The Czechia hosts will be looking to use their home advantage at the UNYP Arena to full effect as they head up the contenders in Pool B. The world number two side are in a hugely competitive group that also features World Cup holders Poland, an ambitious Spain, a returning Lithuania and an always strong Ukraine line-up.
Find out about all the teams here:
Pool B
Czechia
- World Ranking: 2nd
- Appearances: 12
- Best finish: 3rd (2000, 2020)
Czechia come into the competition with 11 of the side who won bronze at the Indoor World Cup last year with the one chance seeing Veronika Pribikova coming in for Anna Vorlová.
There, they defeated Germany in a shoot-out to take the bronze medal having just missed out on the final at the hands of eventual winners Poland.
Indeed, it is a hugely experienced panel with Jindřiška Neusser’s career including the 2007 Indoor World Cup in Vienna; Adéla Lehovcová and Kateřina Laciná both played in the 2014 Euro indoors with the former scoring 94 caps in 67 international matches to date.
Barbora Ćecháková is one of the world’s great indoor goalkeepers and she was named goalkeeper of the tournament at both the 2020 Euro indoors and the 2023 Indoor World Cup among other laurels.
On this stage, they are going for a third medal having won bronze both in 2000 and 2020.
And they come into this competition on a high having won gold at Röhrmax Cup two weekends ago.
Head coach Tomáš Procházka evaluated the tournament primarily in terms of the game’s progress: “We finished in first place. It’s a great result, but the progress we made during the tournament was more important for us.
“The result was very good, but it also showed us a few things that we still need to work on before Europe.”
| # | Name | Age | Club | Caps | Goals |
| 2 | Kateřina LACINÁ © | 32 | HC 1946 Praga | 60 | 47 |
| 4 | Lucie DUCHKOVÁ | 23 | TJ Plzeň Litice | 34 | 13 |
| 5 | Jindřiška NEUSSER | 37 | SK Slavia Praha | 75 | 6 |
| 9 | Veronika PRIBIKOVA | 21 | HC 1972 Rakovník | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Natálie NOVÁKOVÁ | 26 | SK Slavia Praha | 26 | 10 |
| 13 | Adéla LEHOVCOVÁ | 34 | SK Slavia Praha | 67 | 94 |
| 14 | Zuzana SEMRÁDOVÁ | 22 | HC 1946 Praga | 9 | 0 |
| 15 | Anna ŽELEZNÁ | 27 | HC 1946 Praga | 51 | 15 |
| 19 | Nikol BABICKÁ | 26 | SK Slavia Praha | 29 | 13 |
| 24 | Natálie HÁJKOVÁ | 22 | SK Slavia Praha | 34 | 13 |
| 27 | Barbora ĆECHÁKOVÁ (GK) | 31 | HC Slavia Hradec Králové | 64 | 0 |
| 95 | Diana SVYŠČUK (GK) | 20 | HC 1946 Praga | 1 | 0 |
| Team Manager | Kamila DUKATOVA | ||||
| Head Coach | Tomas PROCHÁZKA | ||||
| Assistant Coach | Martin CAPOUCH | ||||
| Physiotherapist | Denisa MATEJKOVA | ||||
| Physical Trainer | Jakub PRICHYSTAL | ||||
Lithuania
- World Ranking: 24th
- Appearances: 5
- Best finish: 2nd (1987, 2002)
Lithuania return to the top division after a 14-year wait , coming back to the stage where they won silver medals in both 1987 and 2002. They are back thanks to their second place finish at Championship II in Galway, Ireland in 2024 and their main preparation saw them take on the Irish side in four games before Christmas, winning one, drawing one and losing two.
They have nine of those 2024 players still in and around the squad with the vast experience of Dovile Kukliene (now 39) and Donata Grigiene (38) looking to play their part once again. Both are key figures in front of goal and in keeping the side ticking.
The vast majority of the panel hail from Siauliai who hosted the top tier indoor Club Cup last year.
