Kookaburras learn pool stage opponents for 2023 World Cup
Published Thu 08 Sep 2022
Australia’s world number one ranked Kookaburras have been drawn alongside Argentina, France and South Africa in Pool A for the FIH Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup 2023.
Fresh off their Commonwealth Games gold medal in Birmingham, the Kookaburras were slotted into the top spot in Pool A for the draw that was conducted in Bhubaneswar, India and streamed LIVE on Watch.Hockey.
The Kookaburras last met France in the pool stage at the 2018 World Cup (Kookaburras won 3-0).
It was a similar score line when the Kookaburras were pushed all the way by South Africa at the recent Commonwealth Games, while the Australians’ last encounter against Argentina came at the Tokyo Olympics.
“Having the draw conducted gives some clarity to the teams. Any major tournament is a thrill to be involved in and the World Cup is a prestigious one,” said Kookaburras Coach Colin Batch.
“We love the challenge of playing in big tournaments, which is evidenced by our recent success at the Commonwealth Games.”
“We have played Argentina regularly in recent times – the last time being at the Olympics in Tokyo.”
“We played against South Africa at the Commonwealth Games and they are a team that has certainly emerged from their FIH Pro League experience.”
“And even though we haven’t played them, we have learnt a lot about France of late through watching their participation in the Pro League as well.”
The Kookaburras finished third at the last World Cup in 2018 and Batch admits that campaign, which saw the Kookaburras lose to the Netherlands in a shootout in the semi finals before thrashing England in the bronze medal match, was still a source of motivation.
“We have spoken about the 2018 campaign. We won every game except the semi final in a shootout,” said Batch.
“It was disappointing but we can’t change the result…all we can do is learn from the experience and move on, so we need to take care of our preparation for the round matches and know shootouts could decide games in the knockout stage.”
The Kookaburras have won the World Cup three times (1986, 2010, 2014).
The FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 involves 16 countries and will be held in the Indian cities of Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. FIH will release the match schedule soon.
FIH Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar - Rourkela
13-29 January 2023
Pool A: Australia, Argentina, France, South Africa
Pool B: Belgium, Germany, Korea, Japan
Pool C: Netherlands, New Zealand, Malaysia, Chile
Pool D: India, England, Spain, Wales
