dogz Your typical national soccer player will regularly play in front of a large crowd. The usual international hockey player wont be used to playing infront of crowds more than a few thousand, so if the ground sells out (which I think it will on any day that India plays) the noise and atmosphere will be an advantage. To be fair though any side that makes the top 4 can win it, and having seen India when they came out to Brisbane last year I think they have enough to finish second in thier group and make the top 4.
Bones
Guest
I think home crowd advantage will be enough to get India into the top four, but I don't see it getting them over the line against Korea, and definitely not against Germany, so I would drop them down to 4th. I would also swap Canada and South Africa around, both because I am originally from the Southern African sub-continent and also because South Africa will have an advantage in the heat. However, the Netherlands are capable of beating Korea (although again they have a disadvantage in the heat), so it is quite possible we will see them in the top four.
Michael C
Roar Guru
for reasons of international deplomacy - it has been pre-arranged that the Kookaburras shall lose to India. Seriously though - let's hope that any Aust vs India match up during this tournament is not overshadowed with any forms of violence/protest etc. Hopefully the Aussie's can continue their good recent form from the Champions Trophy Melbourne including getting over recent rivals Spain with a 10-3 demolition job, and turning the tables on Germany in the final.
JiMMM
Roar Rookie
I see India beating every team bar Australia in the group stage, putting them in the top 4, where they would then play either Germany or Korea and I think the home advantage should be just enough to get them through against either of them. I still can't see them beating Australiav though
Dogz R Barkn
Roar Guru
JiMMM I have to agree with Fivehole, there's nothing in the recent performances of India to suggest it can hope to get anywhere near a 2nd placing. It's a bit like suggesting that South Africa make the top four in this year's soccer World Cup on the back of home ground advantage. You'll get very long odds for both I reckon.
Fivehole
Guest
JiMMM, don't you think India ranked 2nd is a little high, even with the home advantage?