There are welcome returns for a number of players in both squads. In the women’s team Tess Howard is set to play her first full international match in more than a year, having been recovering from a long-term knee injury. Lily Owsley is set to play her first game since the Tokyo Olympics, while there are also returns for Giselle Ansley and Hannah Martin. Flora Peel and goalkeeper Mila Welch are the other changes from the team’s last matches in USA. With players returning from injury et al, David Ralph has selected a slightly larger squad of 22.

For the men, Ian Sloan will play for the first time since lining up for Team GB at the Olympics, while Will Calnan is also back, as is Brendan Creed. Zak Jones will continue as Head Coach for these games.

The teams play a total of four matches at SparkassenPark in Moenchengladbach:

Wed 4 May:
Germany v England (women) 2pm UK time
Germany v England (men) 4:30pm UK time

Thu 5 May:
Germany v England (women) 12pm UK time
Germany v England (men) 2:30pm UK time

All games are live on BT Sport.

Women’s squad:
Giselle Ansley – HGC
Grace Balsdon – Hampstead & Westminster
Darcy Bourne – Surbiton
Esme Burge – Hampstead & Westminster
Fiona Crackles – Wimbledon
Olivia Hamilton – Loughborough Students
Sophie Hamilton – Surbiton
Tess Howard – East Grinstead
Holly Hunt – Hampstead & Westminster
Pippa Lock – University of Birmingham
Alex Malzer – East Grinstead
Hannah Martin – THC Hurley
Lizzie Neal – Canterbury
Lily Owsley – HDM
Hollie Pearne-Webb (C) – Wimbledon
Flora Peel – HDM
Izzy Petter – Loughborough Students
Miriam Pritchard (GK) – University of Exeter
Ellie Rayer – East Grinstead
Laura Unsworth – East Grinstead
Lily Walker – University of Birmingham
Mila Welch (GK) – East Grinstead

Men’s squad
James Albery – Old Georgians
Nick Bandurak – Holcombe
Will Calnan – Hampstead & Westminster
David Condon – Wimbledon
Brendan Creed – Royal Beerschot
James Gall – Surbiton
David Goodfield – Surbiton
Chris Griffiths – Old Georgians
James Mazarelo (GK) – Loughborough Students
James Oates – Hampstead & Westminster
Nick Park – Surbiton
Ollie Payne (GK) – Holcombe
Ian Sloan – Wimbledon
Peter Scott – Wimbledon
Duncan Scott – Wimbledon
Rhys Smith – Wimbledon
Tom Sorsby – Surbiton
Sam Taylor – University of Exeter
Jack Turner – Wimbledon
Sam Ward – Old Georgians

These matches are England’s final away games of this campaign, with four big weekends to come in London in the coming weeks.

• Sat 21 May – England v France (M) 1pm, England v China (W) 3:30pm, Lee Valley HTC
  Sun 22 May – England v France (M) 12pm, England v China (W) 2:30pm, Lee Valley HTC
• Sat 28 May – England v South Africa (M) 12pm, England v Spain (W) 2:30pm, Lee Valley HTC
  Sun 29 May – England v South Africa (M) 12pm, England v Spain (W) 2:30pm, Lee Valley HTC
• Sat 4 Jun – England v Netherlands (W&M), 2pm & 4:30pm, Twickenham Stoop
  Sun 5 Jun – England v Netherlands (W&M), 1pm & 3:30pm, Twickenham Stoop
• Sat 18 Jun – England v Belgium (W&M), 2pm & 4:30pm, Lee Valley HTC
  Sun 19 Jun – England v Belgium (W&M), 1pm & 3:30pm, Lee Valley HTC

With thanks to England Hockey

• Martha Taylor makes her senior international debut; Holly Hunt scores first international goal
• Liam Sanford brings up 50 appearances for England; James Gall captain for the first time
• Teams return to FIH Hockey Pro League action against India on 2-3 April

England’s men and women were both beaten again by ruthless Argentina outfits in their FIH Hockey Pro League fixtures of the weekend.

