[img_assist|nid=8471|title=Back after injury|desc=Sophie Bray (left) – photo: Andy Smith|link=node|align=left|width=220|height=133]England have named their squad of 18 players for the World League final in Argentina, November 30 – December 8.
The squad contains only one change from that which brought home a European silver medal this summer.
After recovering from a thumb injury, which kept her out of the European squad, forward Sophie Bray has been recalled.
Surbiton’s Sarah Haycroft is the athlete who misses out on this occasion. Sally Walton is also named in the squad, after recovering from ligament damage to her ankle during the semi-final of the EuroHockey Nations Championships.
England coach Jason Lee said: “The squad is largely unchanged from that which competed at the Investec World League Semi Final and the Europeans during the summer where the group performed really well, gaining silvers on both occasions. There is certainly a lot of competition for places from the wider squad so the selection was extremely competitive.
“A number of the players are coming back from injury so we may have to change the selection in the coming weeks if any start to struggle with form or fitness. The squad have been training very hard over recent months and this bodes well for a great showing in Argentina.”
England captain Kate Richardson-Walsh added: “We’re looking forward to continuing the momentum we’ve built throughout 2013 and are excited to take on the world’s best at Argentina Hockey World League Final.”
England have been drawn in pool A, alongside Olympic champions the Netherlands, European champions Germany and world number eight side Korea.
On paper England’s biggest threat will come from the Netherlands. The world number one side will be looking for revenge after the last time they met when England clinched victory via a shootout in the EuroHockey Nations Championships semi-final.
Following the victory they met fellow pool A rivals Germany who they agonisingly lost to in a shootout in the final. England’s other opponents, Korea, might be the lowest ranked side in the pool, but after finishing third in their World League Semi Final with a victory over number three side New Zealand, they are sure to be no push-over.
In the other pool, hosts Argentina, New Zealand, Australia and China will battle it out for top spot to ensure a favourable Quarter-Final match against pool A opponents.
England play in the opening match of the Argentina Hockey World League Final against Korea on November 30 at 12noon (UK time). All matches will be streamed live on the FIH YouTube Channel.
Before the Argentina Hockey World League Final, Head Coach Jason Lee will take a Great Britain squad out to Germany from Sunday November 10 – Wednesday November 13 to play three capped matches.
The matches will provide Lee an opportunity to see athletes from the wider training squad, including three from Scotland. The matches will be capped and there will be one press release following the three games. The squad can be seen here, along with the fixtures.
Women’s World Cup 2018 – bid announcement
Before the Argentina Hockey World League Final reaches us the excitement is building ahead of the announcement about who will host the Women’s World Cup 2018. England and New Zealand are the two countries in the running and we will find out who’s been successful on Thursday evening at 19:30 (UK time).
Argentina Hockey World League Final match schedule
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Date/Match # |
Info |
Time (UK) |
Teams |
Result |
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Saturday 30 November |
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1 |
Pool A |
12:00 |
ENG – KOR |
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2 |
Pool A |
14:30 |
NED – GER |
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3 |
Pool B |
21:30 |
NZL – CHN |
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4 |
Pool B |
00:00 (1 Dec) |
ARG – AUS |
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Sunday 1 December |
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5 |
Pool A |
12:00 |
ENG – NED |
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6 |
Pool A |
14:30 |
GER – KOR |
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7 |
Pool B |
21:30 |
AUS – CHN |
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8 |
Pool B |
00:00 (2 Dec) |
NZL – ARG |
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Monday 2 December |
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Rest Day |
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Tuesday 3 December |
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9 |
Pool A |
12:00 |
NED – KOR |
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10 |
Pool A |
14:30 |
GER – ENG |
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1 |
Pool B |
21:30 |
AUS – NZL |
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12 |
Pool B |
00:00 (4 Dec) |
ARG – CHN |
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Wednesday 4 December |
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Rest Day |
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Thursday 5 December |
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13 |
QF1 |
12:00 |
1A – 4B |
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14 |
QF2 |
14:30 |
2A – 3B |
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15 |
QF3 |
21:30 |
2B – 3A |
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16 |
QF4 |
00:00 (6 Dec) |
1B – 4A |
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Friday 6 December |
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Rest Day |
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Saturday 7 December |
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17 |
5 / 8 |
12:00 |
LM13 – LM14 |
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18 |
5 / 8 |
14:30 |
LM15 – LM16 |
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19 |
SF1 |
21:30 |
WM13 – WM14 |
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20 |
SF2 |
00:00 (8 Dec) |
WM15 – WM16 |
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Sunday 8 December |
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21 |
7 / 8 |
12:00 |
LM17 – LM18 |
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22 |
5 / 6 |
14:30 |
WM17 – WM18 |
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23 |
3 / 4 |
21:30 |
LM19 – LM20 |
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24 |
Final |
00:00 (9 Dec) |
WM19 – WM20 |
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England Women’s Squad for the Argentina Hockey World League Final
Name – Current Club – Position
Giselle Ansley – Surbiton – Defender
Ashleigh Ball – Slough – Midfielder
Sophie Bray – MOP (NED) – Forward
Alex Danson – Reading – Forward
Susie Gilbert – Reading – Midfielder
Maddie Hinch – Holcombe – Goalkeeper
Kirsty Mackay – Bowdon Hightown – Goalkeeper
Hannah Macleod – Leicester – Forward
Lily Owsley – University of Birmingham – Forward
Sam Quek – Reading – Defender
Helen Richardson-Walsh – Reading – Midfielder
Susie Townsend – Reading – Midfielder
Georgie Twigg – Surbiton – Midfielder
Laura Unsworth – Holcombe – Defender
Kate Richardson-Walsh – Reading – Defender
Sally Walton – Wakefield* – Defender
Hollie Webb – Surbiton – Defender
Nicola White – Leicester – Forward
