A look ahead to the best teams and players in this week's European Hockey Championships
The Hockey European Championships start in Antwerp this week and it is vital that England women win in order to qualify for Tokyo 2020.
However, it could be quite an ask in England’s current position. The likelihood is that the women will compete in a two-legged winner-takes-all qualifier at home in November.
A run of wins in this tournament will impact on world ranking points, which will determine the team England will face in the Olympic Qualifiers.
This will be Head Coach Mark Hager’s first tournament as England’s newly-assigned coach.
Keep your eyes peeled for these England players:
Maddie Hinch
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Stichtsche (Holland)
Hinch is currently the world’s number one goalkeeper and has more than 100 caps for Great Britain and England. She showcased her skills during Rio 2016 in the final penalty shoot out, saving all four penalties against the Netherlands. Since then she has joined Dutch side Stichtsche where she continues to make a huge impact on and off the pitch. Look out for her pure athleticism and power off the line when defending shots on goal.
Shona McCallin
Position: Midfielder
Club: Holcombe
This will be McCallin’s first major international tournament after suffering a traumatic concussion, forcing her out the game for 17 months. She recently played four games injury-free in the team's recent training camp in Tokyo last month. The 27-year-old is one of the youngest rising stars in the hockey programme. She will definitely be a solid player to look out for in this years Euro’s.
Lily Owsley
Position: Forward
Club: Hampstead & Westminster
Head Coach Mark Hager believes that Owsley has the potential to be one of the best female hockey players in the world. Aged 24 and part of the Rio 2016 gold winning squad, she has continued to produce outstanding performances at various international matches around the world. Look out for her effortless and pristine ball carrying skills in the forward set up.
Hollie Pearne-Webb (C)
Position: Defender
Club: Surbiton
A highlight moment for her was netting the winning goal during the finals at Rio 2016. Pearne-Webb is very determined and certainly a tough defender, who will be modest about her hockey playing ability but can block any attacking player coming her way. While watching Pearne-Webb play you will hear her being vocal on the pitch, guiding the midfielders and forwards in front of her.
Izzy Petter
Position: Forward
Club: Surbiton
Having just turned 19, Petter is the youngest female in the England Senior Squad Programme. She has eight GB caps to her name and is in the perfect position to be the star of the future, with plenty more caps coming her way.
Teams to watch during the tournament:
The Netherlands:
This team is the greatest female side in history. The Dutch have won 11 gold medals during various World Cups and eight Olympic medals. They are thrilling to watch, immensely skilled and hugely resilient. In the group stages they will face Belgium, Spain and Russia.
Germany:
Currently ranked fifth in the world, they pose a real threat and are not to be underestimated. Germany will play Belarus, England and Ireland in the group stages of the tournament.
International Players to watch:
Xan de Waard
Position: Midfielder
Club: Stichtsche
Representing the Netherlands, Waard has been a rising star for years with an impressive run of performances. She has over 100 caps for the national team - the second youngest player in the Dutch team to achieve this.
Katie Mullen
Position: Forward
Club: Der Club an der Alster (German club)
Ireland’s captain has always been unfazed by playing high level teams. She believes that because they have beaten top flight teams in the past, they can do it again. Mullen, 25, was part of the team which narrowly missed out on going to Rio. She recalls that she and the team use that as a driving force to push for Tokyo.
Janne Müller-Wieland
Position: Defender
Club: UHC Hamburg
The captain of the German national side is a three-time Olympian. Strong physically and mentally, she has proven to be an outstanding and solid defender.
England Squad for the championships:
Giselle Ansley (Surbiton), Grace Balsdon (Hampstead & Westminster), Emily Defroand (Surbiton), Sarah Evans (Surbiton), Maddie Hinch (GK) (SCHC), Tess Howard (Durham University), Jo Hunter (Surbiton), Shona McCallin (Holcombe), Hannah Martin (Surbiton), Lily Owsley (Hampstead & Westminster), Hollie Pearne-Webb (C) (Surbiton), Izzy Petter (Surbiton), Suzy Petty (Wimbledon), Ellie Rayer (Surbiton), Amy Tennant (Reading), Anna Toman (Wimbledon), Susannah Townsend (Canterbury), Laura Unsworth (East Grinstead)
Women's championship teams:
POOL A: Belgium, Spain, Netherlands, Russia
POOL B: Belarus, England, Germany, Ireland
Venue: Antwerp, Belgium
Dates: August 16-25
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