Stacey Michelsen of the New Zealand Black Sticks.
Far from preferring to avoid the formidable hosts in pool play, Black Sticks coach Mark Hager is relishing the prospect of tackling Argentina at the World League finals from the end of next month.
World No 3 New Zealand have drawn China, Olympic silver medallists Argentina and Australia in their
pool at the eight-team tournament. The option as pool top seed would have been Olympic champions the Netherlands, and Hager is happy with the outcome.
"They will be tough at home but the best part about playing in Argentina is playing in their pool where you get the crowds, the excitement and the atmosphere," Hager said. Pool B games will be played at night and are sure to attract far more spectators than the pool A games earlier in the day.
The return of their quality goalkeeper Maria Belen Succi further strengthens the hosts, who beat Australia 2-1 in a three-test series in Perth this week. China could be a surprise, too.
"We haven't seen them since the Olympics so we're not sure where they're at. They've got a new coach and had some retirements so they're a bit of an unknown for us," Hager said.
