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RIO 2016
M P
OLY ESIC
PRESS
GAM rasil
Olympic Hockey Centre
PACK
eodor o,B AUGUST
D h
6th-19t
Contents Key contacts & resources 1 Welcome message from FIH President Leandro Negre 2 Hockey, the Olympics and the FIH 4 Rio 2016 Hockey preview 5 Rio 2016: Interesting Facts and Figures 7 About Rio de Janeiro and the Deodoro Olympic Hockey Centre 9 How the teams qualified 11 Competitions format and match schedules 15 Men’s Competition Pool A Teams - Australia, Great Britain, Belgium, New Zealand, Spain, Brazil 18 Pool B Teams - Netherlands, Germany, Argentina, India, Ireland, Canada 30 Officials 42 Women’s Competition Pool A Teams - Netherlands, New Zealand, China, Germany, Korea, Spain 45 Pool B Teams - Argentina, Australia, Great Britain, USA, Japan, India 57 Officials 70 Useful information Event photography 72 Key Olympic hockey historical facts and figures 73 Rules and competition regulations 79 FIH Hero World Rankings 81 The Hockey Revolution and the future of international hockey 85
Key contacts
& resources
Contact:
For all media queries relating to the event, please contact:
Daniel Parker
FIH Communications and Digital Manager
Email: daniel.parker@fih.ch
Tel: Brazil (from 4-20 August): + 55 (21) 976 993 359
Tel: Switzerland (Until 3 August): +41 (79) 619 7724
Resources:
Official Rio 2016 Hockey webpage Click here
Spectator guide Click here
Olympic Hockey Centre overview Click here
Ticketing information Click here
Resources:
Do you want the latest on the Rio 2016 Games? To get real-time results and follow the Olympic torch relay?
If so, download the official app of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games using the appropriate link below.
Download for iPhone Click here
Download for Android Click here
Download for Windows phone Click here
Social media:
The FIH will provide comprehensive coverage of the event via our social media channels, including Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat.
Facebook: facebook.com/fihockey
Instagram: instagram.com/fihockey
Twitter: twitter.com/fih_hockey
Snapchat: fihockey
Hashtags: #hockey #SambaSticks #Rio2016
1 CNT
Introduction
A word from Leandro Negre,
President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH)
Dear Hockey Media Representative,
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the most
anticipated event in the hockey calendar where the ultimate prize of an Olympic gold medal
is on the line.
Hockey has a long and glorious history at the Olympic Games. The sport debuted at the
1908 Games in London and has been a permanent fixture in the Olympics since the 1928
Games in Amsterdam, with a women’s competition being a central part of proceedings
since the Moscow 1980 Games. Our association with the ideals and values of the Olympic
movement is something that we are all immensely proud of, and has allowed thousands of
athletes – including myself – to fulfil the life-long dream of representing their country at the
greatest sporting spectacle on the planet. The Olympics has always been considered as the
pinnacle of the sport, and long may that continue.
Four years ago, hockey enjoyed staggering success at the London 2012 Olympics, with the Riverbank Arena
welcoming over 630,000 spectators during the course of the men’s and women’s competitions to become the third
highest attended sport at the Games. It was a terrific spectacle for everyone who attended, with Germany men and
the Netherlands women claiming their second successive Olympic titles.
Since London 2012, the sport has undergone many extraordinary changes and arrives at Rio’s purpose-built Deodoro
Olympic Park better than ever. We are now two years into our ten-year Hockey Revolution strategy, which aims
to make hockey ‘a global game that inspires the next generation’, raising the status and popularity of the sport to
unprecedented levels. We are making great strides towards achieving the ambitious yet completely justifiable goals
that we set for the sport, and are engaging with our constantly growing army of passionate fans – we are the third highest
ranked of all the Olympic sports in terms of followers on Facebook - in the best way possible.
As well as our excellent interaction with the fans, key changes to the game itself have helped Hockey, one of the fastest
team sports in the world, become even more thrilling for the spectators in the stands and those watching on television.
In terms of changes from London 2012, the game has moved from being played over two halves to four quarters of
15 minutes and has also introduced a 40-second penalty corner countdown clock.
With these additional breaks, fans now have the opportunity to enjoy extended replays and be even more engaged with
the event, whether in the stadium or watching from afar, while hockey commentators have more time to provide in-depth
analysis between plays. In addition, coaches and players benefit from new opportunities to re-strategize
and re-hydrate.
Another first for the Olympic hockey competition in Rio is the introduction of Quarter-Finals, which provide all the drama
and excitement of an immediate knock-out competition from the end of the pool matches onwards. This move ensures
that every match played in Rio has meaning, and one slip-up could mean the end of the gold medal dream.
2 CNT
Looking at the competitions themselves, the action is certain to be unmissable. Germany men and the Netherlands
women are both looking for third successive Olympic titles, but face serious challenges from the world’s best hockey
teams. On the men’s side, reigning Hockey World Cup, Hockey World League and Hockey Champions Trophy title
holders Australia have set their sights on winning back the gold medal that they claimed at the Athens 2004 Games.
European champions Netherlands, Asian champions India and Pan American champions Argentina are also among the
12 sides that will fight it out for golden glory.
The Netherlands remain the team to beat on the women’s side, but Argentina’s recent title successes in the Hockey
World League and Hockey Champions Trophy suggests that it could well be their year. Throw into the mix high quality
squads from Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Germany and USA amongst others, it has the potential to be
absorbing and utterly unpredictable.
May I take this opportunity to thank everyone at the Organising Committee for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) for their remarkable efforts in the build-up to this event. It has been a sensational
effort, and know that an army of wonderful staff and volunteers will make it an occasion to remember for everyone who
attends the Olympic Hockey Centre.
Finally, I want to wish all of the athletes and officials the best of luck on the field. I hope that everyone has an amazing
experience at what is unquestionably the greatest show on earth – the Olympic Games.
Yours in hockey.
Leandro Negre
FIH President
3 CNT
Hockey, the Olympics
and the FIH
Hockey and its origins
The roots of hockey are buried deep in antiquity. Historical records show that a crude form of the game was played
in Egypt 4,000 years ago and in Ethiopia around 1,000BC. Various museums offer evidence that a form of the game
was played by the Romans and Greeks as well as by the Aztecs several centuries before Columbus arrived in the
New World. The modern game of hockey emerged in England in the mid-18th century and is largely attributed to the
growth of public schools, such as Eton. The first Hockey Association was formed in the UK in 1876 and drew up the
first formal set of rules. The original association survived for just six years but, in 1886, it was revived by nine founding
member clubs.
