Field Hockey - Fih Pro League 2020-21

Discussion in 'General Football & Other Sport' started by Bwood_Horn, Oct 28, 2020.

  1. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    To the surprise of absolutely no-one the Lionesses, fresh from beating the Ozzies for the Brexit Commonwealth gold, qualify for next year's Eurohockey Championship (hosted by Germany) in a 'tight' 11 - 0 victory over Slovenia.

    Interestingly, both the Lions and Lionesses sent letters urging Sunak and Truss to capitalise on this sporting success in quite a nonpartisan manner:

    And finally, England Hockey have finally got their arses in gear over a national (English) FLYERZ squad 'England ID' (Intellectual Disability). The GB squad picked up bronze in this summer's Special Olympics and the England ID team, in the first appearance, won the EuroHockey championship. Good news as my son (and his mate) have a very real chance of being part of this squad in the future:

    [​IMG]
     
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  2. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    England Hockey going all out with a bold bid (with Wales) to host the 2026 Men's World Cup:



     
  3. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Not a single ENG / GB player named in the voting for the FIH 2021-2022 season awards (Adrian Lock doesn't really count as he's the Spanish Coach):

    https://www.fih.hockey/events/hocke...s-2021-22-shortlists-revealed-as-voting-opens
     
  4. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    According to the FiH site she was playing in the Nov 9th's match against a very good Red Panther's side (lost in a shoot 1-2) out and she has 95 caps?

    https://www.fih.hockey/events/fih-p...esults/live-scores/argentina-vs-belgium-16659

    Then she should be playing tomorrow against Team GB?
     
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  5. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Presumably only if she has changed her nationality to Dutch. Argentina play GB 15th and 16th...

    https://www.fih.hockey/events/fih-p...ive-scores/great-britain-vs-netherlands-16660
     
  6. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    The Lions have finally made it - a 30 sec item on R4's Sports report at around 06h30 this morning mentioning today's start of the World Cup. Now coming off the back of a bronze medal in the commonwealth games ('just' losing in the semis to a very good Ozzie side who took gold) and a surprisingly good attacking performance from 70% of the squad (they were appearing as TeamGB, the ProLeague is being used for Olympic qualification) in the Argentinian leg of the ProLeague (winning one game and three shoot-outs against very strong Los Leones and Oranje squads meaning the Lions now lead the ProLeague).

    England's group contains Wales with possible threats from Spain and India (who were crushed by the Ozzies in the Commonwealth games final). If they top group 'D' they will move directly to the quarter finals (along with the other 3 group winners) with the 2nd & 3rd placed teams in the groups playing a 'crossover' tournament for the other four QF places.

    As I said hopes are high (and realistic) that the Lions should come away from this tournament with a precious medal win which would be something major as the men would finally emerge from the shadow of the Lionesses' previous success.

    First game against Wales today, pushback at 11h30 with full coverage on BT Sports (and probably the FiH sites).
     
  7. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Bit like in the Football World Cup an easy win for England over Wales?

    Mind you not as much as the Aussies v France .
     
  8. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    The analogy's better than that as the Welsh squad is built around a single very, very good player Gareth Bale Rupert Shipperley. The 5-0 panelling of Wales was not unexpected but if you look at the stats - the Lions won 13 penalty corners (PC) of which only 2 were turned into goals. I hope that the England management 'knew' that this was little more than a 'walkover' so is keeping the 'good' PC routines for later matches:



    The Ozzie match was worrying for another reason as France, who were once around the top 5 of the European game, are host of next year's Olympic games and have dropped out of this year's ProLeauge tournament. That match wasn't a drubbing it was more like surgery (and remember the Kookaburras are the no. 1 ranked mens squad).

    The Lions are in action again tomorrow against India (who made a bit of an effort to beat a not very good Spanish side 2-0):



    PB (against India) at 13h30 on Sunday. Full coverage on BTSport.

    FiH stats & data here.

    FiH you tube here.

    Liam Ansell's PC conversion yesterday was the tournament's goal of the day:

     
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  9. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Very, very action packed game yesterday between the Lions and hosts/tournament favourites India. Literally end-to-end action in this match that was the winner takes all decider of who 'wins' group D (straight to the QF). The 0-0 scoreline belies the fact of what a great game it was (5 England PCs with the first 10 minutes of the match!):



    England were 'saved' by the extraordinary actions of the keeper Payne (he got save of the day):



    England lead India by a +2 goal difference meaning India have to win by at least 3 goals against Wales on Thursday and the Lions have to beat Spain 'biggly' to win the group. The Lions are guaranteed a place in the crossovers.

