Schopman's new-look Germany ready for her former wards India

BHUBANESWAR: After helping Odisha Warriors triumph in the maiden Women's Hockey India League, Janneke Schopman is back in India as coach of the Germany women's team.
Although her side lost their first two games against Spain in the ongoing FIH Pro League and is going through a transition, she is eager to face off against her former team – India – here on Friday.
"Yeah, it will be interesting. I know all of them and they had a good win against England. I think there will be extra energy, so we have to be ready. Think they have a lot of speed, and they have a lot of skills. So, we have to defend better otherwise it will be messy," was what Schopman had to say after her team lost their second consecutive game early this week.
The match comes almost exactly a year after Schopman resigned as the Indian women's hockey team coach following their failure to qualify for the Paris Olympics. The announcement had come after India wrapped up their Pro League campaign at home and she made allegations of differential treatment by Hockey India.
It was a messy affair, but Schopman has moved on. She, however, remained attached to the Indian players and also went to watch their games in Europe last year. Even during the Women's HIL, she was more than happy to work with the India players once again.
The former Dutch Olympic gold medalist, however, has a completely different challenge on her hands now as she looks to help Germany do well in the EuroHockey Championships at home later this year and then the World Cup in 2026, for which they have already qualified.
"We've had seven retirements. We have three other players that are injured, so we are missing some experience. We had a good outing in the Pro League in Argentina and we're here now using it to get to know everyone and to get a bit better," said Schopman.
Interestingly, Schopman wasn't aware that she would have to take over as the German head coach and it all happened rather quickly after their former coach Valentin Altenburg stepped down from the position last year.
Despite that, she's taken a liking to the new job and looks all set to grind it out. "What I like about Germany is that the players all have studies, they have work and they have to make the combination work, and it requires a lot of discipline and a lot of planning," said the coach.
"So once this is over the girls will go back to their clubs for three months, play there and train there. For me, it will be a lot of travelling, watching them play for their clubs and training with them individually."
It's quite different from India or for that matter many other countries but she looks set for the task at hand and is hoping to succeed.