Hockey and the Olympics
The inaugural Olympic Hockey Competition for men was held in London in 1908 with England, Ireland, Scotland and
Wales competing separately. With the addition of Germany and France, the competition ran with six teams. After
having made its first appearance at the London Games, hockey was subsequently dropped from the 1912 Stockholm
Games after host nations were granted control over ‘optional sports’. It reappeared in 1920 in Antwerp after pressure
from Belgian hockey advocates before being omitted again in Paris in 1924. The formation of the International Hockey
Federation in 1924 was not soon enough for the Paris Olympics but it did grant hockey re-entry in Amsterdam in 1928.
Hockey has been on the programme ever since, with women’s hockey included for the first time in Moscow in 1980.
At the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, hockey celebrated 100 years as an Olympic sport. At the London 2012 Olympics,
hockey was the third biggest sport in terms of ticket sales with over 630,000 sold. The Olympics is the ultimate hockey
competition, with the Olympic gold medal being the most coveted prize in the sport.
Hockey and the FIH
Motivated by hockey’s omission from the 1924 Paris Games, the Fédération Internationale de Hockey sur Gazon (FIH)
was founded by Paul Léautey. Mr Léautey, who would later become the first president of the FIH, called together seven
National Federations to form the sport’s international governing body.
These founding members, which represented both men’s and women’s hockey in their countries, were Austria,
Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, Hungary, Spain and Switzerland. Popularised in the late 19th century, the women’s
game developed quickly in many countries. In 1927, the International Federation of Women’s Hockey Associations
(IFWHA) was formed. After celebrating their respective Golden Jubilees - the FIH in 1974 and the IFWHA in 1980
- the two organisations came together in 1982 to form the current FIH. By 1964, there were already 50 countries
affiliated with the FIH, as well as three Continental Associations - Africa, Pan America and Asia - and in 1974, there
were 71 members. Today, the International Hockey Federation consists of five Continental Associations, 132 National
Associations and is still growing, with 152 National Associations predicted by 2024. As a sign of its drive to maintain
the sport’s ongoing growth, the FIH has put in place a ten-year strategic plan – the Hockey Revolution. To learn more
about the Hockey Revolution, click here.
4 CNT
Rio 2016 Olympic Games
- Hockey preview
Three times a golden charm for Germany men and Netherlands women?
The Olympic hockey events take place from 6-19 August at Rio’s purpose-built Deodoro Olympic Park, and
will feature the 12 men’s and 12 women’s international teams that qualified through the Hockey World League
and Continental Championships.
These mouth-watering events have been given extra spice by a significant format change, with Quarter-Finals being
introduced for the very first time. With no classification games, only the top four teams from the two pools in each
gender will qualify for the knock-out stages, ensuring that every match has a meaning and there is absolutely no
room for error.
Men
In the men’s competition, reigning Hockey World Cup, Hockey World League and Hero Hockey Champions Trophy
holders Australia (FIH Hero World Ranking: 1) will be aiming to top Pool A, which also features Great Britain (WR: 4,
based on England’s ranking); Belgium (WR: 6); New Zealand (WR: 8); Spain (WR: 11) and host nation Brazil (WR: 30).
Led by star defender Mark Knowles – who alongside Jamie Dwyer was a member of the ‘Kookaburras’ team that
won gold at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games – Australia are very much the team to beat but are certain to face some
tough tests.
Great Britain are a match for anyone on their day, and in Ashley Jackson and Barry Middleton they have two world class
attacking talents that are proven match-winners.
Belgium’s ‘Red Lions’ are a fearsome attacking unit, while New Zealand’s ‘Black Sticks’ and Spain’s ‘Red Sticks’ should
not be underestimated.
Brazil are the lowest ranked team in the competition but are sure to be inspired by the home fans, who will be cheering
them in samba style along every step of the way.
With the reigning Olympic, European, Asian and Pan-American champions all on show, Pool B could be utterly unpredictable.
Following their gold medal success at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, Germany (WR: 3) have set their sights on winning
a third successive gold medal in Rio. However, there are some who feel that Moritz Fürste’s men could still be suffering
the effects of their Unibet EuroHockey Championship 2015 final defeat against Pool B rivals Netherlands
(WR: 2), who stormed to a 6-1 win over Germany’s ‘Die Honamas’ to lift the title in London last summer.
The Netherlands are certainly full of confidence, and in 2015 FIH Hockey Stars Player of the Year Robert van der Horst,
they have one of the sport’s most exceptional talents.
Pan American champions Argentina (WR: 7) and eight times Olympic gold medallists India (WR: 5) – who recently
claimed a remarkable second place finish at the Hero Hockey Champions Trophy 2016 in London – are more than
capable of challenging for a place on the podium in Rio.
5 CNT
The Pool B line-up is completed by Pan-American Championship silver medallists Canada (WR: 15) and European
bronze medal winners Ireland (WR: 12), two sides that were outstanding performers in the 2014-15 edition of the
Hockey World League.
Notably, Ireland’s ‘Green Machine’ will become the first Irish team, in any sport, to play in the Olympics since 1908.
Women
Netherlands women (WR: 1) are targeting a third successive Olympic gold medal. The reigning world champions compete
in Pool A where they face New Zealand (WR: 4), China (WR: 6), Germany (WR: 9), Korea (WR: 8) and Spain (WR: 14).
The Netherlands have a glittering array of world-class talent at their disposal, including four FIH Players of the Year –
Naomi van As (2009), Maartje Paumen (2011 and 2012), Ellen Hoog (2014) and Lidewij Welten (2015). That said, a final
defeat at the hands of Argentina in the Hockey Champions Trophy 2016 in London shows that the Dutch are certainly
not invincible.
New Zealand’s ‘Black Sticks’ could pose the biggest threat to the Dutch, although 2008 Olympic silver medallists China,
and Germany, the Olympic champions of 2004, will also be determined to upset the form book.
Argentina (WR: 2), Australia (WR: 3), Great Britain (WR: 7), USA (WR: 5), Japan (WR: 10) and India (WR: 13) make up
the six Pool B teams that will do battle for the four Quarter-Final qualification spots on offer.
London 2012 silver medallists Argentina and Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014 silver medallists Australia are expected
to be frontrunners in this pool.
Even without retired legend Luciana Aymar, Argentina’s ‘Las Leonas’ are always serious contenders in every competition
that they enter, a fact proven by their recent title success at the 2016 Hockey Champions Trophy in London. Meanwhile,
Australia’s ‘Hockeyroos’ – captained by all-time Australian caps record holder Madonna Blyth – have in recent years re-
established themselves as one of the most feared teams on the planet.
With a large number of players being part of England’s EuroHockey Championship title success last summer, London
2012 Olympic bronze medallists Great Britain have the potential to make a serious challenge in Rio.
USA – coached by Englishman Craig Parnham - are another side that could make a big impression in Brazil. Can the
Pan American champions aim to add to the bronze medal that they claimed at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984?
It is certainly shaping up to be a sizzling Olympics in Rio and hockey is asking fans to get right behind their team and
celebrate Samba Sticks – the campaign that will showcase the sport of hockey in the run up to and during the Games
in Brazil this summer.
