In the Spotlight: EuroHockey Championships 2017

  • August 18th, 2017
  • Charlie Bull

The EuroHockey Championships 2017 begin this weekend in the Netherlands as the eight best teams in Europe will do battle across 10 days of competition, for the coveted crown. Men's and women's tournaments take place in tandem, with all matches being played at the Wagener Stadium, Amsterdam.

Hockey's Deserving Introduction:


Hockey is on the rise, and so it should be - as the fast-paced nature of the game makes for fantastic entertainment. Rolling substitutions maintains intensity levels, while an absence of an offside rule allows complete end-to-end play. Hockey players and fans will be aware of the skills required to play at the highest level, but for those new to the sport... be prepared to hit that rewind button to admire the silky stick skills of these players.

Women's Championships:


England face Germany, Ireland and Scotland in Group B, in what promises to produce some fascinating encounters between the home nations. Defending their EuroHockey title are England, who beat this year's hosts in a tense shoot-out in 2015. The English and the Dutch have had a close rivalry over the last couple of years, as the two best sides in the world. Of course, there was the small matter of Great Britain's Olympic Gold in Rio last summer - again, a shoot-out win. Captain and legend Kate Richardson-Walsh and her partner Helen have retired, leaving the mantle to be taken over by Alex Danson. 2017 has seen Danny Kerry's side continue their good form. At the Hockey World League in July, they sealed a bronze medal - as the Netherlands gained some revenge, winning 2-0 in the semi-final.

Anticipation is high for the upcoming championships, as it looks set for another showdown between the red of England and the orange of Holland. You would argue the Dutch are favourites, as number one in the world, with the tournament held in their own back yard. The other seven nations will be set on spoiling the party. The Germans will always be there or thereabouts - and Marie Mavers says it's their never-say-die attitude that pushes them to the business end of tournaments: "This mentality and trust in our strengths allow us to get the extra energy it needs to change a game in the last minute."

Men's Championships:


Meanwhile, confident nonetheless - England's men face a trickier prospect. They are the fourth-ranked team in the tournament, behind Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. It is Germany that England face in the group stage, along with Ireland and Poland. Leading up to and including Rio last summer, the men had had a real mixed bag of results. Since then, fortunes have begun to turn their way. A slight revamp of players in the current programme has seen a new lease of life injected into the squad. Bobby Crutchley's team won the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup for the first time in the Spring, followed by a bronze medal at the Men's Hockey World League. Confidence has grown a huge amount in 2017 and it seems the boys have timed it perfectly going into this tournament at the weekend.

Holland captain Billy Bakker backs them to succeed, while showing off their brand of hockey: "The DNA of Dutch players is to be creative and to play attacking hockey. With the current combination and the creative faculty, we should be really nice to watch." The Dutch are current holders of the men's EuroHockey title, and having won the World League in London a couple of months ago - they are certainly a side to be feared. We should be in for a gripping 10 days; with the men's tournament wide open. Can't call this one at all!

Women's Final: Saturday 26th August Men's Final: Sunday 27th August