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United States Field Hockey Association
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Pools Announced For Olympic Qualifying Tourney
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.— The U.S. Field Hockey team will meet some tradition-rich squads in its bid to qualify for the 2000 Olympic Games following the International Hockey Federation's announcement of the pools for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Scheduled for Milton Keynes, England, March 24-April 2, 2000, the Qualifying Tournament will determine the final five teams to earn spots in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Five teams have already earned berths in the Games including host and defending champion Australia, Pan American Games champion Argentina, All-Africa Games champion South Africa, Asian Games champion Korea and European Nation's Cup champion The Netherlands.
"It doesn't really matter which pool we're in, " said U.S. coach Tracey Belbin. "In a qualifying tournament like this it's do or die. It makes for some spectacular hockey, but it also makes for some careful hockey. We're confident of our ability and our position in the world rankings (8th), but it's still going to be difficult and we can't afford to take anyone lightly. We need to treat each game as if it's a Grand Final."
The FIH approved pools puts the U.S. in Pool A with Germany, India, Ireland and Spain while Pool B features China, Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand and Russia. The top five teams will qualify for the Sydney Olympic Games.
The draw pits the U.S. against some teams rich in field hockey including a German team that earned the bronze medal at the 1998 World Cup and won a silver medal at the 1992 Olympic Games. Germany placed second behind The Netherlands at the European Nation's Cup held in August.
"We haven't seen Germany, and that's a concern," says Belbin. "With their world ranking (3rd), we expect they'll be one of the top teams at the tournament."
The 1992 Olympic champion, Spain has appeared in each of the past two Olympic Games including the gold medal performance on the home turf in Barcelona and an 8th place finish in Atlanta. Spain has also appeared in seven World Cup tournaments and earned fifth place finishes in Sydney in 1990 and Berlin in 1976. Spain placed fifth at the European Nation's Cup in August.
"We've been lucky to see quite a bit of Spain," said Belbin. "They are very deceptive in their style of play. They can defend, but also have a quick attacking ability that they demonstrated in Australia (in a 3-2 U.S. win). It was good that we got a chance to see them in Sydney so we'll know how much better and thorough we need to be when we play them again."
The U.S. is 2-2-1 against Spain in the five matches between the two teams since Belbin was named head coach in January.
Looking to make its first Olympic Games appearance since 1980, India enters the Qualifying Tournament following a 12th place finish at the 1998 World Cup and a runner-up showing at the 1998 Asian Games. India beat Pool B rivals China (2-1) and tied Japan (1-1) in Asian Games competition.
"India's been a bit inconsistent over the past year, sometimes playing great and sometimes not so great," said Belbin. "Having not played them is a concern."
Following a 9th place finish at the European Nation's Cup, Ireland will be looking to earn its first-ever trip to the Olympic Games. Ireland qualified for the World Cup twice, finishing 12th in 1986 and placing 11th as the host team in 1994.
"Ireland is quite a good team," said Belbin, whose U.S. team beat the Irish, 2-1, at the Canada Four Nation Tournament in Vancouver in June. "They are very physical and strong, and that can be frustrating when you're not used to playing that type of competition. They're a team we have to watch out for."
In Pool B, New Zealand is the highest-ranked team following its 6th place finish at last year's World Cup. Great Britain, competing as England in the European Nation's Cup, earned a bronze medal while Russia placed fourth. Japan and China finished third and fourth, respectfully, at the Asian Games.
The U.S. women will get a sneak preview of the turf at Milton Keynes when they travel to England for a three-game series with Great Britain, Nov. 24-29, at the National Hockey Stadium.