More detailed information about the competing teams can be found later in this press pack.
Make sure that you use #Hockey, #SambaSticks and #Rio2016 on social media when showing your support for your nation,
and follow FIH for all the latest updates as teams and fans get ready for the biggest show on earth – the Olympic Games.
6 CNT
Rio 2016:
Interesting facts and figures
The Olympic hockey events take place from 6-19 August at Rio’s purpose-built Deodoro Olympic Park, and
will feature the 12 men’s and 12 women’s international teams that qualified through the Hockey World League
and Continental Championships.
These mouth-watering events have been given extra spice by a significant format change, with Quarter-Finals being
introduced for the very first time. With no classification games, only the top four teams from the two pools in each
gender will qualify for the knock-out stages, ensuring that every match has a meaning and there is absolutely no
room for error.
General
The Rio 2016 Olympic Games take place from 5 August to 21 August 2016.
There are 19 days of Olympic Games events.
Athletes from all 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are expected to compete in addition to a Refugee
Olympic Athletes team.
Approximately 10,500 athletes will compete.
Over 7 million tickets have gone on sale.
There are 28 sports comprising of 306 medal events.
The sports of Golf and Rugby will make the Olympic debuts in Rio.
There are 32 competition venues as well as an additional seven for football.
Over 21,000 media and broadcasters will deliver the Games to a global audience in the billions.
Olympic firsts
It is the first time that the Olympic Games have been held in South America.
In hockey, home nation Brazil will be competing in the Olympic Games for the first time.
For the first time in Olympic Hockey history there will be Quarter-Finals, which serve to provide all the drama
and excitement of an immediate knock-out competition from the end of the pool matches onwards.
It will also be the first time in Olympic history where matches will be played in four quarters of 15 minutes
(60 minutes in total).
7 CNT
Hockey in Rio
The Olympic Hockey Centre is located at Deodoro Olympic Park, in Rio’s West Zone.
The spectator capacity at the Olympic Hockey Centre is 8000.
Hockey competition dates run from 6-19 August.
There will be 384 hockey athletes on show in Rio, with 192 male and 192 female, making the sport completely
gender balanced.
Hockey as a sport
An Olympic gold medal is the ultimate prize in hockey, and the Olympic Games is the most anticipated and
cherished event in any hockey athletes’ calendar.
Hockey is a high speed and action-packed:
- Many international athletes are capable of hitting speeds of 34-35 kilometres per hour (kmh) on the field, which is
only 10kmh slower than the foot-speed record of 44.64 kmh held by legendary Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.
- For 30% of the game, players are running at a high intensity (above 19kmh) and covering on average over 140
metres per minute.
- Hockey balls can travel in excess of 160 kmh during matches.
- On average, there is a goal scored every 17 minutes in a hockey match.
Hockey has a global army of passionate fans, being ranked third of all the Olympic sports in terms of followers
numbers on Facebook.
London 2012 Olympics
303: Goals scored
155: Different goal-scorers
4: Goals scored per match on average
Hockey Legacy in Rio and Brazil
Two brand new hockey fields were built close to one of the universities in Rio de Janeiro which will serve as
training site during the Games, but will keep serving the university post Games. There will be a university league
and hockey will be integrated into academic physical education programmes.
8 CNTAbout Rio de Janeiro
From the Rough Guides website:
The citizens of the fourteen-million-strong city of Rio de Janeiro call it the Cidade Marvilhosa (Wonderful City), and there
can’t be much argument about that. Its international renown is bolstered by a series of symbols that rank as some
of the greatest landmarks in the world: the Corcovado mountain supporting the great statue of Christ the Redeemer;
the rounded incline of the Sugar Loaf mountain, standing at the entrance to the bay; and the famous sweeps of
Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, probably the most notable lengths of sand on the planet. It’s a setting enhanced
annually by the frenetic sensuality of Carnaval, an explosive celebration that – for many people – sums up Rio and its
citizens, the cariocas.
Sitting on the southern shore of the magnificent Guanabara Bay, Rio has, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the
most stunning settings in the world. Extending for 20km along an alluvial strip, between an azure sea and forest-clad
mountains, the city’s streets and buildings have been moulded around the foothills of the mountain range that provides
its backdrop, while out in the bay there are many rocky islands fringed with white sand. The aerial views over Rio are
breathtaking, and even the concrete skyscrapers that dominate the city’s skyline add to the attraction. As the former
capital of Brazil and now its second largest city, Rio has a remarkable architectural heritage, some of the country’s best
museums and galleries, superb restaurants and a vibrant nightlife – in addition to its legendary beaches. With so much
to see and do, Rio can easily occupy a week and you may well find it difficult to drag yourself away.
To read more click here
Other useful links
Rio on TripAdvisor: click here
Rio on Lonely Planet: click here
Rio 2016 tourist information: click here
Rio City tourist information: click here
9 CNTAbout the Olympic Hockey Centre
The Olympic Hockey Centre - located in Deodoro Olympic Park in Rio de Janiero’s West Zone – was originally built for
the 2007 Pan American Games before being renovated for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The facility has two artificial
turf pitches, changing rooms, stands and an administration area. After the Games, the Olympic Hockey Centre will
become the long-term home of the Brazilian national team. During the Games, the Olympic Hockey Centre will have
8,000 seats overlooking the Pitch 1, 2500 of which will be permanent, with 5,000 temporary seats surrounding Pitch 2.
The hockey venue has a distinctively Brazilian flavour. The combination of the blue pitch, green border, white lines and
yellow ball make up the colours of the host nation’s flag.
“This is the best surface that exists for playing hockey, the most modern in the world,” said Claudio Rocha, the coach
of Brazil’s men’s team, who will be competing in the event. “It’s very important for our sport in Brazil to have a facility of
this level,” said Brazil’s goalkeeper Thiago Bonfim, who helped the team confirm their place at Rio 2016 by claiming a
top six finish at last year’s Pan-American Games.
The Deodoro Olympic Park plays host to the second biggest cluster of Olympic competitions, with rugby sevens, BMX
cycling, canoe slalom, shooting and equestrian among the other sports taking place there.
More information about the Olympic Hockey Centre can be found here.
The Deodoro Olympic Park and The Olympic Hockey Centre ©Rio 2016
10 CNTRio 2016
Qualification Overview
In the men’s 2016 Olympic hockey event, Oceania champions Australia, Asian Games champions India, Pan Am
Games champions Argentina and European champions Netherlands all earned their tickets to Rio by winning their
respective Continental Championships.
Germany, Belgium, Great Britain, Canada, Spain, Ireland and New Zealand qualified thanks to strong performances
in the Hockey World League Semi-Finals.
Brazil men also confirmed their place at Rio 2016 after satisfying the host nation participation criteria established by
IOC and FIH thanks to a fourth place finish at the 2015 Pan American Games.
