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Men's Hockey World Cup 2018: Complete Squads for all Teams

Can Peillat carry his team all the way to the top?
Can Peillat carry his team all the way to the top?

The squads for the World Cup have been announced - all sixteen of them, as they get into a state of battle readiness for the final onslaught. How do they stack up? Let's take a close look at all four pools ahead of the biggest hockey extravaganza of the year.

POOL A: Argentina, France, New Zealand, Spain

ARGENTINA (WR #2)

The Olympic Champions are heavily dependent on their one-man goal-machine Gonzalo Peillat, and why not? Peillat was the highest scorer at three of the recent biggies - the 2014 World Cup (10 goals), the 2016 Rio Olympics (11 goals), and the 2018 Champions Trophy (6 goals). The Los Leones also have veterans Matias Paredas and Lucas Vila to fire them in from open play.

HEAD COACH: Germán Orozco

Goalkeepers: Juan Manuel Vivaldi, Tomás Santiago

Gonzalo Peillat, Pedro Ibarra, Juan Ignacio Gilardi, Ignacio Ortiz, Juan Martín López, Matías Rey, Lucas Rossi, Agustín Bugallo, Nicolás Cicileo, Tomás Bettaglio, Matías Paredes, Agustin Mazzilli, Lucas Vila, Maico Casella, Lucas Martínez, Joaquín Menini

SPAIN (WR #8)

Xavi can prove to be quite a handful in the attacking circle while Sergi Enrique and goalkeeper Quico Cortes who were part of Spain's silver-medal winning squad of Beijing 2008 will be the key for the Red Sticks in their battle for the Copa Del Mundo.

HEAD COACH: Fred Soyez

Goalkeepers: Quico Cortes, Mario Garin

Alejandro de Frutos, Albert Beltrán, Álvaro Iglesias, Diego Arana, Enrique González de Castejón, Ignacio Rodriguez, Marc Sallés, Marc Boltó, Marc Serrahima, Miquel Delàs, Pau Quemada, Pepe Romeu, Ricardo Santana, Sergi Enrique, Vicenç Ruiz, Xavier Lleonart

NEW ZEALAND (WR #9)

The Black Sticks have what it takes to upset the best of teams on their day - a wealth of experience in their ranks with Shea McAleese and Arun Panchia to control the midfield, Hugo Inglis and Jared Panchia to strike swiftly, and Kane Russell to power in the short corners.

HEAD COACH: Darren Smith

Goalkeepers: Richard Joyce, George Enersen

Cory Bennett, Marcus Child, Hugo Inglis, Stephen Jenness, Dane Lett, Shea McAleese, George Muir, Dominic Newman, Jared Panchia, Arun Panchia, Hayden Phillips, Nick Ross, Kane Russell, Aidan Sarikaya, Blair Tarrant, Nick Woods.

FRANCE (WR #20)

The Genestet brothers (Hugo and Tom) have hockey running in their blood with 315 international caps between them, but watch out for Victor Charlet whenever Les Blues earn a PC as he can be just as good as the best in the business.

HEAD COACH: Jeroen Delmee

GoalkeepersArtur Thieffry, Corentin Saunier

Pieter van Straaten, Tom Genestet, Hugo Genestet, Blaise Rogeau, Victor Lockwood, Charles Masson, Nicolas Dumont, Gaspard Baumgarten, Francois Goyet, Cristoforo Peters-Duetz, Jean-Baptiste Forgues, Etienne Tynevez, Victor Charlet, Aristide Coisne, Maximillien Branicki, Timothee Clement


POOL B:: Australia, England, Ireland, China

AUSTRALIA (WR #1)

Except, perhaps, a drag-flicker of the caliber of Chris Ciriello, the World Champions have it all - Daniel Beale and Trent Mitton have been in fine form. Jake Harvie earned the Best Rising Player Award in the Champions Trophy while goalkeeper Tyler Lovell was at his superlative best in the final at Breda. With veterans like Ockenden and Zalewski manning the midfield, the Aussies look as solid as ever.

HEAD COACH: Colin Batch

Goalkeepers: Andrew Charter, Tyler Lovell

Daniel Beale, Timothy Brand, Tom Craig, Matthew Dawson, Blake Govers, Jake Harvie, Jeremy Hayward, Tim Howard, Trent Mitton, Eddie Ockenden, Flynn Ogilvie, Matthew Swann, Corey Weyer, Jake Whetton, Dylan Wotherspoon, Aran Zalewski

ENGLAND (WR #7)

When Barry Middleton takes the field at Bhubaneswar, it will be the fourth World Cup appearance for the 34-year-old midfielder who is still going strong. Adam Dixon continues to defend as tidily as ever at 32, while another veteran George Pinner won the Best Goalkeeper Award as the Azlan Shah Cup earlier this year. Sam Ward can be lethal in opposition territory while Harry Martin and Ian Sloan have pivotal roles in the midfield.

