The best of the best come together to compete in the Olympic Games this coming week. Time to take a look at the teams in Women’s Pool A to find out a little bit more about them.
Belgium
Head coach: Raoul Ehren
Player to watch:
Charlotte Englebert.
What a player! A game changer. Skill, poise, elegance and the ability to make things happen the FIH Hockey Stars Young Player of the Year 2022 nominee has won plenty of individual awards for her displays at the big tournaments. Named Best Young Player at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup in 2022 and Player of the Tournament at the EuroHockey Championships in 2023, this young star is just getting started. Watch out for what’s to come!
A little bit about Belgium:
It’s been interesting watching Belgium’s rise through the ranks in women’s hockey. In a similar vein to their all-conquering men’s side, they have worked on a principle of blooding players when they are young and then reaping the rewards of that experience years later. It has taken time for that to pay off, but now it looks like they’re ready to step up to the next level. They’ve collected silver medals at the 2017 and 2023 European Championships and a bronze in 2021, elevating them to a status as one of the best sides in Europe. They were the only side to beat the Netherlands in last season’s Pro League – bringing to an end a 26-game unbeaten run for the Dutch, which shows they have a performance in them to compete with the best. Their mix of youth and experience works well for them and they will definitely be a threat in this tournament.
Squad: Justine Rasir, Delphine Marien, Charlotte Englebert, Judith Vandermeiren, Emma Puvrez, Emily White, Alix Gerniers, Vanessa Blockmans, Michelle Struijk, Barbara Nelen, Stéphanie Vanden Borre, Lien Hillewaert, Elodie Picard, Ambre Ballenghien, Hélène Brasseur, Camille Belis.
Reserves: Lucie Breyne, Aisling D’Hooghe (GK), Abigail Raye
China
Head Coach: Alyson Annan
(Plus Ric Charlesworth, and Taeke Takema and Ady Lock!)
Player to watch:
Gu Bingfeng.
107 goals in 174 caps is a record that stands up to almost anyone in world hockey. Gu is a strong part of China’s defensive solidity but has extra value due to her ability from penalty corners. A lot of China’s games are decided by the odd goal. Having someone like her who can score from set pieces is a huge plus for Alyson Annan’s side.
A little bit about China:
If the medals were decided on the depth of coaching talent alone, China would be on the podium I reckon. An absolute wealth of coaching knowledge at their disposal with the great Alyson Annan in charge and assisted by the legendary Ric Charlesworth, Taeke Takema and former Spain coach Adrian Lock.
China qualified for the Olympics with an impressive win at the Asian Games. En route to winning that title they dispatched India (4-0) and Korea (2-0) as they claimed the title. China finished 5th in the FIH Pro League this time out, picking up some impressive wins over Great Britain, Belgium and Australia on their way.
They don’t score a bucket load of goals, but they don’t concede many either. It’ll be interesting to see how their genius coaching team set them up in the Olympics.
Squad: Ye Jiao, Gu Bingfeng, Yang Liu, Zhang Ying, Chen Yi, Ma Ning, Li Hong, Ou Zixia, Dan Wen, Zou Meirong, He Jiangxin, Fan Yunxia, Chen Yang, Xu Wenyu, Zhong Jiaqi, Tan Jinzhuang
Reserves: Liu Ping (GK) Yu Anhui Zhou Yu
France
Head Coach: Gael Foulard.
Player to watch:
Yohanna Lhopital.
The young forward plies her trade in the Belgian league for Waterloo Ducks and her record at international level shows she will be an important player for France. She made both her U21 debut and her senior debut in the same year (2016) and has scored 21 goals in 65 games for France.
A little bit about France:
As the host nation, France received a direct quota place in the women’s tournament after having attained the top twenty-five spot or higher in the FIH world ranking list. (France are currently 20th in the world.)
They’ve recently won a test series with South Africa by three matches to two including two 4-1 wins in that series. They also won EuroHockey Championship II back in August 2023, ensuring promotion to the second tier competition of the EuroHockey Championships for the 2025 edition. It’s fair to say amongst similar ranked teams they are more than capable of holding their own. However, against the best of the best, they will likely struggle. It will be a great thrill for the home crowd to have a team to cheer on and undoubtedly the home Olympics will inspire the players to find that extra 10% from somewhere, but I can’t see them doing too well, sadly.
Squad: Catherine Clot, Emma Ponthieu, Mickaela Lahlah, Paola le Nindre, Yohanna Lhopital, Philippine Delemazure, Gabrielle Verrier, Victoire Arnaud, Guusje van Bolhuis, Mathilde Duffrene, Eve Verzura, Inès Lardeur, Lucie Ehrmann, Albane Garot, Delfina Gaspari, Tessa-Margot Schubert
Reserves: Alice Lesgourgues, Marie Simon, Mathilde Petriaux (GK)
Germany
Head Coach: Valentin Altenburg
Player to watch:
Charlotte Stapenhorst.