In the women’s 2016 Olympic hockey event, Australia (Oceania champions), Korea (Asian Games champions), USA
(Pan Am Games champions) and Great Britain (qualification through England’s victory at the EuroHockey
Championships 2015) all sealed their Rio places with title-winning Continental Championship campaigns.
China, Germany, Argentina, Netherlands, New Zealand, India, Japan and Spain through the Hockey World League
Semi-Finals.
Overview infographics of the men’s and women’s Olympic qualification can be found below.
To learn more about the Qualification Criteria for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, click here.
11 CNTMen’s qualification
RIO 2016 - Men's Olympic Games Qualification
Semi-Finals
Argentina Hockey World League Semi-Final
Buenos Aires 1 Germany
3-14 June 2015 2 Argentina Top 3 Continental
3 Netherlands Qualify Championships
automatically* 5 Continental Champions qualify
4 Canada
5 Spain RIO 2016
Olympic Games
6 New Zealand Teams 4-6 Asian Games
7 Korea Chance to qualify 19 Sept – 4 Oct 2014
post Continental 1 India Pan Am Games
8 Japan Championships**
2 Germany 10-26 July 2015
9 Egypt
3 Argentina Euro Championships
10 Austria 21-30 August 2015
4 Netherlands
Oceania Cup
5 Australia
FINTRO Hockey World League Semi-Final 21-25 Oct 2015
6 Belgium Africa Cup for Nations
Antwerp 1 Australia 7 Great Britain 24 Oct – 1 Nov 2015
20 June - 5 July
2015
2 Belgium Top 3 8 Brazil
3 Great Britain Qualify 9 Canada
automatically*
4 India 10 Spain
5 Ireland 11 Ireland
6 Malaysia Teams 4-6 12 New Zealand Host Nation***
7 France Chance to qualify
post Continental
8 Pakistan Championships**
9 Poland
10 China
*
India qualified for the Olympics at the Asian Games – the Asian Continental Championships.
**
Chance to qualify: If the Continental Champion has already qualified by achieving a top three finish from either of the Semi-Finals then the next highest placed team from SF1 and SF2 qualifies.In cases where teams are equally placed,
FIH ranking at the end of SF2 will determine which team qualifies.
***
Host nation – The Host Nation Brazil satisfied the criteria established by IOC and FIH at the Pan American Games.
To download this file, click here.
12 CNTWomen’s qualification
RIO 2016 - Women's Olympic Games Qualification
Semi-Finals
Valencia Hockey World League Semi-Final Spain
Valencia 1 Great Britain
10-21 June 2015 2 China Top 3 Continental
3 Germany Qualify Championships
automatically* 5 Continental Champions qualify
4 Argentina
5 USA RIO 2016
Olympic Games
6 Spain Teams 4-6 Asian Games
7 South Africa Chance to qualify 19 Sept – 4 Oct 2014
post Continental 1 Korea Pan Am Games
8 Ireland Championships**
2 Great Britain 10-26 July 2015
9 Canada
3 China Euro Championships
10 Uruguay 21-30 August 2015
4 Germany
Oceania Cup
5 Netherlands
FINTRO Hockey World League Semi-Final 21-25 Oct 2015
6 Australia
Africa Cup for Nations
Antwerp 1 Netherlands 7 Argentina 24 Oct – 1 Nov 2015
20 June - 5 July
2015
2 Korea Top 3 8 New Zealand
3 Australia Qualify 9 USA
automatically*
4 New Zealand 10 India
5 India 11 Japan
6 Japan Teams 4-6 12 Spain Host Nation***
7 Belgium Chance to qualify
post Continental
8 Italy Championships**
9 Poland
10 France
*
Korea qualified for the Olympics at the 2014 Asian Games – the Asian Continental Champions. Korea finished in the top three at Antwerp, meaning that highest-ranked fourth-placed team in either of the two Semi-Finals (Valencia or
Antwerp) has qualified for the Olympics.
**
Chance to qualify: If the Continental Champion has already qualified by achieving a top three finish from either of the Semi-Finals then the next highest placed team from SF1 and SF2 qualifies. In cases where teams are equally placed,
FIH ranking at the end of SF2 will determine which team qualifies. Argentina and New Zealand finished fourth in the HWL Semi-Final events, with Argentina being higher-ranked and therefore taking the ticket to Rio.
***
Host Nation – The Host Nation did not satisfy the criteria established by IOC and FIH. The qualification place went to the next highest ranked placed team at the HWL SF which was New Zealand.
To download this file, click here.
13 CNTNote:
In December 2015, the FIH invited Spain women and New Zealand men to participate in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
hockey events following the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee’s (SASCOC) decision to
reject invitations for South Africa’s men’s and women’s hockey teams. After South Africa men and women won the
African Hockey Championships back in November, both teams were invited to participate in the Rio 2016 Olympic
Games, in line with the FIH Qualification System. However, SASCOC decided to reject their invitations.
Following an appeal by the FIH on behalf of the South African Hockey Association to the International Olympic
Committee (IOC), the IOC Executive Board stated that, under the terms of the Olympic Charter, all parties must respect
the integrity and authority of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) for representation of their respective countries and
selection of their athletes and teams at the Olympic Games. As such, their decision confirmed that the South African
men’s and women’s hockey teams would not participate in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The decision to invite Spain women and New Zealand men was in line with the official FIH Qualification System for the
Games of the XXXI Olympiad – Rio 2016, section F, which states that if an allocated quota place is declined by the
NOC, the quota place will be reallocated to the next highest placed team from the Hockey World League Semi-Finals
not already qualified.
14 CNTFormat and
Match schedules
Quarter-Finals set to Olympic hockey debut
On 27 April 2016, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed the official match schedules for the Rio 2016
men’s and women’s hockey events, marking 100 Days To Go until the start of the Games.
Running from 6-19 August at Deodoro Olympic Park in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, the events feature 12 men’s and 12
women’s international hockey teams who qualified through the Hockey World League and Continental Championships.
Two pitches will host both events and, for the first time in an Olympic hockey competition, Quarter-Finals will be played.
With no classification games taking place, only the top four teams from each pool will qualify for the knock-out stages.
The winners of the Quarter-Finals will qualify for the Semi-Finals which will determine who will play in the gold and bronze
medal matches. The men’s medal matches are scheduled for Thursday 18 August and the women’s the following day,
on Friday 19 August.
The hockey schedules were agreed by FIH, Rio 2016, Olympic Broadcast Services (OBS) and the International Olympic
Committee (IOC). The FIH Competitions Committee also played a crucial role in the development of the schedule along
with representatives from all continents and the FIH Athletes’ Committee.
The men get the Olympics under way in some style as reigning European champions Netherlands, silver medallists at
London 2012, take on Pan American champions Argentina, who won the bronze medals at the Hockey World Cup two
years ago.
