WorldHockey World Cup Qualifier Men 2009, Lille France
31 October - 8 November 2009
(c) Jérémy Roussin - All the pictures in the Gallery
This was the final pool match for the two last ranked teams of the tournament. Russia and Italia haven’t yet beaten any team in the qualifier. Each team wanted to to win their first match before meeting again tomorrow for the 5-6 places match.
(c) Stanislas Brochier - All the pictures in the Gallery
The first match of the day started under the best auspices thanks to the sun which is in Lille at last ! Italy had the objective to score their first goal of the tournament whereas Poland was looking for a second consecutive win.
(c) Picture F.I.H. - Vino John
With their world ranking position (26th), the Italians are the outsiders of this tournament.
However, their opponers shoudn't understimate them. As sporting history has underlined many times, everything is possible and the Italians who have only once participated in the World Cup will be coming with a desire to show that they deserve to be there.
They have a tough start with Pakistan on Saturday, October 31st at 1.30pm. The next day they play France (Sunday November 1st at at 3.30pm) and then successively, Japan (Tuesday, November 3rd at 11.30am), Poland (Thursday, November 5th at 11.30am) finishing up with a match against Russia (Saturday November 7th at 12.30am).
2008 and 2009 results:
