The France Men’s team has arranged to play two practice matches against Argentina on 12 and 27 November.

The first match on 12 November will be played in Hilversum, Netherlands at 11:00, the place where Argentina is currently in training. The second match on 27 November will be played in Ronchin, near Lille at 16:00. At 14:00 at the same ground, the France women will also be playing Australia in the first of three matches.

The Argentina matches represent an opportunity for a number of players to impress the new French Men’s Head Coach, Scott Goodheart. 

“We are using 27 players in the two games,” said Goodheart.   “As such, it is a great opportunity for all of the players listed to compete for squad selection, and also to match against one of the strongest hockey nations in the world.”

The French team has endured eight retirements from the squad after the Olympic Qualification tournament in Auckland earlier in 2008.  However, Goodheart hopes two or three of these may decide to return in the new-year after an extended break.   Goodheart also expects that there will be players added to the 2022 Squad from players not listed in the teams against Argentina.

Goodheart also intends to use a variety of assistant coaches as part of the French program for the next six months. For the games against Argentina; Gwanael Sauvourel (Paris Jean Bouin) and Yves Soyez (Lille MHC) will be part of the French off-field team.

Argentina is currently ranked ninth in the world although recently finished with a bronze medal at the 2008 Champions Trophy in Rotterdam. They are playing Ireland, Belgium and Netherlands on their European tour.

Source: Federation Francaise de Hockey