That match begins at 10:00 (all times local) on Saturday 6 August. Shortly afterwards 2014 Asian Games champions
India take on European bronze medallists Ireland in the second game of that day - Ireland being represented in the
hockey event for the first time since hockey made its debut at the Olympic Games in London in 1908.
Another highlight of the men’s schedule will be a rerun of last year’s Hockey World League Final between Australia and
Belgium on Tuesday 9 August. Reigning World Cup and World League champions Australia, currently ranked top of the
FIH World Rankings, will be hoping to finish amongst the medals again having won bronze at the London Games four
years ago.
The last day of the men’s pool matches, Friday 12 August, will see the two teams who finished above Australia’s
Kookaburras at London 2012 go head to head as defending Olympic champions Germany take on the Netherlands.
The women’s event also begins with a mouth-watering match. Reigning Hockey World League champions Argentina,
who picked up the silver medals at London 2012, will look to avenge their loss to USA in the Pan American Games final
last summer, with their match starting at 17:00 on Saturday 6 August.
London 2012 gold medallists and reigning World Cup champions Netherlands begin their title defence against Spain
the following day while another rivalry sure to excite fans will be a rerun of the 2014 Hockey Champions Trophy Final
between then winners Argentina, now ranked second in the FIH World Rankings, and Australia, ranked third, on
Thursday 11 August.
15 CNTGreat Britain won the bronze medals in front of their home fans at the last Olympics and will include a number of
athletes who were crowned European champions whilst representing England last summer. They begin their campaign
against southern hemisphere rivals Australia on Saturday 6 August.
China meanwhile will be looking to reverse their 2014 Asian Games loss to rivals Korea on Friday 12 August before six
women’s games conclude the pool stages of the events, including a match between 2015 Hockey World League Final
runners up New Zealand and Beijing 2008 Olympic silver medallists China on Saturday 13 August.
Speaking about the schedules, Michael Green, Chair of the FIH Athletes’ Committee and former Germany international,
said: “The Olympic schedule is a complex jigsaw reflecting the desire to keep an equitable spread of times and pitch
allocation for all teams across both genders alongside the specific needs of the global broadcasters. We believe this
schedule will provide players, viewers and fans alike with an exciting Olympic hockey event to showcase and promote
our sport across the world.”
Competition Format
The hockey competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games comprises women’s and men’s events, with the same format
and rules for both. In the preliminary round 12 teams are divided into two pools of six teams. Each team plays every
other team in its pool.
The two pools were determined by the FIH protocol on pool composition based on the FIH World Ranking as at 1
January 2016 as follows:
Pool A:
Seed 1; 4; 5; 8; 9; 12
Pool B:
Seed 2; 3; 6; 7; 10; 11
The top four teams in each pool proceed to the Quarter-Finals, with the remaining four teams eliminated at this stage.
The winners of the Quarter-Finals progress to the Semi-Finals, the winners of which meet in the gold medal match.
The losers of the Semi-Finals will play for the bronze medal.
For more information on the competition format, click here.
To see the complete match schedules, click here.
16 CNTThe Teams
At an Olympic Games, a team is made up of a maximum
16 players, composed of 11 players on the field and up to
five substitutes.
Each team also has two “P” alternate athletes that can be drafted
into the squad as permanent replacements for athletes who are
forced to withdraw from the event for reasons such as injury.
P alternate athletes can only become competing athletes
as per the conditions outlined in the ‘IOC/Rio 2016 Late Athlete
Replacement policy’. More information about this can be
found in the Rules and Competition Regulations section later
in this press pack.
Information about the competing teams can be found below.
17 CNTMen’s Event - Pool A:
Australia, Great Britain, Belgium, New Zealand, Spain, Brazil
Australia
Nickname: The Kookaburras
Current FIH Hero World Ranking: 1
How they qualified: Champions of Oceania
Notable honours:
Olympic gold medallists (2004) 3x Olympic silver medallists (1968, 1976, 1992), 5x Olympic bronze medallists (1964,
1996, 2000, 2008, 2012), 3x World champions (1986, 2010, 2014), Hockey World League champions (2015), 14x
Champions Trophy winners (1983, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1999, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016),
5x Commonwealth Games gold medallists (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014), 9x Oceania Cup champions (1999, 2001,
2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015).
Rank in previous Olympic editions:
1956 – 5th, 1960 – 6th, 1964 – 3rd,1968 – 2nd, 1972 - 5th, 1976 – 2nd, 1984 – 4th, 1988 – 4th, 1992 – 2nd,
1996 – 3rd, 2000 – 3rd, 2004 – 1st, 2008 – 3rd, 2012 – 3rd.
About the team:
The men’s hockey section of the 2016 Australian Olympic Team features ten returning Olympians and six eager
debutants ready to fight together in a bid to reclaim the gold medal that they won at the Athens 2004 Games.
The team, coached by former Australia international Graham Reid, will be captained in Brazil by legendary defender and
2014 FIH Player of the Year Mark Knowles, backed by an extremely powerful leadership group. The side will capitalise
on the experience of Knowles and fellow triple Olympian Jamie Dwyer – who like Knowles was a member of the gold
medal winning team from Athens 2004 - as well as dual bronze medallists Eddie Ockenden and Fergus Kavanagh who
will line up for their third Games.
Chris Ciriello, Simon Orchard, Glenn Turner, Matthew Swann, Matt Gohdes and Tim Deavin will all take to the pitch at
their second Games, while Blake Govers, Daniel Beale, Jake Whetton, Matthew Dawson and Andrew Charter and Aran
Zalewski, a late replacement for the injured Tristan White, will don the Olympic uniform for the first time.
The Kookaburras head into Rio as the number one ranked team in the world. The side recently claimed their 14th
Champions Trophy in London and were the 2015 World League Champions. They are regarded as the most consistently
successful Australian sports team over the past two decades and for more than 30 years have been ranked amongst
the top four nations in the world.
18 CNTPlayer perspective – Mark Knowles (Defender / Captain):
“When we go to the Olympic Games as the Australian men’s hockey team we want to win, we don’t want to get bronze,
just make the semis or play off for fifth. I sent every player in the squad a message after the selection memo came out.
The most important message I gave was the one I said to those selected, making the team isn’t enough. I’m extremely
proud. I’ve been selected for a fourth time and it’s something I never thought I’d have chance to.”
One to watch – Jamie Dwyer
At 37 years old, Dwyer will make history as Australia’s oldest hockey player at an Olympics, with Rio 2016 being his
fourth Games after appearing at the Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012. The brilliant attacker - a five-time
winner of the FIH Player of the Year Award, is one of the all time greats of the game, and remains a hugely influential
force for the Kookaburras. As well as being one of the most decorated players in the history of the game, Dwyer is
famed for scoring the golden goal that gave Australia the Olympic title at the Athens 2004 Games.