| # | Name | Age | Club | Caps | Goals |
| 1 | Karina USTINOVICIUTE (GK) | 26 | 9 | 0 | |
| 3 | Rugilė DAUKANTAITĖ | 20 | Vilnius SM “Sostinės Tauras” | 9 | 0 |
| 4 | Austėja DIMSKYTĖ | 16 | Šiauliai “Ginstrektė – Academy” | 4 | 0 |
| 5 | Donata GRIGIENE | 38 | Šiauliai “Ginstrektė – Academy” | 20 | 22 |
| 6 | Dovile KUKLIENE © | 39 | Šiauliai “Ginstrektė – Academy” | 25 | 30 |
| 8 | Karolina URBONAVIČIŪTĖ | 23 | Širvintos SC – Inta | 4 | 0 |
| 9 | Deimantė VIETRINAITĖ | 18 | Šiauliai “Ginstrektė – Academy” | 7 | 0 |
| 10 | Jovita BANEVICIUTE | 27 | Šiauliai “Ginstrektė – Academy” | 4 | 1 |
| 11 | Viktorija BOGDANOVA | 25 | Šiauliai “Ginstrektė – Academy” | 11 | 3 |
| 18 | Luka ŽIAUBRYTĖ (GK) | 20 | Šiauliai “Ginstrektė – Academy” | 9 | 0 |
| 19 | Karolina RAULINAITYTĖ | 22 | Šiauliai “Ginstrektė – Academy” | 9 | 4 |
| Darija ŽIGYTĖ | 9 | 1 | |||
| Team Manager | Maksim TARASOV | ||||
| Head Coach | Vaidotas VAICELIUNAS | ||||
| Medical Doctor | Daiva MIEČELIENĖ | ||||
Poland
- World Ranking: 9th
- Appearances: 8
- Best finish: 2nd (2016, 2024)
Overview: World Cup winners Poland arrive in Prague with a much changed panel with coach Krzysztof Rachwalski with naming five debutants in his panel to play in this year’s EuroHockey Championship while seven of the heroes of Poreč are back and hoping to add to their recent legacy.
That included a silver medal at the 2024 Euros in Berlin, coming agonisingly close as Germany denied them with the very last play two years ago. With success comes further expectation but coach Rachwalski knows this is a side in transition with Marlena Rybacha and Monika Chmiel both stepping out this time.
Rybacha recently got married; she was the player of the tournament at the World Cup and has been an almost ever-present for much of the past 20 years for the side.
Amelia Katerla in action in the 2024 final. Picture: Frank Uijlenbroek/World Sport Pics
Chmiel, meanwhile, has played in the last four editions of this competition but she is now on maternity leave and so opportunity knocks for new players like 16-year-old Lucia Horn, Hanna Wochna, Maria Drozda, Sandra Hoffmann and Oliwia Krychniak. All were part of the Poland Under-21s from last year in Walcz.
They will look to be guided by the experience of Amelia Katerla. – now based in Belgium with Royal Léopold – who is now the most capped of the panel with 78 caps and Marta Kucharska.
Julia Balcerzak is another well travelled player – she has had spells in Ireland and Germany and now plays in England with East Grinstead, same club as Irish player Chloe Brown.
Marta Kucharska was the goalkeeper of the tournament at the World Cup along with the Hockey5s World Cup and the 2024 EuroHockey Championship qualifiers outdoors, showing she will be a vital cog in their plans.
| # | Name | Age | Club | Caps | Goals |
| 2 | Julia KUCHARSKA | 22 | Royal Victory HC | 17 | 1 |
| 3 | Lucia HORN | 16 | Berliner HC | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Amelia KATERLA | 32 | Royal Leopold CH | 78 | 37 |
| 11 | Hanna WOCHNA | 18 | AZS Poznań University of Technology | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Jagoda ARCISZEWSKA | 18 | UKS SP 5 Swarek Swarzędz | 6 | 0 |
| 15 | Maria DROZDA | 20 | UKS SP 5 Swarek Swarzędz | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Marta CZUJEWICZ | 21 | UKS SP 5 Swarek Swarzędz | 6 | 1 |
| 21 | Marta KUCHARSKA (GK) | 33 | Grossflottbeker THGC | 35 | 0 |
| 24 | Julia BALCERZAK © | 24 | East Grinstead HC | 27 | 1 |
| 25 | Oliwia KRYCHNIAK | 19 | Grossflottbeker THGC | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Viktoria ZIMMERMANN | 23 | Russelsheimer RK | 10 | 2 |
| 32 | Sandra HOFFMANN | 19 | UKS SP 5 Swarek Swarzędz | 0 | 0 |
| Team Manager | Mariusz ORZEŁ | ||||
| Stand-In Manager | Karol SNIEZEK | ||||
| Head Coach | Krzysztof RACHWALSKI | ||||
| Physiotherapist | Joachim SIKORSKI | ||||
Spain
- World Ranking: 15th
- Appearances: 13
- Best finish: 2nd (1990, 2010)
Spain have included a couple of bonafide legends in their squad for the tournament in Prague with triple Olympians Maria Lopez and Bea Perez set to make their debuts in this format this weekend in Prague.
Between them, they have over 500 international caps outdoors but are now pursuing the indoor dream having made an impact on the club front last season with Club de Campo de Madrid.
They are among six debutants this week for the red sticks along with Lucia Abajo whose brother Ignacio was a star of the men’s competition a week ago. Clara Ycart is another, a 2020 Olympian who has been playing in the German league for the past few years and has netted 10 times in the indoor season with her Düsseldorf side top of their region on eight wins out of eight.
Estel Forte has been the one constant in the side since their return to international indoor hockey in 2020, rising quickly up the ranks. Paula Ruiz and Marta Grau are in for third consecutive campaigns, the former being the Championship II goalkeeper of the tournament in 2022.