HEAD COACH: Danny Kerry

Goalkeepers: George Pinner, Harry Gibson.

Adam Dixon, Liam Sanford, Mark Gleghorne, Jack Waller, Michael Hoare, Luke Taylor, Harry Martin, David Ames, Ian Sloan, Barry Middleton, Zach Wallace, James Gall, Phil Roper, David Condon, Will Calnan, Sam Ward, Brendan Creed, Rhys Smith

IRELAND (WR #10)

A blend of youth and experience is the hallmark of Cox's side with goalkeeper David Harte and defenders Conor Harte and Paul Gleghorne forming an experienced defensive unit. Shane O'Donoghue finds the back of the net consistently, and Ireland can be tough to beat for both neighbors England and defending champions Australia.

HEAD COACH: Alexander Cox

Goalkeepers: David Harte, David Fitzgerald

Jonathan Bell, Matthew Bell, Luke Madeley, Chris Cargo, Matthew Nelson, Alen Sothern, Eugene Magee, Kirk Shimmins, Shane O'Donoghue, Sean Murray, Mitch Darling, Michael Robson, Daragh Walsh, Paul Gleghorne, Cornor Harte, Jeremey Duncan, Lee Cole, Stuart Loughrey

CHINA (WR #17)

Powered by an eminently successful South Korean coach who knows precisely what it takes to perform on the big stage, the Chinese will be making their first-ever appearance in a Men's World Cup as the highest-ranked team from last season's HWL (which did not already qualify).

HEAD COACH: Kim Sang-Ryul

Goalkeepers: Ao Zhiwei, Wang Caiyu,

Guo Xiaoping, Guan Quyang, Ao Suozhu, E Wenhui, Ao Yang, Meng Dihao, Su Jun, Meng Nan, Su Wenlin, Su Lixing, Du Chen, Du Talake, Guo Zixiang, E Wenlong, Ao Weibao, Guo Jin

POOL C: Belgium, India, Canada, South Africa

BELGIUM (WR #3)

The Red Lions may not have been at their very best at the Champions Trophy - but are perfectly capable of making it all the way to the top at Bhubaneswar. Vincent Vanasch in goal has stood like a rock for the Olympic silver-medalists aided by an equally solid defence with the likes of van Doren, Boccard, and Loick Luypaert. John Domen controls the midfield traffic with aplomb while Tom Boon and Cedric Charlier can rip apart the opposition defence almost at will.

HEAD COACH: Shane McLeod

Goalkeepers: Vincent Vanasch, Loic Van Doren

Arthur De Sloover, Arthur Van Doren, Loïck Luypaert, Alexander Hendrickx, Gauthier Boccard, Emmanuel Stockbroekx, Simon Gougnard, John-John Dohmen, Victor Wegnez, Felix Denayer, Sébastien Dockier, Cédric Charlier, Tom Boon, Thomas Briels, Florent van Aubel, Nicolas De Kerpel

INDIA (WR #5)

Can Manpreet lead India to glory
Can Manpreet lead India to glory?

A relatively young Indian team will attempt to make history at home - Harmanpreet, Amit, and Birendra have withstood several onslaughts from the best of teams, Manpreet is calm and composed in midfield, as is Chinglensana, while the Indian forward line can strike fear with their lightning-quick counters - whether or not the hosts can handle the pressure of knockouts is the real question.

HEAD COACH: Harendra Singh

Goalkeepers: PR Sreejesh, Krishan Bahadur Pathak

Harmanpreet Singh, Birendra Lakra, Varun Kumar, Kothajit Singh Khadangbam, Surender Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Manpreet Singh, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Nilakanta Sharma, Hardik Singh, Sumit, Akashdeep Singh, Mandeep Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Simranjeet Singh.

SOUTH AFRICA (WR #15)

The South Africans made it to the World Cup via the African Cup of Nations, and captain Tim Drummond, along with experienced campaigners Austin Smith, and Rhett Halket will be keen to make an impact at Bhubaneswar.

