India a big disappointment like usual, PC % basement-low all tournament which is surprising because I thought they were one of the best at that.
Confident Germany and Argentina will be in semis. Netherlands should too but something is a bit off in their game and Belgium can run them close (even if I don't think they can get the win or a draw).
Australia-Spain is 51/49 in my view.
The way I see it is we are essentially in the third tier. We had a big tournament in Tokyo, where we overachieved and got to 4th place. This should be an eye opener for all of us that there is still a long way before we can be considered a medal hopeful at world stage. We are good defensively and have improved our fitness levels but need to work a lot on open play goals and PC conversion rate.
Unless there is expansion, don't see Americas deserving a third spot. Oceania, Africa already have bare minimum spots. So, any additional spot for Americas have to come from either Asia (3) or Europe (7). Americas doesn't deserve more spots than Asia. One can argue that almost 50% of spots for Europe is high but then Europe does have a large number of good teams. In fact, except Argentina and occasionally Canada, none of the other American teams have been competitive at World stage. Asia on the other hand has in 5 decent teams and 3 spots. I would prefer a system with 5 spots for Europe instead of 7 and remaining spots to go to a World tournament.
Finally, we are competing at the World stage. We have not been lucky enough to watch our Golden generations live. Dhanraj Pillay, Dileep Tirkey, Sardar Singh and so many others gave us hope only for us to falter. Still remember the way we missed out on Semis in 2000 due to last minute goal by Poland. The heartbreak of not even qualifying in 2008. The ignominy of finishing last in 2012. The so near yet so far of 2016. Finally, we are in Olympic semis. I know, we have not won a medal yet and there is a chance we won’t win a medal this time but by God this feels special. Suddenly all the shooting and Archery misses seem trivial. Thank you Manpreet Singh and team. Thank you Graham Reid. Thank you God.
FIH has declared the next World Cup Hosts. India will host the Men's 2022 tournament in Jan 2023 while Spain and Netherlands will co-host the Women's tournament in July 2022.
Not sure, I would need to have a look at all team sports through the years to see how many extremely low-level countries who have been "gifted" a spot at the Olympics have significantly improved in the following years.
Beside, the quota is "reserved" for South Africa because they are dominant in Africa (and it's not sure that they will refuse it), how would you reserve a quota for the other African countries? Another continental quota for Africa? I have big doubts that Ghana/Namibia/whoever would start investing time, resources, money needed to improve if they simply remove the "top 20 in the world ranking" part from the qualification system, since they would still depend on South African performance and their NOC mood.
There is another solution. Ghana/Namibia and other African nations tell South Africa: Enough is enough. If you don't want to take use of continental quota stop participating in continental qualifiers. If Ghana would have won the African qualifiers, their ranking would not have come in picture.
I am not exactly proposing some madness here. I'm just saying that it would have been better for the sport if Malaysia had been given a spot based on AG final. Same goes for Ghana, if South Africa indeed withdraws its women's team. But no... We have to have more European teams instead.
Malaysia didn't get the spot because Japan qualified as Continental Champions, releasing the host quota. Host quota reallocation has to be done in World tournament only.
If South Africa indeed withdraws its women's team, its place will be taken by Korea and not another European team.
Women's: Asia: 3 (or 4), Europe: 5, Pan-Am: 1, Oceania: 2 and Africa : 1 (or 0)
This is much more diverse than what we see in many other team sports. Except Africa, all other continents have a number of good teams.
Also, I don't think having some sort of restriction regarding runner-up (or if needed even lower placed teams) of continental tournaments, to ensure that we don't have completely one-sided matches. For Rio, similar restriction were placed on Brazil getting host quota. We can argue whether the correct ranking cut-off should have been 20 or 25 or 30 or whatever, but that is just nitpicking.
Now, I know I'm getting ahead of myself but if no miracle happens today in the two remaining matches, the groups for olympic games should be like this:
A
Australia
Argentina
India
Spain
New Zealand
Japan
B
Belgium
Netherlands
Germany
GB
Canada
South Africa
If RSA withdraw Malaysia takes their place in group B.
