Field Hockey - Fih Pro League 2020-21

Interestingly, it was my interpretation the 'TeamGB' (not England's) participation in this season's ProLeague was that it would be solely used as an Olympic qualification event but it turns out the the French Olympic organisers have other ideas. The first 'pool' of winners will come from winners of the regional international championships:

1. African Hockey Road to Paris 2023
2. Pan American Games 2023 (Argentina)
   
3. Asian Games 2023
4. EuroHockey Championship 2023 (where England not TeamGB are attending)
   
5. Oceania Cup 2023 (ie either the Kiwis or Ozzies)

With four (two each for the boys and girls) FIH qualification tournaments (invites to the qualification tournaments will be based on continental quotas, determined by the number of nations from each continent who are World Ranked in the top 22 Olympic eligible nations on 31 January 2023) with the top 3 in each tournament going through to the Olympics. AIUI, this means that GB's only route to the finals will be via these tournaments to be held in January 2024).

 

GB Girls & Boys in action for the Olympic qualifiers and LIVE COVERAGE ON THE BEEB.



The Girls have beaten Canada (2-0) and, yesterday, narrowly lost to Spain (in a close match 0-1) but they should have no problems putting some goals past Malaysia and qualifying through this farcical tournament.

Now, the boys are really on a roll: runners-up in the ProLeague and runners up in this summer's Euro championship they should canter past all of their opposition (sadly Pakistan are shadows of their former selves) and qualify.

 

GOOD NEWS: The Girls have got through to the knockout stages (playing Belgium on Friday, on paper they should win it to guarantee an Olympic berth) with a 8-1 hammering of Malaysia.

BAD NEWS: Their PC conversion stats were woeful against Canada 12PCs and 1 goal (12/1, 8% conversion, and they missed a PS), abysmal against Spain 5/0 and barely acceptable against the minnows of Malaysia 13/5 (38%) - to put these into context the Dutch get around 60%.

GOOD NEWS: The boys, as expected, beat Pakistan (6-1) and have just beaten Malaysia (4-1) - so they're probably through to the knockouts (we'll find out for definite on Thursday after their game with China).

BAD NEWS: Their PC conversion rates (for those two matches) are a disgrace for the 4th ranked team in the world managing 12/2 (or 16%) India, Germany and Belgium have figures around 65%. Also for a poor side, the Malaysians seemed to be very effective at game management (something both GB squads are really poor at) - they really dominated when GB were a player down due to cards (and scored in one of those periods).

 

As expected both GB teams made it through the Olympic qualifiers.

Last night's farcical boys match with Germany showed how idiotic the format was. Both squads had literally nothing to play for. The Germans had three key players out because of injuries (one with ACL so he's out for a long time) and didn't even have a full quota of outfield subs. And GB still couldn't be bothered playing to their full abilities to hammer them.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/hockey/68049680

I know it's unfashionable view but I've always thought that when you pull on a national strip and represent your nation at anything (football, hockey, tiddlywinks) playing anyone (Germany, Faroe Islands, Tuvalu) you play your best squad and they give 100% effort.

During this tournament the GB men had 52 penalty corners and scored 7 (seven) goals from them. That is a disgusting statistic.