Event of the Day: Day 4 of the Women's Hockey World Cup
Our event of the day is Day 4 of the Women’s Hockey World Cup at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London. The standout fixture from today is hosts England taking on the USA, who were beaten semi-finalists four years ago. England’s squad contains eight players from the Team GB side that won a historic gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. However, they have not made a convincing start to their world cup campaign. It took a goal seven minutes from time to muster a 1-1 draw with India, a side England beat 6-0 at the Commonwealth Games just three months earlier. With the previous two host nations having gone all the way at the last two tournaments, England will be hopeful of adding to this statistic. A combination of a world class squad and home advantage gives them a fantastic opportunity to win their maiden World Cup title.
The USA will also be looking to improve on their opening pool match. They fell to a shock 3-1 defeat to a spirited Ireland side, who are ranked nine places below them in the world rankings. The United States were impressive at the Olympics two years ago where they beat giants of world hockey, Argentina and Australia. They will be desperate to recapture this form to kickstart their world cup campaign. This fixture is preceded by third in the world rankings versus sixth, as Germany take on Argentina. The goal happy South Americans won plenty of admirers during their 6-2 victory over Spain. Maria Ortiz rifled in what is already being labelled as goal of the tournament on the way to their comfortable win. The Germans will offer a tougher test. They will look to build on their Olympic bronze medal with victory in a tournament they last won in 1981. Looking ahead to the tournament, the Netherlands are strong favourites to retain their title. An epic 7-0 demolition of South Korea has only heightened expectations. However, with the likes of Argentina, England and Germany in contention, the greatest prize in hockey is still very much up for grabs.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to Stage 17 of the Tour de France. Riders begin in Bagnères-de-Luchonwith a grid start for the first time in Tour de France history. They will finish 65 kilometres later in Saint-Lary-Soulan. In football, Dutch giants Ajax take on SK Sturm Graz at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Champions League qualifying. Houston Dynamo face Philadelphia Union in the MLS. Elsewhere in the United States there are multiple MLBfixtures, including the final game of the series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers. In Atlanta, the third day of action at the Atlanta Open gets underway on the ATP World Tour. Similarly, it’s Day 3 of the German Open, and on the WTA Tour the Moscow Open enters its third day. India’s cricket tour of England continues at the County Ground in Chelmsford where they face Essex in the visitors only red ball warm up match before they play England in a five match test series. The only County Championship Division One fixture to enter a fourth day is Worcestershire versus Somerset at the County Ground at New Road, with Worcester chasing 443. Bangladesh travel to the West Indies in the second ODI in a three-game series between the two sides.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by FIH