HEAD COACH: Mark Hopkins

Goalkeepers: Gowan Jones, Rassie Pieterse

Tim Drummond, Dayaan Cassiem, Taylor Dart, Tyson Dlungwana, Jethro Eustice, Rhett Halkett, Tommy Hammond, Keenan Horne, Julian Hykes, Peabo Lembethe, Mo Mea, Bili Ntuli, Taine Paton, Richard Pautz, Austin Smith, Nick Spooner

CANADA (WR #11)

Gordon Johnston's brace along with Keegan Perreira's goal resulted in a huge upset win for the Canadians against India in last year's HWL, but the Indians - and every other side in the competition would be just as wary of Scott Tupper's scoring prowess and Mark Pearson's midfield skills.

HEAD COACH: Paul Bundy

Goalkeepers: David Carter, Antoni Kindler

Balraj Panesar, Brandon Perreira, Gordon Johnston, Scott Tupper, Keegan Perriera, Matthew Sarmento, Iain Smythe, James Kirkpatrick, Oliver Scholfield, Mark Pearson, Sukhi Panesar, Gabe Ho-Garcia, John Smythe, Richard Hildreth, Brenden Bissett, Jamie Wallace

POOL D: Netherlands, Germany, Malaysia, Pakistan

The Orange Army finds itself in the Group of Death
The Orange Army finds itself in the Group of Death

NETHERLANDS (WR #4)

The very fact that Mink van der Weeden is back, is quite enough to set the alarm bells ringing for the opposition, but the quality in the Dutch camp is hardly restricted to the veteran drag flicker's expertise. Jeroen Hertzbeger's forays up front, in partnership with Pruijser, de Voogd, and Brinkman, can unsettle the best defensive units and the Dutch themselves are pretty resolute all they way back with Blaak being the shield in goal.

HEAD COACH: Max Caldas

Goalkeepers: Sam van der Ven, Pirmin Blaak, 

Seve van Ass, Sander Baart, Billy Bakker, Lars Balk, Thierry Brinkman, Thijs van Dam, Jonas de Geus, Jeroen Hertzberger, Robbert Kemperman, Mirco Pruyser, Glenn Schuurman, Valentin Verga, Bob de Voogd, Mink van der Weerden, Sander de Wijn, Floris Wortelboer

GERMANY (WR #6)

The old guard, Tobias Hauke, and Martin Haner signify the unflinching and ruthless efficiency which the Germans are known for, with Florian Fuchs, Christopher Ruhr, and Mats Grambush providing the attacking firepower in the circle - and, who can forget the heroism of a hopelessly-depleted German side which made the hosts sweat it out in the HWL bronze-medal match at Bhubaneswar last December?

HEAD COACH: Stefan Kermas

Goalkeepers: Mark Appel, Tobias Walter

Florian Fuchs, Benedikt Furk, Mats Grambusch, Tom Grambusch, Johannes Grobe, Martin Haner, Tobias Hauke, Timm Herzbruch, Dieter Linnekogel, Marco Miltkau, Matthias Muller, Dan Nguyen Luong, Christopher Ruhr, Ferdinand Weinke, Nikias Wellen, Lukas Windfeder

MALAYSIA (WR #12)

A gritty defensive unit with Faiz Jali, at the forefront, which can effortlessly transform into an extremely skillful and speedy attack, courtesy of the Saari brothers - Faizal and Fitri, along with Tajuddin Tengku, Hasan Azuan, and Nik Rozemi, who will now be guided by the wily Roelant Oltmans, makes the Malaysians a formidable and dangerous side - and do not forget Razie Rahim, the PC ace.

HEAD COACH: Roelant Oltmans

Goalkeepers: Kumar Subramaniam, Hairi Rahman

Sumantri Norsyafiq, Ramadan Rosli, Marhan Jalil, Fitri Saari, Joel van Huizen, Faizal Saari, Syed Cholan, Sukri Mutalib, Firhan Ashari, Nabil Noor, Razie Rahim, Faiz Jali, Azri Hassan, Hasan Azuan, Tajuddin Tengku, Nik Rozemi

PAKISTAN (WR #13)

Rizwan Sr's playmaking skills, Ali Shan's sizzling runs, Imran Butt's presence under the post backed up by the drag-flicking skills of Aleem Bilal and Mubashar Ali are quite adequate for Pakistan to begin their campaign as the dark horses at Bhubaneswar.

HEAD COACH: Tauqeer Dar

Goalkeepers: Imran Butt, Mazhar Abbas

Mohd. Irfan (Sr), Aleem Bilal, Mubashar Ali, Tauseeq Arshad, Tasawwar Abbas, Rashid Mahmood, Ajaz Ahmed, Ammad Shakeel Butt, Mohd. Irfan (Jr.), Mohd. Rizwan (Sr.), Ali Shan, Faisal Qadir, Abubakr Mahmood, Umar Bhutta, Atiq Arshad, Mohammad Zubair

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