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One month to go: Who’s in form?

With one month to go until the opening games of the Unibet EuroHockey Championships we take a check on the competing teams and how they’re shaping up for the battle to become Europe’s top team. Here’s a roundup of the recent form of the women’s teams.

In the women’s competition, World Champions the Netherlands have an air of invincibility about them, as shown by their dominant display in the World League in Antwerp. Having rattled in 25 goals in four games in the pool stage they moved on to the final with a 7-0 win over India and a 5-1 demolition of world No2 Australia before beating a stubborn Korea in the final. Captain Maartje Paumen chipped in with nine goals, closely followed by the outstanding Lidewij Welten with eight. They will take some stopping on this evidence.

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Another side who showed supreme form at the World League semi-finals was Great Britain. Whilst they revert back to their individual nations for the Unibet EuroHockey Championships, the majority of Danny Kerry’s side who won seven from seven in Valencia are likely to represent England this summer. Sophie Bray and Alex Danson showed their obvious goal threat scoring nine between them whilst goalkeeper Maddie Hinch had an outstanding tournament and was a big reason behind their mean defence, who conceded just twice in seven games.

Germany secured Olympic Qualification with third place in Valencia. It was a typically stubborn campaign from the reigning European Champions who needed two shootouts to take the third spot, the second of these a nerve jangling affair to see off World No3 Argentina. Jamilon Mulders’ team might not have hit top gear just yet, but on this evidence they will not give up their crown without a fight.

The World League semi finals were a case of what might have been for the two host nations, Belgium and Spain. Spain produced some outstanding performances, gaining a draw against Argentina and win over China, to show they are well on their way back to former glories but then they suffered the heartbreak of a shootout loss to Germany to scupper their medal hopes. They ended up sixth after a 3-1 defeat to the USA. Belgium suffered consecutive shootout defeats to Korea and Japan leaving them to snatch seventh place with a 4-2 win over Italy. Both will surely be keen to turn the “nearly” games into results in London.

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That 4-2 loss to Belgium condemned Italy to an eighth place finish in Antwerp. The Azzurri will have been buoyed by a 4-0 win over France in the pool stages and in Valentina Braconi, who scored twice in the tournament; they have an exciting up and coming talent. Survival will surely be their aim in August.

Poland took ninth place at the same tournament after enduring some heavy losses to the likes of New Zealand and Australia. The performances of Captain Marlena Rybacha, the goals of Amelia Katerla and Natalia Wisniewska as well as a 5-1 win against the French will give them something to build on as they too look to avoid the drop.

Scotland were not involved in the World League tournaments but have been in plenty of action over the last couple of months. In June they had the better of a test series against Wales, before smashing 18 goals in three games against the Czech Republic with Nikki Lloyd, Vikki Bunce and Kareena Marshall proving particularly prolific.

Who will carry their good form into London? Who will spring a surprise? Who will take the honours? We don’t have to wait long to find out. One month to go!

If you’re an England fan, it’s worth knowing you can guarantee seeing England on the Semi-Finals day – they’ll play in session two, so get your tickets to see them battling to make the Final!