Hockey Australia website: www.hockey.org.au Facebook: TheKookaburras
Twitter: @kookaburras Instagram: @hockeyaustraliaofficial
No. Name DOB Goals Caps Position
1 Jamie DWYER 12/03/1979 241 359 Forward
3 Simon ORCHARD 09/07/1986 56 203 Midfielder
4 Glenn TURNER 01/05/1984 93 130 Forward
5 Chris CIRIELLO 01/10/1985 114 188 Midfielder
6 Matthew DAWSON 27/04/1994 7 47 Defender
9 Mark KNOWLES 10/03/1984 24 285 Defender
11 Eddie OCKENDEN 03/04/1987 65 278 Midfielder
12 Jake WHETTON 15/06/1991 44 102 Forward
13 Blake GOVERS 06/07/1996 26 32 Forward
16 Matt GOHDES 08/05/1990 51 153 Midfielder
17 Aran ZALEWSKI 21/03/1991 12 92 Midfielder
19 Tim DEAVIN 27/07/1984 6 132 Defender
20 Matthew SWANN 16/05/1989 6 141 Defender
23 Daniel BEALE 12/02/1993 15 81 Midfielder
30 Andrew CHARTER 30/03/1987 0 114 Goalkeeper
31 Fergus KAVANAGH 21/05/1985 15 225 Defender
2 (P) Tom CRAIG 03/09/1995 9 24 Forward
32 (P) Jeremy HAYWARD 03/03/1993 17 60 Defender
Manager: Nathan EGLINGTON Assistant Coach: Paul GAUDOIN
Coach: Graham REID Stand-In Manager: Brendyn APPLEBY
19 CNTGreat Britain
Nickname: Team GB
Current FIH Hero World Ranking: 4
How they qualified: 3rd Place –
FINTRO Hockey World League Semi-Final, Antwerp
Notable honours:
2x Olympic gold medallists (1920, 1988), Olympic silver medallists (1948), 2x Olympic bronze medallists (1952, 1984),
FIH Champions Trophy silver medallists (1985), 2x FIH Champions Trophy bronze medallists (1978, 1984).
Rank in previous Olympic editions:
1920 – 1st, 1948 – 2nd, 1952 – 3rd, 1956 – 4th, 1960 – 4th, 1964 – 9th, 1968 – 12th, 1972 – 6th, 1984 – 3rd,
1988 – 1st, 1992 – 6th, 1996 – 7th, 2000 – 6th, 2004 – 9th, 2008 – 5th, 2012 – 4th.
About the team:
Following their fourth place finish at the London 2012 Olympics, Great Britain have set their sights firmly on winning a
medal at Rio 2016. Looking at their recent history, you certainly would not bet against them. There has been a steady
improvement since their disappointing ninth place finish at the Athens 2004 Games, with the team taking fifth at Beijing
2008 before losing the bronze medal match at London 2012 against Australia.
The team, coached by ex-England and GB striker Bobby Crutchley, sealed tickets to both Rio and the Hero Hockey
World League Final in Raipur, India, with their third place finish at the FINTRO Hockey World League Semi-Final in
Antwerp, Belgium, thanks to a 5-1 win over India.
Team captain Barry Middleton will make his fourth Olympic Games appearance while Ashley Jackson returns for his third
Games after appearing at Beijing 2008 and London 2012. Nick Catlin, Dan Fox, Harry Martin and world class central
defender Iain Lewers also return from the squad who finished fourth in London with ten players set for their Olympic
Games debuts. One of those debutants is shot-stopper George Pinner, who was recently named Goalkeeper of the
Tournament at the Hero Hockey Champions Trophy 2016 in London, where Great Britain finished in fourth position.
Player perspective – George Pinner (Goalkeeper):
“You cannot deny that, as a player, Rio is what we train for day in, day out. We have a lot of long, hard and cold days at
our training centre at Bisham Abbey, and play a lot of tough games in preparation, but to represent your country at an
Olympics is what we are all here to do. Every single player dreams of the chance to play at an Olympics, and I hope we
can bring home a medal.”
20 CNTOne to watch – Ashley Jackson
Alongside team captain Barry Middleton, the 28-year-old midfielder is one of Great Britain’s most gifted individuals.
He possesses fantastic stick skills, a terrific eye for a pass and is one of the finest penalty corner drag-flickers in the
world. As always, Jackson is expected to be one of the stars of the show in Rio.
GB Hockey website: www.greatbritainhockey.co.uk
Twitter: @_GBHockey
Facebook: EnglandHockey
Instagram: @england_hockey
No. Name DOB Goals Caps Position
1 George PINNER 18/01/1987 0 101 Goalkeeper
5 David AMES 25/06/1989 1 24 Midfielder
6 Henry WEIR 13/02/1990 4 100 Defender
7 Ashley JACKSON 27/08/1987 129 223 Midfielder
9 Harry MARTIN 23/10/1992 12 140 Midfielder
11 Alastair BROGDON 10/11/1987 23 143 Forward
12 Michael HOARE 14/11/1985 1 103 Defender
13 Sam WARD 24/12/1990 13 38 Forward
14 Mark GLEGHORNE 19/05/1985 23 96 Forward
16 Adam DIXON 11/09/1986 12 179 Defender
17 Barry MIDDLETON 12/01/1984 100 365 Midfielder
22 David CONDON 06/07/1991 16 99 Forward
24 Iain LEWERS 05/01/1984 11 135 Defender
26 Nick CATLIN 08/04/1989 21 177 Midfielder
27 Dan FOX 03/03/1983 3 153 Defender
31 Ian SLOAN 19/11/1993 2 15 Defender
8 (P) Simon MANTELL 24/04/1984 60 204 Forward
20 (P) Dan SHINGLES 05/07/1986 2 67 Defender
Manager: Jon BLEBY
Coach: Bobby CRUTCHLEY
Stand-In Manager: David RALPH
21 CNTBelgium
Nickname: The Red Lions
Current FIH Hero World Ranking: 6
How they qualified: 2nd Place –
FINTRO Hockey World League Semi-Final, Antwerp
Notable honours:
Olympic bronze medallists (1920), Hockey World League silver medallists (2015), European silver medallists (2013),
European bronze medallists (2007), 5th place - Olympic Games (2012), 5th place - Rabobank Hockey World Cup
(2014), 5th place - Hero Hockey Champions Trophy (2014).
Rank in previous Olympic editions:
1920 – 3rd, 1928 – 4th, 1936 – 9th, 1948 – 5th, 1952 – 9th, 1956 – 7th, 1960 – 11th, 1964 – 11th, 1968 – 9th,
1972 – 10th, 1976 – 9th, 2008 – 9th, 2012 – 5th.
About the team:
Belgium have made huge strides forward over the past ten years and are now rated as one of the most feared attacking
sides on the planet. The Red Lions produced some excellent performances at the 2014 Rabobank Hockey World Cup
in The Hague but just missed out on a place in the competition Semi-Finals when they fell to a narrow defeat at the
hands of England before finishing fifth, an all-time high for the men’s national team.
