22 years agoprior to the Sydney Olympics, a women’s team would leave a mark that would be eternal and would not lose validity over time. Las Leonas were born as a need for identification and that nickname was such a boost that they were able to win the silver medal in the Australian city and two years later win a World Cup, Perth 2002. Time passed, also new Olympic podiums and Las Leonas were once again crowned in the Rosario World Cup in 2010 with Luciana Aymar as a banner.
From this Saturday and until July 17, the Argentine hockey team will travel the World Cup path that always has it as the protagonist. Vanina Oneto spoke with Page/12during the celebration of Olympic Day, of the importance of a tournament of this magnitude, the change in the coaching staff and the modifications that transformed the sport in recent years.
-How do you see Las Leonas?
-I see them very well, I think they have added a lot of experience in what was the last year after Tokyo. I see some players who seem to have matured much more than that in a year. I see them well planted, in the Pro League they have made a very good finish.
What is so special about playing in a World Cup?
-The World Cup is always difficult, although the rivals do not seem so difficult, it is complicated because Argentina is a very studied team, very analyzed. It is a beautiful challenge to play a World Cup of hockey, it is the most beautiful thing there is and above all to do it in two cities. Hopefully the road will be very long and we will have to travel to Holland also for the closing.
–You said we have. Do you feel that you are still part of it?
–I think it happens to all of us, one accompanies, sees everything she can and talks to the girls. One is a Leona for life, to me when they call me a former lioness it sounds strange to me because it is such a strong feeling, which transcends and beyond the fact that I do not know some of them in person, it gives you the opportunity to write to them, to encourage them and to be there. When Las Leonas play, they stop by my house and watch hockey.
After the silver medal won in Tokyo Under the command of Carlos Retegui, “Chapa” decided to step aside in leading the team and Ferrara took office from November 2021. Last June The Lionesses won the Pro League for the first time in its history and the expectations for the tournament that begins are the best.
-How do you see the change in the coaching staff?
–I always thought that the technical bodies do not have to be eternal, as the players are renewed, it is good for the coaches too, that generates structural movements on both sides, it can strengthen a lot. This coaching staff has only been here for a short time, the closing of the Pro League was very good, but now the pingos are seen on the court as they say, and now comes the most beautiful part, they have to prove it. I don’t doubt Leona’s spirit because she always has that extra claw and I think she’s going to do well. Renewing the ways of training makes there is a different energy and empowers you more as a player so with the best expectation for them.
How has hockey changed in twenty years?
-There was a change in the regulations to make it more attractive, this four quarters generated an abysmal physical and game intensity that was not experienced in our time when we played two times of 35 and even more so when intermittent changes could not be made as in the basketball. The changes mean that if you have a good approach, you have a team at 90 percent or 100 the entire game. There are players who had to learn to play stick for three or four minutes and go out and have another come in to play the same thing and keep the level of the team at its highest.
-Which do you prefer now or before?
-It’s a whole new strategy, I liked the other one because I was more comfortable. I think about this hockey and I say I don’t know if I could have played it, but visually it is very attractive, it generates a lot of goals, I love the definition of shoot outI find it super cute, agonizing but divine.
world cup background
The Lionesses managed to be in the podium in three of the last four world championships: they were third in Spain 2006 and the Netherlands 2014 and started champions in Rosario 2010. In London 2018 they were left out in the quarterfinals with Australia.
East tournament will be Belén Succi’s last, the historic archer who achieved two Olympic medals and two world podiums with the team. Secondly, Augustine Gorzelany, who was the top scorer in the Pro League, became the short corner specialist and it will be a very important offensive weapon for the national team.
15 of the 18 players were in Tokyo, the new members are Valentina Marcucci, Delfina Thome and Jimena Cedrés. The rest of the squad, silver medalist in the last Olympic Games: Belén Succi, Clara Barberi, Valentina Costa Biondi, MarÃa Forcherio, Valentina Raposo, Agustina Gorzelany, SofÃa Toccalino, Victoria Sauze, Agostina Alonso, RocÃo Sánchez Moccia, Eugenia Trinchinetti, MarÃa José Granatto, Victoria Granatto, Agustina Albertario and Julieta Jankunas.
Game mode
There will be four groups of four members. The first of each zone will qualify directly to the quarterfinals and between the second and third there will be a round of 16 match that will define who will be among the best eight.
The Lionesses will debut this Saturday from 1:00 p.m. against South Korea, will continue their journey on Sunday against Spain from 4:30 p.m. and will close their participation in the regular phase against Canada from 1:00 p.m. All in the Spanish city of Tarrassa.