In the first of our group-by-group previews, we look at Pool A of the women’s EuroHockey Championship where world number one side the Netherlands are the side to beat.
Spain and Belgium reprise their 2021 bronze medal showdown in which the Belgians took the laurels while Italy will be looking to cause a shock along the way.
Pool A
Belgium
- World ranking: 5th
- EuroHockey Championship appearances: 12
- Best finish: 2nd (2017)
Overview: Raoul Ehren’s rising squad are going for a third medal in four European attempts. It follows a strong run in the FIH Pro League when they ended in fourth place, winning half of their games and losing just four in 16 outings.
In goal, the national coach’s choice fell on Elena Sotgiu and Aisling D’Hooghe with Elodie Picard missing out. The “little youngsters” Vanessa Blockmans (defence), Camille Belis (midfielder), Emily White and Delphine Mariën (attack) saw their excellent performances in recent Pro League matches rewarded with selection for a first major tournament.
In addition, the Panthers also have Abigail Raye back after her injury suffered during the Belgian finals. Lien Hillewaert, Ambre Ballenghien and Picard (GK) are not included this time.
| # | Name | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 3 | Justine Rasir | 49 | 4 | Royal Racing Club de Bruxelles |
| 4 | Delphine Marien | 16 | 5 | KHC Dragons |
| 5 | Abi Raye | 201 (BEL 46, CAN 155) | 10 BEL / 10 CAN | HC Tilburg |
| 6 | Charlotte Englebert | 53 | 11 | Den Bosch (NL) |
| 7 | Judith Vandermeiren | 216 | 6 | Braxgata |
| 8 | Emma Puvrez | 181 | 11 | HC Tilburg |
| 9 | Emily White | 14 | 7 | Waterloo Ducks |
| 10 | Louise Versavel | 234 | 39 | HC Tilburg |
| 13 | Alix Gerniers | 248 | 27 | Gantoise |
| 15 | Vanessa Blockmans | 22 | 1 | Waterloo Ducks |
| 17 | Michelle Struijk | 107 | 3 | Gantoise |
| 19 | Barbara Nelen | 303 | 22 | Gantoise |
| 21 | Aisling D’Hooghe | 214 | 0 | Waterloo Ducks |
| 22 | Stephanie Vanden Borre | 166 | 43 | Braxgata |
| 23 | Elena Sotgiu | 77 | 0 | Braxgata |
| 31 | Lucie Breyne | 44 | 2 | Waterloo Ducks |
| 36 | Hélène Brasseur | 45 | 0 | Gantoise |
| 40 | Camille Belis | 12 | 0 | Braxgata |
| Team Manager | Muriel Peche |
| Stand-In Manager | Hannes Agache |
| Head Coach | Raoul Ehren |
| Assistant Coach | Tim White |
| Medical Doctor | Katja van Oostveldt |
| Physiotherapist | Valentine Smidt |
| Physiotherapist | Ellen Jacobs |
| Physical Trainer | Glenn Faveyts |
| Video Technician | Michael Cosma |
Official press release: https://hockey.be/fr/red-panthers-melange-de-jeunesse-et-dexperience-dans-la-selection-pour-le-championnat-deurope-2023/
Italy
- World ranking: 17th
- EuroHockey Championship appearances: 10
- Best finish: 7th (2007, 2013)
Overview: Italy qualified for a second successive appearance in the top tier following their victory in Vilnius last summer, getting the best of Lithuania and Ukraine. Since then, they grabbed a fifth place finish in the FIH Nations Cup in December, going unbeaten throughout – they drew group matches against higher ranked Korea, Ireland and Spain before beating South Africa 2-0 and Korea in a shoot-out.
The side is well travelled with nine players based in Belgium, four in Spain and captain Sara Puglisi played with promoted Dutch side Oranje Rood. There is also a trio of ex-Argentina internationals: the vastly experienced Lara Oviedo along with Ivanna Pessina and Camila Machin.