Carlota Alvarez and Mar Sola Gonzalez were both part of the Spanish Under-21 side at the Junior World Cup in December in Chile.
Coach Jorge Pérez says of his side: “The team is very well-rounded from a sporting perspective, with a diverse range of players suited to the different situations you might encounter during a competition.
“In addition, the group is made up of players with international experience and other young talents who are making a strong push. The synergy between all the team members has been very positive at all times and continues to grow stronger.”
| # | Name | Age | Club | Caps | Goals |
| 1 | Carlota ALVAREZ (GK) | 18 | CCVM | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | Lucía ABAJO | 26 | CCVM | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Maria LOPEZ | 35 | CCVM | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Beatriz PEREZ | 34 | CCVM | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Marta GRAU | 30 | CLUB EGARA | 12 | 7 |
| 12 | Estel FORTE | 25 | KHC LEUVEN | 17 | 3 |
| 13 | Esther CANALES | 21 | SARDINERO | 6 | 0 |
| 14 | Anna GARDSJORD | 21 | JUNIOR FC | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Paula RUIZ (GK) | 27 | SARDINERO | 11 | 0 |
| 17 | Clara YCART | 27 | H.C.DUSSELDORF | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Sara CARMONA RAMOS | 20 | SANSE COMPLUTENSE | 6 | 0 |
| 22 | Mar SOLA GONZALES | 21 | ATLÈTIC DE TERRASSA | 0 | 0 |
| Team Manager | Sonia de IGNACIO-SIMO Sonia | ||||
| Head Coach | Jorge PEREZ | ||||
| Assistant Coach | Yurena PANADERO | ||||
| Physiotherapist | Lidia SANCHEZ | ||||
Ukraine
- World Ranking: 4th
- Appearances: 10
- Best finish: 1st (2010)
Ukraine will look to use the inspiration from MSC Sumchanka’s historic Indoor Club Cup gold last year as they head to Prague on the international stage.
The squad will have a strong Sumy connection with nine hailing from the club currently while the three others – Yevhenia Kernoz, Kateryna Pokidko, and Alina Fadieieva—are seasoned internationals currently playing in Germany, the Netherlands and Italy, respectively.
These “legionnaires” will join the team directly in Prague, adding international experience to the lineup.
Coach Yevhan Bondarenko proudly emphasises Sumy’s importance: “Sumy is the city that decide!. Today, the Sumy school is first in Ukraine in hockey and indoor hockey. It sets the pace and development of the sport across the country.”
The team boasts a mix of seasoned athletes and rising stars. Kernoz has been with the international team for over 15 years while Olga Honcharenko recently returned to the squad after maternity leave. She has 27 goals in 36 previous internationals
Ukraine celebrate a goal in 2024 in Berlin. Picture: Frank Uijlenbroek/World Sport Pics
“Every minute was like a piece of gold for me,” she told local media. “I’ll do everything to help the team and pass on my experience to younger players.”
Kateryna Popova added: “Every competition brings new emotions and experiences. I think it’s a special championship for each of us, because a new year begins with it, a new start.”
Team captain Valeriia Zaitseva underscores the importance of unity: “There is no one person who will lead us to success. We are a team, one body. We have to stick together and achieve the result together.”
Looking at their strengths, Bondarenko adds: “We have very cool leaders, super attackers like Karyna Leonova, great defenders like Leria Zaitseva and Katya Popova, and key midfielders such as Veronika Movchan.”
| # | Name | Age | Club | Caps | Goals |
| 1 | Kateryna POKIDKO (GK) | 26 | Almere | 3 | 0 |
| 6 | Yevheniya KERNOZ © | 33 | Feudenheimer HC | 49 | 18 |
| 7 | Veronika MOVCHAN | 21 | MSC Sumchanka | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Sofiia BASANETS | 17 | MSC Sumchanka | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Karyna LEONOVA | 26 | MSC Sumchanka | 12 | 9 |
| 16 | Alina FADIEIEVA (GK) | 28 | HK Lorenzoni | 34 | 0 |
| 19 | Valeriia ZAITSEVA | 25 | MSC Sumchanka | 12 | 0 |
| 20 | Olha HONCHARENKO | 30 | MSC Sumchanka | 36 | 27 |
| 21 | Anastasiia SHYSHYNA | 22 | MSC Sumchanka | 16 | 3 |
| 22 | Veronika KOROBKINA | 20 | MSC Sumchanka | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Kateryna POPOVA | 23 | MSC Sumchanka | 6 | 1 |
| 25 | Anna TANCHENKO | 24 | MSC Sumchanka | 6 | 4 |
| Team Manager | Yevheniia MOROZ | ||||
| Head Coach | Svitlana MAKAIEVA | ||||
| Medical Doctor | Bohdan MADIAR | ||||
| Physiotherapist | Yevhen BONDARENKO | ||||
