new zealand

New Zealand come into the Rabobank Hockey World Cup on the back of a disappointing Champions Challenge 1 tournament in Kuantan, Malaysia. Following a Silver medal winning performance in the Hero Hockey World League Final event in India at the start of the year, the Black Sticks were seen as heavy favourites for the Gold medal at the Champions Challenge 1. However, an agonising shoot-out defeat in their quarter-final match against Malaysia meant that they would compete in the classification matches for the 5-8 positions.

New Zealand eventually finished in fifth place thanks to impressive victories over Poland (6-1) and France (6-3), and will be fiercely determined to get among the medals in The Hague. Head coach Colin Batch – a member of the triumphant Australia squad that won the 1986 World Cup in London – has made no alterations to the squad that competed in Kuantan, naming 13 players who have surpassed the 100 international appearances marker. Dazzling striker Simon Child is a member of the 200 cap club, while veteran attacker Phil Burrows and team captain Dean Couzins have both played over 300 times for their country. A shot at the medals is well within their capabilities.

Best World Cup results:
The men’s best result: 7th at the 1973, 1975 and 1983 World Cups. The men have taken part in eight previous World Cup tournaments.

FIH World Ranking:
7th

News:
21-04-2014: This is: New Zealand!
07-07-2013: New Zealand men are ‘lucky losers’

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