Hockey heads to Poland and Croatia for internationals

Both the men’s and women’s hockey national squads will be in action these next weeks with the women playing for the first time after several years absence in the Eurohockey Championship III. They will be heading to Croatia where they face Switzerland, Croatia and Turkey in what will be a challenging tournament.
With recent heat waves hitting Europe, the preparations for both sides have already been difficult. The prospect of playing under some hot conditions something which will be in the back of the minds of many with push-off times in mid-afternoon.
The men’s will be travelling to Poland and start play on the 24th, a day before the women’s division.
Gibraltar face Malta, Lithuania, Serbia, Poland and Croatia in five days of intense hockey.
Playing in the Eurohockey Championship III and similar to the women’s team Gibraltar’s men face a midday to mid afternoon schedule with matches played at 1245, 1330 twice, 1430 and 1145 being the earliest scheduled match.
Although having played a number of matches both national sides head into the competition with little international minutes under their belt this season. The men’s team expected to see changes within its ranks with younger players already having been called in to play in recent matches as Gibraltar hockey looks to refresh its squad into the future.
Similarly the women’s team, not having seen much international gametime, with only Europa having played European hockey this year. With the squad also playing for the first time in a number of years at international level, the expectations are not as high as Gibraltar starts to assess at what level they currently are in terms of development against similar level teams following thier lack of experience internationally.
Their lack of presence on the international stage is also somewhat of an advantage with little information available on their gameplay which their opponents will be able to assess pre-match. This expected to see all eyes on Gibraltar’s first match against Switzerland.