“Give it a champion, give it a champion!”, the Lionesses were heard singing all together, hugging each other in a Cenard gym. The cry resounded behind closed doors, in full morning practice this Saturday, with a view to the next tour of Europe, in Antwerp. Why did they unleash the celebration? In a new date of the Pro League, Belgium received India at home, which was the only team with a chance of overcoming the Argentine field hockey team in the table, since they had 22 points and 18 to play for. Finally, the Belgians won 2-1 and took away any chance for the Asians to take the title. In this way, that training became an intimate party.
It sure wasn’t the way they would have liked to win. Due to their hunger for glory and competitive spirit, they would have preferred the celebration to explode on a pitch and not in the set-up for their great goal: the Spain-Netherlands World Cup, which will start on July 1. But the consecration was the necessary emotional boost, a reward for effort and dedication. It is a new title for the national team, the first of these characteristics. And also an injection of confidence and pampering for the soul.
Why did the Argentine girls celebrate without playing? The format of this edition of the championship was affected -in part- by the restrictions due to the pandemic and by the rush to compress the fixture for the start of the World Cup. So it was that in Europe, the tournament began last October, while the Lionesses debuted on February 12 against Belgium in Buenos Aires. This gap at the beginning caused the difference in games played to stretch for each of the teams. In addition, we must remember two great absentees in this edition: Australia and New Zealand. Thus, expectations, accounts and speculations became common currency.
In total, each team plays 16 games: Argentina has 12 wins and two draws -against the Netherlands- and has 38 points with two games still to play. His next rival will be India, on June 18 and 19, who will play a total of 14 games, since their two matches against England were canceled. Fernando Ferrara’s team had an overwhelming, motivating and scoring campaign. Today, the national team maintains a nine-point difference with respect to their escort, the Netherlands, -29 units and three dates to play-, and a total of 37 goals for and 13 against, the least won fence.
India and the United States have nine meetings and before July 1 they will play the five pending dates. Meanwhile, Germany and the Netherlands have played 13 games, and Spain 15. England has 12 matches, Belgium 11 and China 10.
“The focus and goal of the year is not in the Pro League, but in the World Cup. This is very important, they are preparation games, training games, we are trying different things aiming to get one hundred percent to the World Cup,” Agostina Alonso told ESPN Hockey weeks ago.
There is a mystique that is brewing and every day is more noticeable. They grow, take hold and win. They are filled with conviction of their own potential. You see a motivated team, young players mixed with some experienced ones. Girls who made their debut and gained direct experience at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, others who rose from the junior teams, and some more who earned their place with effort. There were changes and shakes. Carlos Retegui left the leadership of the team after the Olympic event and Fernando Ferrara arrived in his place. With this change there were -also- new players.
“The reality of the team is explained by its great potential and because it remains humble. It is a selection that wants to continue growing. Our players are very receptive and they are hungry for victories”, Ferrara told La Nación after the victory against China.
The Spain-Netherlands World Cup will begin on July 1 and the Lionesses will debut in the World Cup in Spain in group C against Korea on July 2. The next day, on the same field, they will face the Spanish team and close the group stage against Canada on the 7th. Almost three weeks after that debut, the girls focus and aim, they want to revive that ‘Leona’ spirit that marks its mystique.
Las Leonas know about championships and celebrations. And also of defeats, spare parts and cimbronazos. They knew how to get on the podium at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, they were silver medalists, and that’s where their great story began. Two years later they shouted champions at the 2002 Perth World Cup, and then the team continued to grow stronger with titles and leaving a legacy that was passed down from generation to generation.
Now, the 18 names that will assume the next World Cup are confirmed. They are Belén Succi, Clara Barberi, Valentina Costa Biondi, María Emilia Forcherio, Valentina Raposo, Agustina Gorzelany, Sofia Toccalino, Victoria Sauze, Valentina Marcucci, Agostina Alonso, Rocío Sánchez Moccia, Eugenia Trinchinetti, Jimena Cedres, Maria Jose Granatto, Victoria Granatto , Agustina Albertario, Julieta Jankunas and Delfina Thome. The same ones that hugged each other and jumped to the cry of “dale champion”. Now, they can’t wait to get on the plane to their new goal.
