Argentina

Men Women

Pan American Champions Argentina have always produced international teams with plenty of talent, but over the past 18 months the current men’s team has developed into a side that can challenge the very best in the world. Coach Carlos Retegui is overseeing the revolution, helping “Los Leones” (The Lions) to realise their massive potential. Retegui is the man who guided Argentina women to World Cup glory in 2010 and, following his recent reappointment to head coach of “Las Leonas” (The Lionesses), will be targeting podium finishes with both the men’s and women’s teams. If he manages to pull it off it will be a truly staggering achievement, but it certainly promises to be a busy two week period for the charismatic former Argentine international. The South Americans may be among the lowest ranked teams in the competition, but their superb recent form and fearless attacking style provides plenty of evidence that they should not be underestimated. They have shown glimpses of sheer brilliance in the past year, with their second place finish at the Hockey World League Semi-Final in Johor Bahru (MAS) and rampant displays on route to winning the Pan American Cup proving to be real head-turners. Star players include free-scoring attackers Lucas Vila, Matias Paredes and Facundo Callioni as well as rising star Gonzalo Peillat, the 21-year-old defender who is already considered to be one of the finest penalty corner drag-flickers in the game.

Best World Cup results:
6th in 1986 (London) and 2002 (Kuala Lumpur). They have taken part in 11 Previous World Cups.

FIH World Ranking:
11th

News:
01-05-2014: Meet the coach: Carlos Retegui
17-03-2014: This is Argentina!
06-07-2013: Argentine men qualify

Team

1 Juan Vivaldi

2 Gonzalo Peillat

4 Juan Ignacio Gilardi

5 Pedro Ibarra

8 Lucas Rey

9 Pablo Trevisan

10 Matias Paredes

11 Joaquin Menini

12 Lucas Vila

13 Lucas Martinez

14 Guillermo Schickendan...

17 Juan Martin Lopez

18 Guido Barreiros

22 Matias Rey

24 Manuel Brunet

26 Agustin Mazzilli

27 Lucas Rossi

31 Agustin Abratte

Staff

Head Coach - Carlos Retegui

Assistant Coach - Mariano Ronconi

Stand-In Manager - Guillermo Fonseca

Team Doctor - Eduardo Cammareri

Physiotherapist - Lucas Cammareri

Assistent Coach - Santiago Capurro

Alongside the Netherlands, “Las Leonas” (The Lionesses) have been the dominant force in women’s hockey for well over a decade. The team are the reigning World Champions, having won the 2010 title in Rosario, the home city of star player Luciana Aymar. Even at the age of 36, Aymar – nicknamed “La Maga” (The Magician) – is still the driving force of the Argentina team and a player who is globally feared and respected in equal measure. She is widely expected to hang up her stick after this tournament and will be looking to go out on a high. The team is coached by Carlos Retegui, the man behind both their 2010 World Cup triumph and the Olympic Silver medal winning performance at London 2012. Ominously for the opposition, Retegui – who is also overseeing the Argentina men in The Hague – believes the Argentine women's team is approaching the level it showed in 2010, a bold statement which suggests that they are in fine fettle coming into this tournament. It goes without saying that Aymar is the star of the show, but she has a sensational supporting cast which includes some of the most gifted players in the world. Delfina Merino, Carla Rebecchi and Rosario Luchetti are all potential match winners for Argentina, as is classy defender and penalty corner expert Noel Barrionuevo. With so much talent at their disposal it is hardly surprising that they are considered to be among the frontrunners for the Gold medal.

Best World Cup results:
Gold in 2002 (Perth) and 2010 (Rosario). They have taken part in 13 previous World Cups.

FIH World Ranking:
2nd

News:
03-05-2014: This is: Luciana Aymar
01-05-2014: Meet the coach: Carlos Retegui
17-03-2014: This is Argentina!
30-09-2013: Fourth Successive victory for Argentina
29-06-2013: England and Argentina in World Cup