The men put in an improved showing on yesterday’s 2-0 defeat but were undone by some clinical attacking play from the hosts, with Lucas Toscani opening the scoring and Lucas Martinez adding a second before half-time.

Nick Bandurak struck in the dying moments of the third quarter to set up a grandstand finish but England couldn’t find an equaliser, with Martinez sealing the points with virtually the last touch of the match.

England’s women recorded a second 5-2 loss in as many days against a rampant Las Leonas side, for whom sisters Maria and Victoria Granatto both scored.

In between their goals, Martina Trinanes and Eugenia Trinchinetti both converted penalty corners before Ellie Rayer and Holly Hunt scored either side of a wonder goal by Agustina Albertarrio to add some respectability to the scoreline.

Both English teams are next in action against India on 2-3 April.

MATCH REPORT

Argentina 5 (3)

M Granatto (5’, FG); Trinanes (26’, PC); Trinchinetti (28’, FG); V Granatto (35’, FG); Albertarrio (49’, FG)

England 2 (0)

Rayer (48’, FG); Hunt (52’, FG)

The hosts set out an early marker as they looked to repeat yesterday’s victory over England, Maria Granatto opening the scoring in the fifth minute as she picked her spot in the top corner after finding herself in acres of space in the middle of the circle.

A sliding Izzy Petter came close to diverting home a teasing pass by Hunt in the 17th minute but two goals in the final five minutes of the half saw Argentina take a commanding lead into the interval.

Trinanes scored the first, deflecting a slap from a penalty corner into the roof of the net before Trinchinetti added another two minutes later as she reacted quickest to an Amy Tennant save from a second set piece.

Victoria Granatto made it four early in the third quarter, starting the move inside her own half and finishing it off with a fine strike following a pacy Argentine attack.

Hannah Martin took the game into her own hands in the 44th minute, going on a mazy run from the halfway line into the circle but she couldn’t pick out a shot and was tackled.

She produced another fine piece of solo skill four minutes later, stealing the ball on the left side of the pitch and crossing for Rayer to deflect in her second goal in as many days.

Albertarrio restored Argentina’s four-goal lead less than 60 seconds afterwards as she jinked past several defenders before smashing the ball beyond Tennant.

England would have the last say however, with Hunt getting her name on the scoresheet for the first time in international hockey as she was perfectly placed to nudge home after Rayer’s shot hit the post.

Starting XI: Tennant (GK), Toman, Martin, Hunt, Petter, Ansley, Pearne-Webb, Crackles, S Hamilton, Peel, Balsdon

Subs (Used): Unsworth, Rayer, Neal, Hunter, Taylor, Malzer

Subs (Unused): Heesh (GK)

With thanks to England Hockey

Great Britain’s squads for their final matches ahead of this summer’s Olympics have been announced.

Following on from last week’s thrilling double header against Germany, the men will take on Spain while the women face the USA at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on 22-23 May. Please note that the timings for these games have changed; the men will now begin proceedings at 13:00 on Saturday and 12:00 on Sunday, with the women following on at 15:30 and 14:30 respectively.

Danny Kerry has announced a squad of 19 for his side’s matches against the 2019 EuroHockey silver medallists, with Will Calnan coming in to the side while Phil Roper and Ian Sloan are unavailable due to injury.

Several players could also achieve significant milestones this weekend, with both David Ames and Alan Forsyth in line to make their 50th appearance for Great Britain if they feature in either game. In addition, Liam Ansell, Zach Wallace and Jack Waller could all make their 50th combined international appearance for England and Great Britain if they play in both matches.

Meanwhile, women’s head coach Mark Hager has selected also a squad of 19 to take on the Americans. The only change to the squad originally announced for last week’s fixtures against Germany is the absence of Charlotte Watson, who was unavailable for those games due to an injury that also rules her out of this double header. Hannah Martin is also out as she continues her rehabilitation from a leg injury, while Tess Howard and Emily Defroand are long-term absentees.

The squads will then separate into their Home Nations ahead of the EuroHockey Championships, which take place in The Netherlands between 4-13 June.

After the conclusion of that tournament, they will return to Bisham Abbey to continue their preparations ahead of the Olympic Games, with Great Britain’s men beginning their campaign against South Africa at 10:00 on Saturday 23 July before the women follow suit against Germany at 01:00 on Sunday 24 July.

GB fixtures

• Saturday 22 May: GB v Spain (M) – 13:00 (BT Sport 2)
• Saturday 22 May: GB v USA (W) – 15:30 (BT Sport 3)
• Sunday 23 May: GB v Spain (M) – 12:00 (BT Sport 2)
• Sunday 23 May: GB v USA (W) – 14:30 (BT Sport/ESPN

Women’s squad

• 1) Maddie Hinch (GK) – England
• 4) Laura Unsworth – England
• 5) Sarah Evans – England
• 6) Anna Toman – England
• 8) Sarah Jones – Wales
• 9) Susannah Townsend – England
• 10) Sarah Robertson – Scotland
• 13) Ellie Rayer – England
• 17) Leah Wilkinson – Wales
• 18) Giselle Ansley – England
• 20) Hollie Pearne-Webb (C) – England
• 24) Shona McCallin – England
• 25) Sabbie Heesh – England
• 26) Lily Owsley – England
• 27) Jo Hunter – England
• 31) Grace Balsdon – England
• 32) Amy Costello – Scotland
• 33) Izzy Petter – England
• 38) Fiona Crackles – England

Men’s squad

• 1) George Pinner (GK) – England
• 5) David Ames – England
• 6) Henry Weir – England
• 7) Alan Forsyth – Scotland
• 8) Rupert Shipperley – Wales
• 10) Chris Griffiths – England
• 13) Sam Ward – England
• 16) Adam Dixon (C) – England
• 18) Brendan Creed – England
• 19) David Goodfield – England
• 20) Ollie Payne (GK) – England
• 21) Liam Ansell – England
• 25) Jack Waller – England
• 26) James Gall – England
• 27) Liam Sanford – England
• 29) Tom Sorsby – England
• 31) Will Calnan – England
• 32) Zach Wallace – England
• 33) Jacob Draper – Wales

Courtesy of GB Hockey

The regulations state, ‘If one of the two matches played between two teams is cancelled, the winner of the other match will receive double points.’ Australia won Saturday’s match 2-1 so were awarded six points, with Great Britain receiving zero points.

Given this experience of applying this regulation, we anticipate the FIH and competing nations will review the approach at the appropriate time.

When are GB’s next games after Australia?

The sides now go to Auckland, all matches on BT Sport:

Sat 8 Feb New Zealand v Great Britain (M); 4am UK time

Sat 8 Feb New Zealand v Great Britain (W); 6:30am

Sun 9 Feb New Zealand v Great Britain (M); 2am

Sun 9 Feb New Zealand v Great Britain (W); 4:30am UK time

How can media access players for interview?
Our Communications Officer Will Moulton is on location with the teams; contact him directly on will.moulton@englandhockey.co.uk

When and where are GB’s home games?
Six of the eight home matchdays take place at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre (LVHTC)

2 & 3 May, GBR v India (M) / China (W) – LVHTC

16 & 17 May, GBR v Argentina (M&W) – Twickenham Stoop

24 & 25 May, GBR v Spain (M) / USA (W) – LVHTC

13 & 14 Jun, GBR v Germany (M & W) – LVHTC

How can supporters get tickets for home games?

Season tickets and four-day passes are on general sale right now by clicking here. If you’re a club player, umpire/coach or purchased international hockey tickets in the last three years; you’re in the Hockey Family and have exclusive access to tickets until Tue 4 Feb – click here for more information.

Courtesy of GB Hockey