Field Hockey Women's World Cup
The Field Hockey Women's World Cup is one of the most anticipated sporting events for hockey fans all over the world. It is a quadrennial event that brings together the best hockey teams from different countries to compete for the coveted trophy. This year's tournament is set to take place in Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, London, from July 21 to August 5, 2018. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about the Field Hockey Women's World Cup, from its history, format, and teams to watch out for.
History of the Field Hockey Women's World Cup
The first Women's Hockey World Cup was held in 1974 in Mandelieu, France, and was organized by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). The tournament had only four teams, and the Netherlands emerged as the winners. Since then, the tournament has grown to accommodate more teams and is now one of the most popular international hockey tournaments for women.
The tournament has undergone several changes since its inception, including a change in the number of participating teams, format, and venue. The most significant changes were made in 1986 when the number of participating teams increased from eight to twelve, and in 1998 when the number increased to sixteen.
Format of the Field Hockey Women's World Cup
The current format of the Field Hockey Women's World Cup consists of sixteen teams, which are divided into four pools of four teams each. The teams play a round-robin format within each pool. The top two teams from each pool advance to the quarterfinals, where they play a knockout format until the final. The winners of the semi-finals play for the gold medal, while the losers play for the bronze medal.
The tournament follows the rules set by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), which include four quarters of fifteen minutes each, with a halftime break of five minutes. If the game ends in a tie, it goes into a penalty shootout, where each team gets five attempts to score, and the team that scores the most goals wins the match.
Teams to Watch Out For
The Field Hockey Women's World Cup is a highly competitive tournament, and there are several teams that are expected to perform well in this year's event. The Netherlands, who are the defending champions, are one of the favorites to win the tournament. They have a strong team and have won the tournament a record seven times.
Argentina is another team to watch out for as they are the current Olympic champions and have been in excellent form. They have a strong attacking lineup and are expected to make it to the knockout stages of the tournament.
Australia, who has won the World Cup twice, is also expected to do well in this year's tournament. They have a strong team and are known for their quick and attacking style of play.
Other teams to watch out for include Germany, England, and the United States. Germany has won the tournament twice and has a strong team that has been in good form. England, who will be playing at home, will have the support of their fans and will be looking to win the tournament for the first time. The United States, who are ranked seventh in the world, have shown significant improvement over the last few years and are expected to put up a good fight.
Conclusion
The Field Hockey Women's World Cup is a highly competitive tournament that brings together the best hockey teams from different countries. It is an event that is eagerly awaited by hockey fans all over the world, and this year's tournament promises to be an exciting one. With some of the best teams competing for the top prize, it is difficult to predict who will win the tournament. However, one thing is for sure, the tournament will provide some excellent hockey and will be a feast for hockey fans all over the world.
