The FIH Olympic Qualifiers will commence from 25th October and we are in for a heavy dose of hockey. The first day will see only a single game which will be played between Spain and France.
Spain will be playing the host in this game given the fact that they are a higher-ranked side as compared to France. Spain are ranked 8th in the World, whereas, France are ranked 12th.
Spain are eluded of a World Cup trophy but have played every edition of the mega-event ever since its inception. They have won the Euro Hockey Nations Championship twice and also the Champions Trophy and Champions Challenge once.
Meanwhile, France are currently holding the highest-ranking of their career i.e. 12th. They had a brilliant run in the recently concluded World Cup in 2018 where they stunned everyone to reach the quarter-finals. In their last meeting against Spain, they played a draw which will definitely help their confidence here.
The match will be played at Estadio Betero in Valencia on 25th October
Time –21:30 IST
Total- 06
France Won– 04
Spain Won– 01
Draws- 01
France Hockey Squad
Hugo Genestet (c), Arthur Thieffry, Pieter van Straaten, Tom Genestet, Blaise Rogeau, Viktor Lockwood, Charles Masson, Amaury bellenger, Nicolas Dumont, Gaspard, Baumgarten, Francois Goyet, Cristofor Peters-Deutz, Victor Chartlet, Theophile Ponthieu, Maximilien Branicki, Timothee Clement, Corentin Saunier.
Spain Hockey Squad
Miguel Delas (c), Quico Cortes, Sergi Enrique, Ignacio RodriguezEnrique Gonzalez, Alvaro Iglesias, Marc Salles, Roc Oliva, Joan Tarres, David Alegre, Llorenc Piera, Xavi Lleonart, Alejandro de Frutos, Vicenc Ruiz, Josep Romeu, Mario Garen, Pau Quemada, Marc Bolto.
V Lockwood, X Lleonart, M Delas, I Rodriguez, H Genestet
Goal-Keeper- Q Cortes
Defenders- S Enrique, M Delas, I Rodriguez, V Lockwood
Mid-Fielders- X Lleonart (vc), H Genestet, C Masson
Forward- A Iglesias (c), E Gonzalez, G Baumgarten
Captain/Vice-Captain Picks
H Genestet, C Masson, M Delas, I Rodriguez, E Gonzalez