England versus Australia 2011 Rabo FIH Champions Trophy: Hockey Preview
The Women’s field hockey team of England will face off Australia in the Pool D match of the 2011 Rabo FIH Champions Trophy, being held at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amsterdam, Holland on July 01, 2011.
Australia
The Hockeyroos squad is currently the last seeded team in Pool D of the 2011 Rabo FIH Champions Trophy with one victory and two draws out of the three matches. They posted an unlikeable intuition over the coach and hockey lovers with a defeat against
New Zealand in Pool B. It played two games in the Pool D and defeated Germany in the first round, while managed a draw against China in the second fixture. It scored three goals, while conceded only two in the last two appearances and currently topping the
Pool with four points.
It is vital to mention here that the Australian Women would have to win the game in any case if they want to book a place in the 2012 Champions Trophy.
The Hockeyroos, which has had three gold medals in the Olympic Games, two in the World Cups, three in the Commonwealth Games, six in the Champions Trophy and two gold medals in the Oceania Cup, will have to finish at the fifth place in the ongoing
championship.
England
The English team though showed quite impressive performances in the eight-nation Champions Trophy. However, they failed to get themselves into the medal round. They are sitting at the number two in the Pool D with one victory and one draw. However,
the conversion rate of English player in the Pool D is quite slow as compared to the opponent, Hockeyroos. It scored only a single goal, while did not concede any score in the last two games.
Interestingly, the English women have not succeeded to win a major assignment in the international hockey so far. Its major title was a gold medal in the Champions Challenge back in 2002. In the Champions Trophy, its best record was the bronze medal
in the last edition held in 2010.
Though, the English team is currently holding 5th place in the World Ranking. However, they would have to display an impressive show against the Hockeyroos in the upcoming fixture and get fifth place in the Champions Trophy.
Players to be watched
From the Australian side, Jodie Schulz, Casey Eastham and Jade Close scored one goal each in the ongoing edition of the Champions Trophy. Australian’s Renee Trost demonstrated her capabilities to the greatest in all the previous fixtures of the tournament.
Her game will be under the lime-light in the competition against England. Additionally, Casey Eastham and Madonna Blyth will also show their best in order to secure the fifth place in the Champions Trophy.
On the other hand, Kate Walsh, the highest ranked player of England, will be the shine-out on the field. Apart from Walsh, Crista Cullen, Helen Richardson and Anna Bennett are highest capped players of the English side.
Head-to-head Statistics
The last encounter between England and Australia was held in Commonwealth Games in which the latter marked a 1-0 victory. In 2009 Champions Trophy, Australia won the game at 4-0 victory. However, this time the English team is stronger and stiffer on
the field as compared to the opponent's line-up.
Prediction
As per the previous track record, the Hockeyroos are expected to win the game by 2-1.
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