The tension, excitement and nervousness that was experienced in the Pre-Olympic was a spectacular preview of what is to come at the Paris Olympic Games in the middle of the season. With spectacular goals, unforgettable celebrations, surprises and disappointments, several historic events occurred ahead of the Paris event.
Belgium, champion in Valencia, returns to the Olympic Games after its absence in Tokyo 2020. WORLDSPORTPICS
First of all, it should be noted that the elite of the nations with the greatest hockey power remained in terms of those classified for the French capital. Already, there were 12 who had entered through the continental competitions (except for France, the host in both women’s and men’s) and who repeated their place from the last Olympic competition in Tokyo.
Anyway, there was room for surprise through competitions pre-Olympics: In men, Japan and Canada gave up their place so that they are occupied by the Gauls and Ireland, who achieved his pass with the bronze medal in Valencia. Although, perhaps, the loudest data will be the absence of Pakistana historic nation that has won three Olympic gold medals in 1960, 1968 and 1984 and will not be in Paris. Together with Zimbabwe, in women, they will be the only Olympic champions who will not see action on French soil.
The Pre-Olympic grade, in any case, was given in the female branch. Two traditional teams like India and New Zealand will be absent from the Olympic Games and marked two historical events. the indiesfor their part, will be the first country to achieve fourth Olympic place and not qualify to the next edition. While the new zealanders were left out after attending every tournament since Atlanta 1996. It should be noted that Ireland, eliminated in the European competition prior to the Pre-Olympic, will be the third nation that was in the Japanese capital in 2021 and will not repeat. This fact also marked the Olympic return of Belgium, brand new pre-Olympic champion in Valencia, and the United States, the great revelation of Ranchi that finished in second place along with the aforementioned French as hosts.
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In addition, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced the arrangement of the groups for the initial phase in Paris. The lioness They will play with five countries with whom they faced in the championship on several occasions. Australia, one of the most difficult rivals, could never beat them in the six times they met (one draw and five losses). Great Britain, whom they beat in the London 2012 semi-final, will be another match. Against the British they have two wins, one draw and three losses. While with Spain (three wins and one loss), the United States (won three, tied once and lost twice) and South Africa (beat them the only time they played) they maintain a positive record.
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On the side of The Lions, an interesting fact is repeated: against Belgium, India, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, the rivals in his group, he only beat each of them once in Olympic history. With the Indians and Australians they have the most negative head-to-head of all with eight defeats at the hands of the Asians in 10 games and five at the hands of the Oceanic teams in seven matches. Against the Belgians, champions of the last edition, they will have the great revenge of the unforgettable final won in Rio de Janeiro 2016 that meant, so far, the only Olympic gold for Argentina in hockey.