    PB times Spain vs Eng 11h30 and India vs Wales at 13h30 meaning India go into their match knowing how many they have to hammer Wales by to top the group.
     
  10. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Malaysia playing the Kiwis now in a very familiar kit:

    [​IMG]
     
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  11. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Great game with lots of action in the final quarter: at one stage "Are you Watford in Disguise?" had 8 on-field players (yellow and green cards) against the Black Stick's 11 (took their GK off).

    Final score Malaysia 3 - 2 Kiwis - so it looks like NZ will be facing either the Lions or India in the crossover on Sunday.
     
  12. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

  13. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

  14. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Germany vs France on Monday with the winner facing the Lions in the QF.
     
  15. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Lions (and TeamGB) GK Olly Payne featured twice is the "Saves of the First Round" showreel:



    Interestingly (or not) there's a lot of discussion about the top level keepers (Dutch, German, Kiwi etc) in the tournament wearing Bauer (ice-hockey) 'lids' (example below with a lashed up field hockey neck protector):


    lid.jpeg

    Opinions are that it's because of the 'better' visibility (of the ball on the floor) or ventilation (heat/humidity in India.
     
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  16. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    First *big* upset of the WC: favourites for the cup India are beaten by the extremely unfancied Kiwi's in a shootout:



    I'm hoping for another upset today as (the not very good) France face the relentless Germans for a QF place against the Lions.

    PB 11h30 full coverage of BT Sport.
     
  17. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

  18. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    One for you @Smudger: it looks like another returnee to the Heimat, I had one ear/eye on today's match and kept thinking that I had misheard the name as I was certain that I had seen him playing for the Los Leones...

    Also it's good to see nominative determinism in actions:

    upload_2023-1-23_15-45-56.png
     
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  19. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

  20. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    I know he fell out with the association but he won't be well received back in Argentina. I'm not sure of his parentage his surname is French in origin) but I assume he has some German in him or he likes living there (he could move to Bariloche). These sort of rules do make a mockery of international sport especially as he has played for Argentina for such a long time and won an Olympic gold medal. He certainly has tarnished his reputation there. He won't be regarded now with the same admiration as Luciana Aymar. Menini also a gold medal winner is now playing for Spain. Pretty poor form really.
     
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  21. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    First round of QFs today (local times):

    upload_2023-1-24_7-25-18.png

    I can't see anything coming from these other than Ozzie and Red Lion victories although Belgium aren't the all-conquering force they have been (they have a very 'old' squad).

    Any ITK about the fractional time zones (+5'30") used in this part of India. I remember one of the Indian time zines is a holdover from the Raj - if you looked at your watch set to the Mother Country's time upside down you got the correct local time????
     
  22. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Pretty much as expected:

    Kookaburras 4 - 3 Spain (it could have been different if Spain hadn't missed that penalty stroke towards the end of Q4 or if they had gambled on taking off their GK when to Ozzie captain was green-carded - so they had 12 on field players against the Ozzy 9).

    Red Lions 2 - 0 Black Sticks (TBTH the Kiwis looked very ordinary and Belgium had flashes of what a truly great side they are).

    Ozzies to face Germany or the Lions in the SF on Friday at 11h00.

    Belgium to face the Netherlands or, if there's the greatest upset in mens hockey history, South Korea.

    Other QF's: live coverage on BT Sport, PB 11h00. I really can't call the Lions game as England have copied (and improved hopefully) the possessive, mobile German playing style. I hope we can out-German the Germans...

    upload_2023-1-24_15-45-26.png
     
  23. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

    Quite an achievement by England men. 2-0 up with 2 min left. Managed to draw and go out on penalties.

    How English.
     
  24. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Against the Germans too.
     
  25. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    TBF we did manage to out-German the Germans right up to the final 2'17" when Waller was green-carded...

    I wonder if the off-the-ball incident with Ruehr will have consequences?
     
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  26. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    Just send on No.617.
     
