‘Mini World Cup’
The final of the men’s Hockey World League begins in New Delhi, India on Friday January 10. The first match of the event is between Belgium and Australia at 14.00 hours local time. Belgium’s coach Marc Lammers says the final is like a ‘mini World Cup with the best eight countries in the world competing for the title’. Belgium, currently fifth in the world rankings, are hoping to improve their position overall ahead of the Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014 in The Hague this June.
The Netherlands and Argentina are in the same pool as Australia and Belgium. They meet at 16.00 hours local time. The other pool comprises Olympic champion and world number 1 Germany along with India, New Zealand and England.
Germany take on New Zealand at 18.00 hours and India meet England at 20.00 hours to complete the opening day’s action. Germany’s coach Markus Weise says the Hockey World League is an extremely important tournament for his players. ‘Almost all the other nations are coming with very strong teams and they will make only marginal changes to their squads ahead of the World Cup,’ he said.
Match schedule
The pool matches take place on January 10, 11 and 13 and will be followed by the quarter finals on January 15. The semi finals take place two days later and the final itself is on Saturday 18 January at 20.00 hours local time.
View the complete schedule.