Battle lines drawn, India face turf war
After 1975 triumph, India seek their second title, as big teams like Argentina, Australia and Germany eye glory at mega event
Pool A
Argentina have taken a quantum leap in terms of world ranking and podium finishes. Their success story started with bronze in the previous World Cup (2014). The South Americans had never been in top-four before that. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, they became the first country from the American continents to win Olympic gold and they are favourites in Bhubaneswar. They will be challenged by Spain and New Zealand in the group stage. Spain have three World Cup podium finishes --- silver (1971, 1998), bronze (2006). In Olympics, they have won three silver and a bronze. New Zealand are 2018 CWG runners-up. In the previous World Cup, they finished seventh.
Pool B
No. 1 ranked Australia are favourites to top the group and only England are capable of challenging the Kookaburras in the group stage. Winners of the 2010 and 2014 editions, Australia will be eyeing a hat-trick of titles. If they achieve the feat, they will surpass Pakistan and Germany, who have bagged two successive titles. Bhubaneswar has been lucky for Australia as they won the 2014 Champions Trophy and 2017 Hockey World League Final there. 2018 CWG bronze-medallists England lost narrowly to the Kookaburras in the semi-finals at Gold Coast. Ireland, competing in their third World Cup, need to do a lot of catching up. China are making their World Cup debut.
Pool C
The Belgium vs India game on December 2 will likely decide who tops the group as Canada and South Africa are clearly the weak teams. World No. 3 Belgium have improved drastically and earned their best World Cup finish --- a fifth place --- in 2014. At the Rio Olympics, they stunned the world by bagging silver. World No. 5 India, on the other hand, are familiar with the home conditions. They will eye direct qualification though Belgium have a 3-1 (one draw) record against India in 2018. Canada and South Africa will most probably try their luck in crossover games, though the former have troubled India in recent past especially during Rio Olympics where they held India 2-2.
Pool D
Three teams in the pool are former World Cup winners, making it the ‘group of death’. Pakistan and Netherlands are the two most successful teams with four and three titles respectively while Germany won back-to-back crowns in 2002 and 2006. Malaysia too are no pushovers. On form, the Dutch and Germans are primed to top the group. Netherlands won silver in 2014 and bronze in 2010, while Germany missed a hat-trick of gold after losing to Australia in 2010. Pakistan are yet to win a medal since 1994. A money-starved Pakistan Hockey Federation hasn’t helped matters with the team barely managing to make it to the World Cup.