Content Courtesy of Diana Pugliese, Lancaster Online Sports Writer
As the French men's soccer team returns from Russia with their trophy, fans may think that the World Cup is over. Instead, it's just beginning, as women's field hockey teams around the globe gear up for the Vitality Hockey Women's World Cup London. Before play gets underway on Saturday, here are five things you may not know about the tournament.
History Books
The first field hockey World Cup was held in Spain in 1971, but the first women's tournament wasn't until 1974 in France. That World Cup was held by the International Federation of Women's Hockey, which merged with the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in 1982.
While the men's tournament initially started as a biannual event, it switched to every four years in 1978. After the creation of the women's tournament, both World Cups were put on the same four-year schedule in 1986.
Winner's Circle
Despite 13 previous tournaments, the World Cup has only been hoisted by four different countries.
The Netherlands leads the way with seven gold medals, including a first-place finish in 2006 with USWNT Head Coach Janneke Schopman playing defense. The Dutch first won the World Cup in 1974 and enter this weekend's competition as the defending champions.
Three countries have each won the World Cup twice: Argentina, Australia and Germany, which claimed gold as West Germany in 1976 and 1981.
In eight appearances, Team USA's highest finish came in the form of a bronze medal in 1994. The Americans finished fourth in 2014.
New Format
For just the second time since its inception, the women's World Cup will feature 16 teams. The other 10 tournaments featured between 10 and 12 squads.
Unlike in the 2014 World Cup in The Netherlands, this year's qualifiers are divided into four pools, with Team USA competing in Pool B with England, Ireland and India. The top three teams from each pool will advance to the next round, with the pool winner earning a spot in the quarterfinals and the other two teams playing crossover games.
The runner-up from Pool B will face the third-place team from Pool A, while the third-place team will meet the runner-up from Pool A. The Netherlands, China, Korea and Italy will compete in Pool A.
If they advance, the Americans won't see Pan Am rivals Argentina – or any other team from Pool C or D – until the semifinals, which begin on August 4.
“With the format that you have now, it's hard on everyone. You can't slip up,” said Schopman. “It's harder because if you make one mistake, you're in the trenches, and I think that will be interesting to see how all of these teams hold up.”
The Trophy
Introduced in 1975, the original World Cup trophy was a quaich, or Scottish drinking bowl, presented by the Royal Bank of Scotland. Work was commissioned last year to update the Cup, while making it equal to the men's trophy in height, weight and style.
We bring you the new redesigned Hockey Women's World Cup 🏆 😮 😍 #HWC2018
— FIH (@FIH_Hockey) November 22, 2017
Who will take it home from London next year? pic.twitter.com/iT5GbTbFg3
A decorated plinth and an embellished silver column were added, bringing the trophy up to about one and a half feet tall. The original bowl was replicated and replaced, with matching engraved thistles and the original gold-plated handles later attached.
Where to Watch
Fans in the United States will be able to live stream the entire tournament on Bleacher Report Live. Games can be accessed on live.bleacherreport.com or via a link on USAFieldHockey.com.
Team USA will play Ireland on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. ET, England on Wednesday, July 25 at 3:00 p.m. and India on Sunday, July 29 at noon.