EHC 2023 – Rematches galore in Women’s Pool B

Women’s Pool B features a series of rematches from the 2021 edition with England losing to Germany before beating both Scotland and Ireland. As such, it makes for plenty of […]

The post EHC 2023 – Rematches galore in Women’s Pool B appeared first on European Hockey Federation.

Women’s Pool B features a series of rematches from the 2021 edition with England losing to Germany before beating both Scotland and Ireland. As such, it makes for plenty of revenge missions in what promises to be a tight group which gets under way to much fanfare on Friday evening at the SparkassenPark. Here’s a look at each of the teams:

Women’s Pool B 

England  

• World ranking: 6th  
• EuroHockey Championship appearances: 16 

• Best finish: Winners (1991, 2015) 

 Overview: England will be looking to bounce back from 2021. when they missed out on the semi-finals for the first time in European history, eventually ending up in fifth place.  

It is their first Europeans since the retirement of Maddie Hinch but there is still plenty of connections to their 2015 championship winning side. Laura Roper (née Unsworth), Lily Owsley, Sabbie Heesh, Giselle Ansley and Holly Pearne-Webb combine for over a thousand caps. 

In terms of results, they had a tricky lead-in tournament at the Four Nations Invitational tournament in Spain with losses to the home team and India in their first games in England mode since 2022. Back then, though, they were Commonwealth Games champions and if they find that form, they will be contenders. 

Women’s Head Coach, David Ralph, said: “We’re all excited to get started at the EuroHockey Championships. We’ve had some good early seasons tests which I believe has been good preparation for the level of competition we’ll face in Germany.   

“We’ve got a good mix of youth and experience in the team who is full of talent but there’s no denying this is the biggest competition of the year, and we will focus on executing our plans and going one match at a time.” 

 Official press release: https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/media/news/england-hockey-announce-mens-and-womens-squad-for-eurohockey-championships 

 Germany 

• World ranking: 4th  
• EuroHockey Championship appearances: 16 

• Best finish: Winners (2013, 2017) 

 Overview: Speaking about his selection, German coach Valentin Altenburg says: “At the end of a very intensive and successful preparation, I’m very satisfied with the performance development of all players in the last few weeks. 

 “If it were up to me, I would like to make the adventure of the European Championship possible for all players. No matter where we have played as DANAS in the last few weeks, whether in Wiesbaden, Limburg or Rüsselsheim, it was always sold out. The spark jumped from the field to the spectators and from the spectators to the players. That makes an incredible amount of anticipation for a sold-out house at the European Championship in our living room. In every game of the EuroHockey Championships 2023 we will look for our chance.” 

Germany celebrate during the 2021 EuroHockey Championships. Pic: Frank Uijlenbroek/World Sport Pics

The side is captained by Nike Lorenz who heads an experienced group alongside Anne Schröder, Cecile Pieper and Charlotte Stapenhorst who is two games short of her 150th cap. Viki Huse will earn her 100th cap on opening night when she takes the field. They come into the competition following a fifth place finish in the FIH Pro League and a couple of big wins this week against Chile in uncapped warm-up fixtures.  

Official press release: https://magazin.hockey.de/articles/em-kader-danas-1  

 Ireland  

• World ranking: 13th  
• EuroHockey Championship appearances: 15 
• Best finish: 5th (1984, 2005, 2009, 2019) 

Overview: Irish coach Sean Dancer said of his side they “have made fantastic improvements over the last 12 months on and off the field, and we have high ambitions, knowing the tough challenge of a very competitive European Championship. 

“This year’s Europeans also doubles as the first step of the Olympic qualification process, adding extra pressure on all those involved. We will need to stay focused on ourselves and playing our attacking style of play.” 

2018 World Goalkeeper of the Year nominee Ayeisha McFerran returns to the line-up having missed last December’s FIH Nations Cup where Liz Murphy shone in her absence. 

Ireland’s Róisín Upton. Pic: Frank Uijlenbroek/World Sport Pics

 “We are excited to have Ayeisha back with us, after extended time away for her heavy club season,” Dancer said. “Lizzy Murphy has taken this as an opportunity to play and develop her game further and we are now in a position of having two strong international keepers, leading into this tournament.” 

McFerran is one of the World Cup silver medalists from 2018 alongside captain Katie Mullan, Lena Tice, Deirdre Duke and Róisín Upton. Otherwise, there is a dozen of their Olympic travelling panel of 2021 while the only player who did not play in the World Cup last summer is Caitlin Sherin who made her debut against Chile last month. 

Official press release: https://hockey.ie/ireland-senior-women-squad-for-the-europeans-announced/ 

 Scotland  

• World ranking: 18th  
• EuroHockey Championship appearances: 13 
• Best finish: 5th (1991) 

 Overview: Scotland qualified after winning the qualifiers in Dunkirk in 2022, with three wins from three to set up a 13th appearance on this stage. 

 Katie Robertson will captain the squad which will see eight players compete at the EuroHockey Championships for the first time. Sarah Robertson misses the tournament through injury, while Amy Gibson takes on the vice-captain role. 

In the build-up, the Scots impressed in a series against England and recorded two wins over the Czech Republic in Edinburgh. It follows earlier prep games against Australia, Ireland, France and Wales. 

Head Coach Chris Duncan said, “We have made enormous strides as a group in the last 18 months, both on and off the pitch, and our performances last summer were testament to the style of play and approach we want to be known for moving forward.  

Scotland’s Bronwyn Shields. Pic: Frank Uijlenbroek

The work done since securing our place from the European Qualifier last August has allowed us to go into greater depth of detail on the technical elements of our game, and skillset to try and make further strides in our ability to perform consistently against top sides. 

“Most important to us, is staying committed to our philosophy, and how we can cause problems for the excellent sides that we will play. 

“This is very much a team selection that can compete here and now, but also a nod to the future. Eight players will experience the EuroHockey Championships for the first time, and with 11 players 25-years-old or younger, there is great longevity in this group. We are naturally disappointed to not be able to include our captain Sarah Robertson, who is recovering from injury; she will be an enormous loss 

“We will be going out with optimism, knowing that we have nothing to lose, and will play with freedom as we try to further foster our attacking style.” 

Official press release: https://scottish-hockey.org.uk/scotland-womens-squad-selected-for-eurohockey-championships-2/ 

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