The top five teams in the men’s world rankings will be vying for EuroHockey glory when the tournament starts on Friday. Headed by world No.1 and Olympic champions the Netherlands, the world order not only underpins the strength of European hockey in today’s modern game but that gold is also no foregone conclusion for the title holders.
Conversely, the all-conquering Dutch women head into the European Championships having won another Pro League campaign.
It was a 20th title in their last 26 global tournaments stretching back 20 years. Some record as a 21st beckons in an event they are unbeaten in since the EuroHockey 2015 final.
First to The Netherlands men, who will be favourites to retain their title – and a fifth gold in six editions, albeit without dangerman Duco Telgenkamp – as the tournament returns, unusually, to Monchengladbach for successive editions.
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In 2023, Germany were ousted in the semi-finals by eventual silver medallists England, who would be regarded as one of the favourites but for a poor second half campaign in the Pro League.
As ever, we can’t read too much into Pro League with the months-long format, players tested, tapered and, in some cases, tactics being hidden (some coaches don’t attest to this) ahead of this EuroHockey.
Some nations have also set out their stall, notably Spain, who have made great strides under Max Caldas, finishing third in the Pro League (the first time they have finished in the top four since it began in 2019) and now the world No.4 side.
They last reached the Euro final in 2019 and were mightily close to knocking out England in 2023. A first title since winning 20 years ago is not out of the question.
In all, the men’s event looks wide open, enthralling and set for another fan fest of hockey – with the hope that saturation point hasn’t hit German fans and the stadia is filled for a second serving in Monchengladbach.
That much will be known on Friday night when Germany men play France, the latter dark horses hoping to repeat the feats of Wales from 2023 following a 3-3 thriller against the hosts.
The women’s event looks once again to fall to the Oranje women to secure another major title.
Should they do so, the Netherlands will become the first nation, male or female, to win five EuroHockey titles in a row.
In their last four final appearances, they have shipped only one goal, against Belgium in 2023, and the Red Panthers look the most likely to break down the rhythmical Dutch.
With five European nations in the top eight in the women’s world rankings, this is another tough tournament, for all Oranje dominance.
It is the pool without the Dutch that will be most interesting. Finish top and most likely avoid the orange procession.
But second place here is still a tough prospect, with Belgium, Spain and England likely to battle it out for semi-final berths, alongside outsiders Scotland.
Meanwhile, Ireland women, who are in the Netherlands’ pool, will be aiming for a semi-final berth and will hope to overturn both hosts Germany and France in the process.
The title winners will gain an automatic spot to next year’s World Cup, although Belgium, Netherlands (both as hosts) and Germany have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup meaning the best-placed nation will punch their ticket. In the men’s event, Spain have already joined the co-hosts.
This will also be the last EuroHockey tournament to be played under the current format, which will mark a big change to a 12-team event for London 2027.
Teams will face knock-out hockey rather than pool stages in a new “every match matters” revamp.
Lower EuroHockey nations on rise
France women take part in their first women’s EuroHockey Championship top tier since 2005. They are unbeaten in all 12 of their matches since the Paris Olympics.
France men will push for a first final four spot since 1970.
Poland men will compete at the Championships for the first time since 2017 following their stunning run in last summer’s qualifiers in Dublin. They defeated three higher ranked opponents, defeating Italy and Ireland via shoot-outs before outdoing Wales in the final.
EuroHockey pool groups
Women
Pool A: Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, France
Pool B: Belgium, England, Spain, Scotland
Men
Pool A: Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Austria
Pool B: Germany, England, France, Poland