2015 certainly had ups and downs, with a second place finish at FINTRO Hockey World League Semi-Final in Antwerp
being followed by a surprisingly low fifth place finish at the Unibet EuroHockey Championships in London. The team
ended 2015 on a high with a silver medal at the Hero Hockey World League Final, falling to a narrow 2-1 defeat against
world number 1 Australia in the title match in Raipur, India. A fifth place finish in June’s Hero Champions Trophy in
London was below expectations, but they are sure to be saving their best hockey for their Olympic title challenge.
The squad for Rio contains a staggering amount of international experience, with the vast majority of the squad having
surpassed the 100 international appearances mark including treble centurions John-John Dohmen and Jerome Truyens
as well as double centurions Cedric Charlier, Thomas Briels, Felix Denayer and ace striker Tom Boon. This supremely
talented group could be ready to peak in Rio.
Extra info:
Late in 2015, the Royal Belgian Hockey Federation (KBHB-ARBH) named New Zealander Shane McLeod as the Head
Coach of the men’s national team. McLeod replaced Dutchman Jeroen Delmee, the former Netherlands international
defender and double Olympic gold medallist (Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000) who stepped away from the position at the
end of September. McLeod – who has enjoyed spells coaching the New Zealand men’s and women’s teams as well
22 CNTas guiding Antwerp-based club side Waterloo Ducks to consecutive Belgian league titles in 2013 and 2014 – has been
given the task of guiding the Red Lions to a podium finish at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, which would be their first
since the 1920 Games on home soil in Antwerp.
One to watch – John-John Dohmen
A creative midfielder who rarely puts a foot wrong, the 28-year-old Belgian captain is currently at the peak of his powers.
Named Player of the Tournament at last year’s FINTRO Hockey World League Semi-Final, Dohmen is likely to be a
massively influential figure for his team in Rio.
Royal Belgian Hockey Federation website: www.hockey.be
Twitter: @BELRedLions
Facebook: BELRedLions
Instagram: @BELRedLions
No. Name DOB Goals Caps Position
4 Arthur VAN DOREN 01/10/1994 N/A 97 Defender
7 John-John DOHMEN 24/01/1988 N/A 327 Midfielder
8 Florent VAN AUBEL 25/10/1991 N/A 154 Forward
9 Sebastien DOCKIER 28/12/1989 N/A 112 Forward
10 Cedric CHARLIER 27/11/1987 N/A 228 Forward
12 Gauthier BOCCARD 26/08/1991 N/A 123 Defender
15 Emmanuel STOCKBROEKX 23/12/1993 N/A 95 Midfielder
17 Thomas BRIELS 23/08/1987 N/A 254 Forward
19 Felix DENAYER 31/01/1990 N/A 237 Midfielder
21 Vincent VANASCH 21/12/1987 N/A 155 Goalkeeper
22 Simon GOUGNARD 17/01/1991 N/A 198 Midfielder
25 Loick LUYPAERT 19/08/1991 N/A 143 Defender
27 Tom BOON 25/01/1990 N/A 206 Forward
28 Jerome TRUYENS 04/08/1987 N/A 316 Midfielder
29 Elliot VAN STYDONCK 21/07/1988 N/A 164 Defender
32 Tanguy COSYNS 29/06/1991 N/A 90 Forward
14 (P) Alexandre DE PAEUW 07/10/1988 N/A 128 Midfielder
16 (P) Alexander HENDRICKX 06/08/1993 N/A 46 Defender
Manager: Eric PIRENNE
Coach: Shane MCLEOD
Assistant Coach: Philippe GOLDBERG
Stand-In Manager: Mick BEUNEN
23 CNTNew Zealand
Nickname: The Black Sticks
Current FIH Hero World Ranking: 8
How they qualified: 6th Place – Argentina Hockey
World League Semi-Final, Buenos Aires
Notable honours:
Olympic gold medallists (1976), Hockey World League silver medallists (2012-14 edition), Champions Challenge gold
medallists (2009), Commonwealth Games silver medallists (2002), 9x Oceania Cup silver medallists (1999, 2001, 2003,
2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015), 2x Sultan Azlan Shah Cup winners (2012, 2015).
Rank in previous Olympic editions:
1956 – 6th, 1960 – 5th, 1964 – 13th, 1968 – 7th, 1972 – 9th, 1976 – 1st, 1984 – 7th, 1992 – 8th, 2004 – 6th,
2008 – 7th, 2012 – 9th.
About the team:
1976 Olympic champions New Zealand, coached by former Australian international Colin Batch, are blessed with
enormous talent, supreme fitness levels and an incredible will to win. All of these attributes make them a side to be both
feared and respected in equal measure.
The Black Sticks did not hit the highs that many expected of them in their Olympic qualifying campaign, scraping
through with a sixth place finish at the Argentina Hockey World League Semi-Final in Buenos Aires, with their Olympic
berth being confirmed following the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee’s (SASCOC) decision
to reject the invitation of continental champions South Africa men. It is an opportunity that New Zealand’s gifted squad
are determined to maximize.
Four players – captain and star striker Simon Child, midfield veteran Ryan Archibald as well as defenders Shea
McAleese and Bradley Shaw - will be playing at their third Olympic Games. At the other end of the spectrum, 18-year-
old midfielder Hayden Phillips, who only made his debut earlier this year and has just 11 caps to his name, has also
been selected.
Interestingly, Ryan Archibald’s father, Jeff, was a member of the Black Sticks squad that took won the gold medal at the
1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada.
Coach comment – Colin Batch:
“Our team is well balanced with eight new Olympians and eight having experienced Olympic competition before. Rio does
offer many more challenges than what athletes experienced at London. It is not just about coping with the environment,
but all teams face tough competition in both men’s pools. There is no easy path to securing a quarter-finals spot.
However, I’m confident that we can perform well and be a strong contender at the business end of the tournament.”
24 CNTOne to watch – Simon Child
Since making his senior international debut ten years ago at the tender age of 16, Simon Child has rightly earned a
reputation as one of the finest strikers in the game. Child is the youngest Black Sticks player in history to reach 100 caps
and has a habit of scoring crucial and often spectacular goals for his team. With Child among their ranks, the Black
Sticks will feel confident that they can achieve great things in Rio.