Federica Carta is the main goalscoring option while there is set to be debuts for Antonella Rinaldi and Chiara di Bella. They do have a late change to their line-up with goalkeeper Sofia Monserrat missing out through injury with Under-21 international Giulia Bianchini getting the call-up.
| # | Name | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1 | Giulia Bianchini (GK) | 0 | 0 | Butterfly Roma ACC |
| 3 | Teresa Dalla Vittoria | 34 | 0 | White Star (BEL) |
| 5 | Ailin Oviedo | 18 | 1 | Real Sociedad (ESP) |
| 7 | Elettra Bormida | 14 | 0 | White Star (BEL) |
| 9 | Emilia Munitis | 35 | 0 | Real Sociedad (ESP) |
| 10 | Dalila Mirabella | 111 | 4 | Polisportiva Valverde |
| 11 | Antonella Rinaldi | 0 | 0 | Atlètic Terrassa (ESP) |
| 12 | Lucia Caruso (GK) | 12 | 0 | Sanse Complutense (ESP) |
| 14 | Antonella Bruni | 13 | 0 | Royal Victory (BEL) |
| 18 | Federica Carta (c) | 52 | 17 | Real Sociedad (ESP) |
| 19 | Candela Carosso | 6 | 0 | SG Amsicora |
| 21 | Sara Puglisi (c) | 35 | 0 | Oranje Rood (NL) |
| 25 | Mercedes Pastor | 13 | 1 | Herakles (BEL) |
| 26 | Sofia Laurito | 31 | 4 | Waterloo Ducks (BEL) |
| 27 | Lara Oviedo | 60 (ARG 4, ITA 56) | 19 | Gantoise (BEL) |
| 28 | Ivanna Pessina | 53 (ARG 10, ITA 43) | 4 | KHC Leuven (BEL) |
| 30 | Camila Machin | 12 (ARG 2, ITA 10) | 3 | Royal Victory (BEL) |
| 44 | Chiara Di Bella | 0 | 0 | CUS Torino |
| Team Manager | Ivonne Allers |
| Head Coach | Robert Justus |
| Assistant Coach | Andrés Mondo |
| Medical Doctor | Elisa Checchi |
| Physiotherapist | Giovanni Monachesi |
| Physical Trainer | Sandro Bartolomei |
| Video Technician | Lucas vanden Bossche |
Official press release: https://www.federhockey.it/home/fih/comunicati-stampa/comunicati-stampa-blog/12835-azzurre-le-convocate-per-il-championship-di-moenchengladbach-torneo-al-via-il-18-agosto.html
Netherlands
- World ranking: 1st
- EuroHockey Championship appearances: 16
- Best finish: Winners – 11 times (1984, 1987, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2017, 2019, 2021)
Overview: The Netherlands are going for a fourth successive title having gone unbeaten in the EuroHockey Championships since the 2015 final shoot-out against England. There remain a couple of links to that event with Laura Nunnink, Margot van Geffen, Maria Verschoor and Anne Veenendaal linking the generations.
It has something of a new look with experienced players from last year’s World Cup gold like Eva de Goede and Lidewij Welten not included while Sabine Plönissen stepped back from the panel in recent weeks. With Marloes Keetels and Laurien Leurink retiring, it means a bit of a shake-up to their line-up but they swept to Pro League glory this season with Yibbi Jansen scoring a goal a game.
Felice Albers is the current world player of the year and Frédérique Matla is another goal machine in a hugely exciting line-up.