This one’s a personal favourite of mine. Stapenhorst is just a superb player to watch. She has skills by the bucket load, isn’t afraid to bring some 3D to the party and is able to score goals. Sometimes, she scores outrageous goals, too. She’s bagged 85 in 173 games for Germany and as I say, is an exciting player to watch.
A little bit about Germany:
Germany finished second in the latest edition of the FIH Pro League and throughout their history have picked up all the major titles on offer. Coach Valentin Altenburg – who guided Germany men to Olympic bronze at Rio 2016 knows his stuff and has been able to unleash their attacking talent whilst ensuring they stay secure at the back.
They have a squad brimming with experience and bursting with attacking talent and players who can score goals. Definitely contenders.
Squad: Kira Horn, Amelie Wortmann, Nike Lorenz, Selin Oruz, Benedetta Wenzel, Anne Schröder, Lisa Nolte, Lena Micheel, Charlotte Stapenhorst, Nathalie Kubalski, Sonja Zimmermann, Viktoria Huse, Felicia Wiedermann, Stine Kurz, Jette Fleschütz, Linnea Weidemann.
Reserves: Emma Davidsmeyer, Cécile Pieper, Julia Sonntag (GK)
Japan
Head Coach: Jude Menezes
Player to watch:
Hazuki Nagai.
Going into her third Olympics, Hazuki Nagai is one of the most experienced players in the Japan line up. She has over 200 caps to her name and is capable of chipping in with a goal here and there, which she has done 65 times for her country. She spent a number of seasons playing for Oranje Rood in the Netherlands but nowadays she’s back home turning out for Sakai Town.
A little bit about Japan:
The Cherry Blossoms’ presence at this tournament might come as a surprise to many after seeing the draw for their Olympic qualifier in India. In a tournament containing Germany, USA, India and New Zealand, Japan managed to secure third place and the final slot at the Olympics at the expense of India. The 1-0 win over the much-fancied hosts was down in part to a faultless defensive display.
Japan will need to defend well again in this tournament. They have some talented and energetic players in their group but I expect them to spend a fair bit of time on the back foot. They have played some test matches recently, losing 6-1 and 13-1 to the Netherlands earlier this month, whilst back in April they lost twice to both China and Australia. I don’t expect them to do much at the tournament, but they will certainly give it a go.
Squad: Eika Nakamura, Yu Asai, Miyu Suzuki, Yuri Nagai, Hazuki Nagai, Shihori Oikawa, Miki Kozuka, Shiho Kobayakawa, Kanon Mori, Mai Toriyama, Saki Tanaka, Kana Urata, Amiru Shimada, Sakurako Omoto, Miyu Hasegawa, Rika Ogawa.
Reserves: Chiko Fujibayashi, Rui Takashima, Akio Tanaka (GK)
Netherlands
Head Coach: Paul Van Ass
Player to watch:
Xan De Waard.
Xan de Waard is the best player in the world. That is both my opinion and fact at the moment. She is the current holder of the FIH Hockey Stars World Player of the Year title. She made her international debut at just 17 and has been turning heads with her skills, close control and her game intelligence ever since. She’s won the Olympics, she’s won the World Cup three times, the Euros three times and even the Pro League four times. In a side like the Netherlands it is hard to stand out – but she does. What a player.
A little bit about the Netherlands:
Paul van Ass, the head coach is quite a matter of fact man. Quite far out from naming his squad he retired three of the Netherlands’ all time greats, making it clear there would be no international future for Lideweij Welten, Margot van Geffen and Eva De Goede. To discard players of such a high calibre would be shocking for pretty much every other nation in the world, but for the Dutch women, it does not appear to matter. They won the Pro League again this year and of course have won the past three World Cups whilst Rio 2016 where they finished second to Great Britain is their only Olympics blip in the past four Olympics – they have won the other three. Sure, their 26 game unbeaten run was recently halted by Belgium, but realistically, no one expects the Dutch not to win this tournament. They are quite simply the best team in women’s hockey and have been for a long time.
Squad: Anne Veenendaal, Luna Fokke, Freeke Moes, Lisa Post, Xan de Waard, Yibbi Jansen, Renée van Laarhoven, Felice Albers, Maria Verschoor, Sanne Koolen, Frédérique Matla, Joosje Burg, Marleen Jochems, Pien Sanders, Marijn Veen, Laura Nunnink.
Reserves: Pien Dicke, Rosa Fernig, Josine Koning (GK)
The Top of the D 