Hockey New Zealand website: www.hockeynz.co.nz
Twitter: @BlackSticks
Facebook: nzblacksticks
Instagram: @nzblacksticks
No. Name DOB Goals Caps Position
1 James COUGHLAN 28/08/1990 10 63 Midfielder
6 Simon CHILD 16/04/1988 136 268 Forward
9 Blair HILTON 28/08/1989 25 161 Forward
10 Ryan ARCHIBALD 01/09/1980 51 321 Midfielder
12 Bradley SHAW 13/02/1983 5 186 Defender
17 Nic WOODS 26/08/1995 9 54 Defender
20 Devon MANCHESTER 11/11/1989 0 88 Goalkeeper
21 Kane RUSSELL 22/04/1992 27 81 Defender
22 Blair TARRANT 11/05/1990 2 156 Defender
23 Shay NEAL 04/06/1990 14 81 Forward
24 Arun PANCHIA 22/04/1989 4 195 Midfielder
25 Shea MCALEESE 07/08/1984 29 233 Defender
27 Stephen JENNESS 07/06/1990 58 158 Forward
29 Hugo INGLIS 18/01/1991 50 176 Forward
31 Hayden PHILLIPS 06/02/1998 1 17 Midfielder
32 Nick WILSON 06/08/1990 71 164 Forward
(P) Marcus CHILD 02/03/1991 N/A N/A Forward
(P) Nick HAIG 12/03/1987 N/A N/A Defender
Manager: Dean COUZINS
Coach: Colin BATCH
Assistant Coach: Bryce COLLINS
Stand-In Manager: Greg NICOL
25 CNTSPAIN
Nickname: The Red Sticks
Current FIH Hero World Ranking: 11
How they qualified: 5th Place – Argentina Hockey
World League Semi-Final, Buenos Aires
Notable honours:
3x Olympic silver medallists (1980, 1996, 2008), 2x FIH World Cup silver medallists (1971, 1998), European Champions
(1974, 2005), FIH Champions Trophy winners (2004), FIH Champions Challenge 1 winners (2003).
Rank in previous Olympic editions:
1928 – 7th, 1948 – 11th, 1960 – 3rd, 1964 – 4th, 1968 – 6th, 1972 – 7th, 1976 – 6th, 1980 – 2nd, 1984 – 8th, 1988 –
9th, 1992 – 5th, 1996 – 2nd, 2000 – 9th, 2004 – 4th, 2008 – 2nd, 2012 – 6th.
About the team:
Spain may have dropped down the FIH Hero World Rankings in recent years but they remain a supremely talented team
that should not be underestimated. Under the stewardship of Head Coach and former France international Frederic
Soyez, a talented new generation of Red Sticks players are working hard in a bid to return Spain to an era of greatness
that culminated in an Olympic silver medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
The team has had to cope with the retirements of iconic attackers such as 2008 FIH Player of the Year Pol Amat and
European Hockey Federation Hall of Famer Santi Freixa in recent years, but the future is looking very promising indeed.
Speed merchant Xavi Lleonart is a fantastic attacker, while David Alegre, Roc Oliva, Sergi Enrique, Miguel Delas, penalty
corner ace Pau Quemada and brilliant goalkeeper Quico Cortes bring masses amounts of world level experience to the
table. Could this be the tournament where the Spanish revival really kicks into gear?
Player perspective – Manel Terraza (Midfielder / Captain):
“I think that we have had good preparation and we have taken the couple of steps forward that we needed to. Now we
are ready to compete, fight and give absolutely everything.”
26 CNTOne to watch – David Alegre
A stalwart of the Spanish team, classy midfielder David Alegre has been a central figure in the side for well over a
decade, winning Olympic silver at Beiing 2008 as well as gold medals at the 2004 Champions Trophy in Lahore (PAK)
and 2005 European Championships in Leipzig (GER).
RFEH website: www.rfeh.es
Twitter: @rfe_hockey
Facebook: RFEH Hockey
Instagram: @absolutamasc
No. Name DOB Goals Caps Position
1 Quico CORTES 29/03/1983 0 225 Goalkeeper
3 Sergi ENRIQUE 22/09/1987 9 233 Defender
5 Bosco PEREZ-PLA 26/09/1987 0 126 Defender
6 Miguel DELAS 13/04/1984 16 175 Defender
7 Pau QUEMADA 04/09/1983 95 180 Forward
8 Vicenc RUIZ 30/10/1991 4 76 Midfielder
9 Alvaro IGLESIAS 01/03/1993 8 79 Forward
10 David ALEGRE 06/09/1984 82 247 Midfielder
11 Roc OLIVA 18/07/1989 65 153 Midfielder
13 Andres MIR 25/01/1987 8 122 Defender
17 Xavi LLEONART 22/06/1990 39 138 Forward
19 Marc SALLES 06/05/1987 23 141 Midfielder
20 Salvador PIERA 18/05/1991 15 76 Midfielder
21 Alex CASASAYAS 17/02/1988 12 87 Forward
22 Manel TERRAZA 11/05/1990 21 123 Midfielder
23 Josep ROMEU 22/05/1990 2 35 Defender
12 (P) Jordi CARRERA 12/06/1982 2 75 Defender
25 (P) Mario FERNANDEZ 26/04/1992 0 25 Goalkeeper
Manager: Cesar HERNANDEZ GISTAIN
Coach: Frederic SOYEZ
Assistant Coach: Eduardo AGUILAR
Stand-In Manager: Ramon SALA
27 CNTBRAZIL
Current FIH Hero World Ranking: 30
How they qualified: 4th place –
2015 Pan American Games, Toronto.
Notable honours:
4th place – 2015 Pan American Games, 1st place – 2015 Rio Olympics Test Event, 1st place – 2015 Pan America
Challenge, 2nd place – 2011 Pan American Challenge.
Rank in previous Olympic editions:
1st appearance.
About the team:
The host nation may be the lowest ranked team in the men’s competition, but they are very much here on merit. Set
the target of achieving a top six finish at last year’s Pan American Games in Toronto by both the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) and the International Hockey Federation (FIH), Brazil went one stage better, reaching the semi-finals to
guarantee a top four finish at the event.
It was a staggering performance by the team, and the result of years of hard work coming to fruition to seal a dream
qualification for their home Olympics. Since then, the team claimed a first place finish at the Rio Olympics Test Event late
in 2015, ensuring that they clearly feel very much at home on the Deodoro Olympic Park.
The squad includes two players who were named in the 2015 Pan American Elite teams, with striker Matheus Borges
and defender Stephane Vehrle-Smith being rewarded with deserved recognition of their respective talents. Although the
majority of the squad represent Brazilian clubs, some are plying their trade abroad. Vehrle-Smith plays his hockey with
English club champions Holcombe, while Ernst Rost-Onnes (Hockeyvereniging HIC) and brothers Yuri (Larensche) and
Patrick van der Heijden (AMHC Apeldoorn) all compete in the Netherlands.
Brazil are sure to be inspired by the passionate support of their home fans, who will be cheering them in samba style
along every step of the way.
Player perspective – Rodrigo Faustino:
“It’s going to be very difficult, but a real pleasure too. All those players we have admired on television and on the internet
will be in front of us, on the pitch, playing against us. It will be a unique opportunity.”
28 CNTYou can also read
