Elie Barnes is excited to watch La Maradona Del Hockey at the Women's Champions Trophy
Last Updated: 26/11/14 1:04pm
Sky's very own Wales international Elie Barnes blogs on the Champions Trophy - featuring Olympic hopefuls England and the last hurrah of her favourite player.
For many reasons this Champions Trophy will be an exceptionally exciting tournament and one that I am very much looking forward to watching. The tournament is likely to be Luciana Aymar of Argentina’s last tournament before retirement. A player decorated with the FIH Player of the Year Award eight times and, in my opinion, ‘La Maradona del hockey’ is one of the best female hockey players ever to grace the game.
Whilst I have not been fortunate enough to play any matches in Argentina, I am told that the atmosphere and support for our sport is rivalled by only that of the Dutch. For those amongst you who are new to watching hockey, this tournament will showcase the best players in the world, with the best supporters in the world, in arguably one of the most beautiful countries in the world. What is there not to entice you to watch…
New faces
I am sure the girls will want to put to bed the disappointment of the World Cup earlier in the year and carry on the great form they showed at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Elen Barnes
For the England team this will be their last competitive tournament on the world stage as ‘England’ ahead of the Rio Olympics. The squad will compete as Great Britain in the Olympic qualifiers next June so this tournament provides all the girls with a fabulous opportunity to stake their place in head coach Danny Kerry's thoughts.
There are quite a few new faces in the squad which is very exciting to see and in the absence of Kate Richardson-Walsh, a new captain for this tournament is to be unveiled. I am sure the girls will want to put to bed the disappointment of the World Cup earlier in the year and carry on the great form they showed at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
I know they have been working hard at training and I am sure that will pay off when the whistle blows on Saturday against Australia.
Exciting talent
With the Rio Olympics gaining momentum on everyone’s agenda, this tournament should also showcase some exciting new talent into world hockey. Ahead of the Olympic qualifiers next year, almost all nations will be looking to expose a couple of their youngsters to the world stage to see if they can cut the mustard. I am really looking forward to seeing some exciting new talent emerge over the next few weeks.
2014 has been an exceptionally busy year in the hockey calendar with the World Cup, Glasgow Commonwealth Games and soon to start, the 21st edition of the Women’s Champions Trophy. Every one of the eight teams competing out in Mendoza, Argentina will be looking to finish the year on a high and more importantly setting their stall out for 2015 and the Olympic qualifiers.
England begin their Women's Champions Trophy against Australia on Saturday 29 November at 7.30pm on Sky Sports 3.