Have they declared which ranking will be used for draw?
In my opinion, also looking at the qualification document, this means that the only window to accept or refuse a quota is after the qualifiers, so South Africa having won the quota can't take part. They could still refuse later (in that case the best ranked loser will qualify). Apparently the men's team should have satisfied their NOC requirements with their top 2 in Hockey Series.
It would be interesting to see what South African NOC decides. South Africa being continental winners can't take part in world qualification tournaments and SANOC doesn't send teams based on continental quota.
Also, I think even now, if SA refuse the men's quota, Egypt will qualify and not the best ranked loser. I don't know what will be the decision in the highly unlikely situation of SA refusing quota, Egypt defeating seed 2/3 in qualifier, and another team from pot 4 winning against seed 1/2 in qualifier.
After the completion of FIH Pro League and FIH Series Finals, following teams are qualified for Olympic games qualifiers:
From Pro League:
From Series Finals:
As Japan, who finished second in Series finals Tournament 2, have already qualified for Olympics (both as hosts and Asian Champs), their place in Olympic qualifiers has been reallocated to rankings list. Similarly, if any of the above teams also win their continental championships, even their position will be reallocated to rankings list. So, we will have atleast 5 spots for rankings at present.
At present top 5 not already qualified in Ranking are:
With Argentina, Australia almost sure to win their continental tournaments, and European winner also most likely coming from the above mentioned teams, an additional 3 spots should be open for teams on basis of rankings. Next 3 in line are:
Next two in line areand. But they are quite behindin points and it would be tough for them to overtake them in the next ranking update.
P.S. South Africa are almost sure to win African championships but they are expected to refuse that quota. There is no other African team close to top 20 in rankings, so unless someone upsets South Africa at African championship, African quota will be returned to FIH. In such a case, out of the 7 losing teams of the qualifiers, the one with the highest ranking will qualify for the Olympics.
Hockey Series: 1st place 500 pts, 2nd place 400 pts.
The winner of a hockey series tournament (Canada, India, France) earns the same points as the 8th place of the pro league (New Zealand).
I have two big doubts:
a) If Pakistan will earn points for 9th place in pro league (I'd guess not, but I don't know for sure).
b) If the points for the asian games are already being counted or not. When I check the ranking sheet Japan still has points for "Asia 5th", which is strange given they won the games. I guess the points of all continental championships will be counted only when all of them are finished?
In my opinion there won't be any relevant changes in rankings before play-offs except for France, who I think will surpass China.
No, 2018 Asian games have not been included till now. At present, Asian ranking includes 2017 Asia Cup, 2016 Asian Champions Trophy and 2014 Asian Games. I think they will update all continental championships together only.
No they wouldn't i suppose, 16 teams would face off for 8 spots or the best ranked unqualified team qualifies like last time.
Egypt is favourite to be finish in top 2 in African qualifier and this time FIH has allowed the quota to be transferred to losing finalist in case winner doesn't accept the quota and loser is ranked in top 20. So, Egypt are very likely to qualify as African team.
Even if African quota is not claimed, there won't be 8th match. Among the 7 losing teams from the qualifiers, the team with the highest WR would qualify for Olympics in that case.
5 decent teams and 3 spots. I would prefer a system with 5 spots for Europe instead of 7 and remaining spots to go to a World tournament.
you were clearly the better team today. Had an extra gear to go into in the last quarter.
qualifies for the quarters with a draw against 
. 
vs 
in a face-off for QF.
while Spain and Netherlands will co-host the Women's tournament in July 2022.
vs 
vs 
vs 
vs 
.
Posted
The way I see it is we are essentially in the third tier. We had a big tournament in Tokyo, where we overachieved and got to 4th place. This should be an eye opener for all of us that there is still a long way before we can be considered a medal hopeful at world stage. We are good defensively and have improved our fitness levels but need to work a lot on open play goals and PC conversion rate.
Link to post
Share on other sites