Danny Kerry's Road to the Hockey World Cup

  • July 18th, 2018
  • Tom Bean


As London readies itself to play host to the Women's hockey World Cup, 80,000+ tickets have already been sold as fans wait in anticipation. However, come the tournament, there will be one man more thankful than any to be there.

After famously guiding his GB team to Olympic Gold in Rio, head coach, Danny Kerry is fully accustomed to big tournament pressure. Yet, for the dad of two, just being at the World Cup is a victory in itself this time round.

In July 2017, whilst on tour in South Africa for the Hockey World League semi-finals, Kerry began to report some pain and discomfort in his chest during England's pool-game with Germany. Dismissing it as 'nothing to worry about' initially, the pain intensified during a sleepless night and he was forced to wake up team doctor, Cath Lester. On suspecting he had suffered a heart-attack, she admitted him to hospital almost immediately.

Kerry himself admits to some dark times at that point and prior to surgery, Kerry told the BBC that thoughts crept into his mind asking 'what will happen, will I come out of this?' Advised to stay in South Africa and have surgery there rather than delaying the process, he went through a tough five days in intensive care for a battle far greater than any he'd experienced on the hockey field.

Post-surgery, Kerry, more used to the coined term 'Road to Rio', began his 'Road to Recovery'. After the procedure to fit three metal stents around his heart, the head coach took the doctors by surprise almost straight away with his rapid recovery. Reacting well to the surgery, he was visited by the team where true to his nature, he deflected attention from himself and told them to go and win the tournament.

Unfortunately, England came up short in Johannesburg, instead taking third place; however, for Kerry, the ultimate victory is having the opportunity to lead them out again at another major tournament, something that some would be forgiven for not expecting at one point.

A New-Look England


Danny Kerry was back in full charge of the squad at the start of October last year and began preparations for a big 2018 with a young, exciting squad. With big changes to his lifestyle and diet and a renewed taste for his role, which he says is more than a job 'because [he's] passionate about it and [is] surrounded by staff and athletes who want the best as well', England, under his guidance, will be heading into the World Cup excited by what they can achieve.

England picked up bronze at the Commonwealth Games in March and go into the tournament with 8 of the gold medal winning squad from Rio. Couple that with promising young talent who've had a taster of big tournament hockey, the hosts will be hoping to be able to put on a show for the home crowd come their first pool game against India on Saturday July 21st.

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What to Expect at the Hockey World Cup


With London heading into another week of a balmy heatwave, the atmosphere is sure to be electric at a sun-baked Olympic Park. The Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis center, just a few hundred meters from the site of the Riverbank Arena that saw so much drama at London 2012, has had huge temporary stands erected and will sure to be a sea of colour once the action kicks off.

In terms of the teams to be looking out for, we've created a complete list of the contenders for the tournament.

The Netherlands


As reigning world champions and sitting at the top of the world rankings after taking the EuroHockey and Hockey World League titles back in 2017, the hockey crazy nation will be heading into the tournament as hot favourites to take the crown. With 181 caps, Double Olympic gold medalist, Lidewij Welten will be the spearhead of the attack and will be vital to the Dutch success at the tournament.

England


Second in the world rankings and still flying high after GB's gold in Rio, England have gone through a bit of transition recently. But, with a young team being led out by veteran captain Alex Danson and with the best goalkeeper in the world in Maddie Hinch at the back, 2014's 11th placed team will be optimistic about fighting for the medals this time round.

Argentina


Argentina hockey is in a good place at the moment and with recently named World Player of the Year, Delfina Merino amongst Las Leonas' ranks, they will think anything is possible. London has been good to them in the past, they took the Olympic silver medal in 2012 so will be hoping to go one further this time. Finishing fifth in the Hockey World League last year would have been a disappointment so be sure see them come back fighting.

New Zealand


The Commonwealth champions will be coming into the World Cup high on confidence after beating England in the semi's and their Trans-Tasman rivals Australia in their own backyard in the final on the Gold Coast. With a run to the final in the World League in 2017 too, the fourth ranked team, led by uber-experienced captain Stacey Michelsen, will fear nobody when the competition starts in London.

Australia


Having been narrowly beaten by the White Ferns in the Commonwealth Games final and subsequently seeing them leapfrog them in the world rankings, the 2014 World Cup finalists will hope to go one better this year. Having not made the Hockey World League Finals in 2017, the Hockeyroos hope their Commonwealth run will give them the momentum they need to reinstate themselves at the top table.

The Best of the Rest


With a shock third place finish in the Hockey World League Final, the ninth best team in the world, South Korea could be a surprise package in London and should be looking to easily progress from their group then who knows what can happen in the knockout stage.

Germany will always be a strong team that will be looking to show their credentials when it comes to it.

Having been semi-finalists in the last World Cup, USA hockey continues to get stronger and will have a role to play in the tournament.

What is for sure is that the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup is set to be a fantastic spectacle in a country where hockey has boomed in the past few years. There are many unknowns in regards to who will come out and win it, but what is for sure is it is going to be some show!

The tournament runs from 21st July with the gold medal match concluding the event on August 5th at 16:30 BST.