| # | Name | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1 | Anne Veenendaal (GK) | 103 | 0 | AH&BC Amsterdam |
| 2 | Luna Fokke | 14 | 2 | SV Kampong |
| 3 | Rosa Fernig | 6 | 0 | Den Bosch |
| 4 | Freeke Moes | 41 | 10 | AH&BC Amsterdam |
| 5 | Lisa Post | 25 | 0 | SCHC |
| 7 | Xan de Waard | 196 | 19 | SCHC |
| 8 | Yibbi Jansen | 52 | 34 | SCHC |
| 9 | Renee van Laarhoven | 45 | 3 | SCHC |
| 10 | Felice Albers | 47 | 19 | AH&BC Amsterdam |
| 11 | Maria Verschoor | 184 | 28 | AH&BC Amsterdam |
| 14 | Sanne Koolen | 89 | 0 | Den Bosch |
| 15 | Frédérique Matla | 114 | 83 | Den Bosch |
| 16 | Joosje Burg | 22 | 13 | Den Bosch |
| 18 | Pien Sanders | 101 | 4 | Den Bosch |
| 19 | Marijn Veen | 36 | 16 | AH&BC Amsterdam |
| 20 | Laura Nunnink | 172 | 2 | Den Bosch |
| 21 | Pien Dicke | 27 | 10 | SCHC |
| 22 | Josine Koning (GK) | 113 | 0 | Den Bosch |
| 23 | Margot Van Geffen | 252 | 17 | Den Bosch |
| 26 | Elzemiek Zandee | 11 | 2 | SCHC |
| Team Manager | Wietske de Ruiter |
| Head Coach | Paul van Ass |
| Assistant Coach | Thomas Tichelman |
| Medical Doctor | Jolanda Heere |
| Physiotherapist | Sacha van Lith |
| Physiotherapist | Jan van ‘t Land |
| Video Technician | Shaffy Cohen |
Spain
- World ranking: 7th
- EuroHockey Championship appearances: 16
- Best finish: 2nd (1995, 2003)
Overview: Spain enter the competition looking to win a medal for the fourth time in the Europeans following a pair of silvers and a third place in 2019 in Antwerp. It is a squad transitioning with a number of big guns not involved for this tournament like Gigi Oliva, Carlota Petchamé and Lola Riera.
It has brought in a number of new faces into the mix but there is still plenty of experience. Captain Maria Lopez is in her sixth European campaign while goalkeeper Maria Ruiz is back involved having given birth to her first child last year. There twins in the panel with Club de Campo sisters Sara (after a spell with SV Kampong) and Laura Barrios.
Lucia Jimenez – whose father was a 3,000m European champion in 1996 – was named the MVP in the German Bundesliga for champions Mannheimer HC.
| # | Name | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1 | Maria Ruiz (GK) | 171 | 0 | Club de Campo |
| 2 | Laura Barrios | 39 | 4 | Club de Campo |
| 4 | Sara Barrios | 27 | 3 | Club de Campo |
| 7 | Júlia Strappato | 26 | 0 | Junior FC |
| 8 | Lucia Jimenez | 164 | 12 | Mannheimer HC (GER) |
| 9 | Maria Lopez (c) | 234 | 22 | Club de Campo |
| 10 | Belén Iglesias | 90 | 4 | Großflottbeker THGC (GER) |
| 11 | Marta Segu | 100 | 20 | Real Club de Polo |
| 15 | Maialen Garcia | 123 | 8 | Club Egara |
| 16 | Candela Mejias | 60 | 1 | Club de Campo |
| 17 | Clara Ycart | 81 | 2 | Düsseldorfer HC (GER) |
| 20 | Xantal Gine | 188 | 12 | Real Club de Polo |
| 21 | Beatriz Perez | 246 | 27 | Club de Campo |
| 22 | Laia Vidosa | 22 | 1 | Junior FC |
| 24 | Alejandra Torres-Quevedo | 78 | 1 | Club de Campo |
| 26 | Clara Perez (GK) | 10 | 0 | Atlètic Terrassa |
| 30 | Patricia Alvarez | 24 | 2 | Real Club de Polo |
| Team Manager | Raul Gomez |
| Stand-In Manager | Alberto Ruiz |
| Head Coach | Adrian Lock |
| Assistant Coach | Carlos Garcia Cuenca |
| Assistant Coach | Eduardo Aguilar |
| Medical Doctor | Rafael Gonzalez |
| Physiotherapist | Mariona Ramos |
| Physiotherapist | Berta Moreno |
| Physical Trainer | Lorena Gutierrez |
| Video Technician | Andrew Wilson |
Official press release: https://www.rfeh.es/convocatoria-de-la-absoluta-femenina-para-el-eurohockey-2023/
