Hot favourites: The Australians will be looking to win yet another world title.
Twenty-four teams will aim for glory when the 13th men’s and women’s hockey World Cup begins in The Hague tomorrow.
The opening match in the Kyocera stadium, home of ADO Den Haag football club, will see reigning world champions Australia take on Malaysia in the men’s competition.
The current world leaders have set themselves the clear target of defending the title they won in New Delhi in 2010.
“As with every tournament we enter we want to play in the main games at the end,” said Kookaburra coach Ric Charlesworth.
“To do that you need to hit the ground running and perform consistently through the tournament.”
Olympic champions Germany are also among the favourites as well as host nation the Netherlands, the Olympic silver medallists and winners of the inaugural Hockey World League.
Team captain Robert van der Horst points out the Dutch team’s high ambitions: “Our goal is simple - we are going for the world title.”
Australia, England, Belgium, India, Spain and Malaysia will meet in men’s pool A while Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, Argentina and South Africa clash in pool B.
A team which should not be under-estimated is Belgium, recent winners of the World League semi-final tournament in Rotterdam where they beat Australia twice.
The Red Lions also battled their way into the final of the European Championships played on home soil in Boom, which they eventually lost to Germany.
In the women’s competition, Olympic champions the Netherlands and world champions Argentina are the top seeds.
“This squad gives us the best combinations of plays. With this group of players we can also implement a plan B or C if plan A does not work” says Oranje coach Max Caldas. “The World Cup is our party in our house, so we should enjoy it.”
Despite winning the silver medal at the London Olympics Las Leonas coach Carlos Retegui, who will also be coaching the men’s side, said:
“In London we did not do so well.”
Star of the show is Luciana Aymar, 36, who has more than 360 international appearances and won the FIH player of the year award eight times.
In pool B, Argentina face England, Germany, China, USA and South Africa. Pool A sees the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan and Belgium battling for a semi-final spot.
Oceania champions Australia surprised by winning the World League semi-final tournament in London last year, while Germany topped the semi-final event in Rotterdam before clinching the European championship trophy in Boom in August 2013.