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  27. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    SFs today:
    upload_2023-1-27_8-11-0.png

    The first will end up as a battle of sihthousery Ozzies vs Germans (I think the Ozzies will edge it) and the second will be a fight over the European crown: a declining dynasty (the Red Lions) and the new regime (the Oranjes). This second match might not be that great to watch as it'll probably end up a midfield battle.

    Tomorrow brings two of the greatest mismatches this tournament will ever throw-up in the name of completion of the crossovers very, very good Indian and Argentinian squads facing minnows (presumably to allow a face saving exercise).
     
  28. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    ***fixed**

    I haven't seen the match - I'm only going by the data.
     
  29. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

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  30. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Both bits of Team GB are in action in Un Zud playing in a three way tournament with the Kiwis and Ozzies (and as a warm up for the action in Lea Valley this May (India, China and Belgium) and June (Germany, Holland, US and Spain).



    The girls have a lot to play for as they're currently bottom of the group, only having played four games against Argentinia and, a frankly superb, Dutch Squad also coupled with the retirement of, the legendary, Maddie Hinch:

    upload_2023-4-21_13-10-22.png



    The boys had a much better time in the same tournament in Argentina. They comfortably beat the Oranjes in their first match (3-0) and won the penalty shoot-outs after draws in their other three games with some unbelievably good keeping from James Mazarelo:



    The boys sit comfortably mid-table.

    upload_2023-4-21_13-34-41.png

    This season's Pro-League is operating a 'relegation' where the bottom finishing team will be replaced by the winners of the various Nations Cup petitions (the Saffers and India for the women).

    All matches live on BT sport (at stupid o'clock) with extended highlights the following lunchtime.
     
  31. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Mazarelo was really in good form in the boys Team GB's victory over the Blacksticks (2-5):



    The girls (Sabbie Heesh's first game as first choice GK - she's been playing second fiddle since 2015!) faced a very good Hockeyroo side and beat them:



    upload_2023-4-24_11-25-24.png

    The game against the Kookaburras was an immense high speed afffair - the was some action in the dying seconds of the match our captain Daivd Ames and the umpire could barely speak...
     
  32. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    The Team GB women took apart the Blacksticks 0 - 2. So one-sided was the match, that the commentators didn't know if the GB, 2nd string, GK Miriam Pritchard had been substituted - Un Zud went nowhere near to GB 'D' until the final minutes of the 4th quarter:



    Big news as this means GB are no longer at the foot of the table (my gut feeling is that it will be the Kiwis or the USA facing the drop).

    It's clear that Team GB boys really have to 'up their game' if they want to land a glove on the new boys in town (and deserved World Cup champions) Germany by playing a fast and physical game for the entire 60 mins of a match (the Lions did match the Germans for 57 minutes of their QF match, whereas the Ozzies managed it for 58 mins in their SF with the Germans). The Boys managed to go toe-to-toe with the Kookaburras, matching them for stamina (just) and speed for the entire match and not getting wound up by the usual Ozzie *********ry - beating them 1 -2:



    You know the old cliche about "...giving 110%..." in the, literal, dying seconds of the game AUS were awarded a PC - the GB captain went to the umpire to refer it up to the video umpire he could barely speak...

    Both GB teams in action next weekend before GB returns home hosting the next ProLeague round on the 26th May.
     
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  33. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Last Friday TeamGB boys hammered a, frankly woeful, woeful Blacksticks 1-6 (four of our goals coming from open play):



    Whilst the girls couldn't keep up their winning streak against the Ozzies, losing 1-3:

     
  34. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

  35. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Turning to the boys, in a very bad tempered match with the Kookaburras the Ozzies managed to draw by winning a PC in the dying seconds of the match, but Mazraelo couldn't dominate in the suhuffles meaning Australia picked up the bonus point:



    Mazareol (2nd string GK) made what was described by ex-GK Simon Mason "...my top threes saves ever were no. 1. no. 2 and no. 3 that one...". Interestingly that both TeamnGB GKs are shown extensively in the tournament's show reel:



    The means that the TeamGB are in 2nd place (beceause matches won trumps GD):

    upload_2023-5-4_17-0-15.png

    And the TeamGB women have moved up from the foot of the table:

    upload_2023-5-4_17-2-32.png

    I *think* the Kiwis will be very disappointed with thieir 'home' tournament not winning a single game (and never looking like laying a glove on their opponents) - their performances in the ANZAC day matches were also terrible:

    upload_2023-5-4_17-5-42.png
     
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