Netherlands, by virtue of being world champion and then backing up last month by taking home the European gold, is by far the outstanding team with the credentials to retain its crown in Doha when competition starts in the fantastic Aspire Stadium on Sunday, February 4.
Trying to climb three peaks in one calendar year — and under eight months at that — is a tortuous achievement. This year’s “triple crown” could cement Netherlands a place in history and evoke memories of the trail their countrywomen blazed in the 1980s-90s and the one-off Olympic gold in 2008.
Eve Doudesis’ team has conquered the first peak, is about to ascend the second with relish, with sights firmly set on the ultimate pinnacle of the sport — Olympic gold in Paris.
With the likes of captain Sabine van der Sloot, Simone van de Kraats and Lieke Rogge churning out goals and Laura Aarts in goal, the Dutch have the team and resolve once again to make the final and perhaps take victory.
Doudesis said in Doha on Friday: “As you say, it’s quite tricky to recover (from the Europeans). But we have the opportunity to stay together for one more month and try to identify our needs towards Paris. So, for us, we are looking for the right balance in this tournament before Paris.”
European Championships
Having the Europeans in Eindhoven in January proved to be a boost for the Dutch, as was having these important matches just a month out from the World Aquatics Championships.
How these European teams — some battling for inclusion in Doha while one spot was up for grabs in Paris — recover from the two-week ordeal that included consecutive matches and without the “normal” one match per two days, will be seen.
Some teams had to play at their best in the fight for World Aquatics Championships inclusion rather than a medal. At the top end, previously qualified Netherlands crossed the line when Bente Rogge scored six seconds from time over Spain for a magical 8-7 gold-medal victory.
Greece, by finishing third and denying the bronze medal, gained the European berth for Paris. Italy has yet to gain that honour and will be using Doha as its springboard for Olympic glory.
Qualifiers For Paris
France as the host nation
Netherlands as world champion
Spain (above) as world championship silver medallist
China as Asian Games champion
United States of America as Pan Am champion
South Africa as African qualifier
Australia as Oceania qualifier
Greece as European qualifier
What Happens In Doha?
As there are only 10 teams in the women’s competition of the Paris Olympics, the top two non-qualified teams in Doha will gain the final two berths.
Expect Italy, Canada, Hungary and New Zealand to lead the charge.
The Venue
The Aspire Stadium is the largest indoor sporting arena in the world and two purpose-built pools have been allotted to water polo (competition and warm-up) and two to swimming and artistic swimming. There is room for 2000 spectators.
How The Competition Is Structured
Four groups of four. Top team in each group wins through to quarterfinals. Second and third teams enter second-round crossovers with winners going to the 1-8 quarterfinals and losers to the 9-12 semifinals. Bottom team in each group crosses to contest the classification 13-16 positions. Winners of quarterfinals head to 1-4 semifinals and losers to 5-8 semifinals. Each team is allowed 15 athletes from which 13 will be selected for each match.
What The Groups Look Like
Group A: Brazil, United States of America, Kazakhstan, Netherlands.
Group B: Spain, Greece, China, France.
Group C: Singapore, Hungary, Australia, New Zealand.
Group D: Italy (above), South Africa, Great Britain, Canada.
Expected Group Winners
Group A: The two recent champions — Netherlands and USA — clash on the first day and despite who wins and loses, both teams should be at the sharp end of the tournament.
Group B: Spain will win. At the Europeans, Spain emphatically beat Greece 13-5 in the semifinals.
Group C: Hungary has still not qualified for Paris. Will that hunger be enough to topple Australia?
Group D: Italy is still smarting from the 7-6 loss to Greece in the European bronze-medal decider and Canada is not yet Paris-bound.
China finds itself the only non-European team in its group while Group D has three Commonwealth nations, including final qualifier Great Britain, which is making a rare appearance at this level.
The Stars To Watch
Netherlands we have spoken about.
USA contains triple Olympic champion Maggie Steffens and fellow stars Rachel Fattal, Maddie Musselman and goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson.
Spain is ably led by Anni Espar and Elena Ruiz, Bea Ortiz and Judith Forca are never far from the goals.
Greece has the three Plevritou sisters — Vasiliki Plevritou, captain Margarita Plevritou and Eleftheria Plevritou, plus the sees the return of centre forward Alexandra Asimaki.
Hungary will be hoping captain and 700-plus goal-scorer Rita Keszthelyi (pictured) will get Hungary across the line, aided by centre forward Rebecca Parkes and high-scoring Krisztina Garda.
Australia fronts with Bronte Halligan and Tilly Kearns under new coach Bec Rippon, an Olympic bronze medallist.
Italy’s evergreen Roberta Bianconi sees Paris as her probable final pinnacle while Silvia Avegno punches above her weight.
There are many more and others will emerge as they go about playing their part in history.
What About History?
USA is a seven-time winner and has a silver and two bronzes.
Netherlands has two crowns, four silvers and one bronze
Italy has two titles, one silver and three bronzes.
Hungary has two golds, two silvers and one bronze.
Australia has one gold, two silvers and two bronzes.
Spain has one gold and three silvers.
Greece has just the one title from 2011.
Russia has five bronzes.
Canada has two silvers and two bronzes.
China has the one silver from 2011.
Opening-Day Draw
09:00, Group A, Kazakhstan v Brazil
10:30, Group B, China v Spain
12:00, Group B, Greece v France
13:30, Group C, Australia v Singapore
15:00, Group C, Hungary v New Zealand
16:30, Group D, Great Britain v Italy
19:00, Group A, USA v Netherlands
20:30, Group D, South Africa v Canada