BLR-W Vs WAL-W Dream 11 prediction: Both these countries look to each other to cement fifth place in the tournament after quarter-final defeats.
Following the seventh place encounter in the FIH Women’s Series Final, Spain is the fifth place match between Wales and Belarus as we wrap up the position deciding matches today. Taking on each other will be two countries who had to fold their campaign in the tournament after being put down in the cross-over encounters, brining the curtails down to their campaign in the culminating leg of the prestigious league.
While Belarus had to suffer a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Italy, Wales managed to put up a much improved performance, losing by the smallest of margins in the end. They went down 1-0 against world 7th ranked Spain in a performance which troubled the highly ranked unit.
Now up against each other, both Belarus and Wales will be looking to get the better of each other and end the tournament for themselves in winning fashion. Expect the match to be a competitively and feisty competed one, where the finest of margins will ultimately decide which side ends up on the winning side at the end of the 60 minutes.
Probable Winner
For us, the fact that Wales are seven places behind Belarus in the rankings holds no importance in the outcome of this one. Wales have played a much better brand of hockey and should be the winners here despite the goals having been tough to come by, managing to score only the eight times, only ahead of Namibia in the goal scoring charts.
On the other hand, Belarus have 10, a figure which doesn’t induce the most of confidence ether. With both the sides failing to turn up when it matters the most, it’s the defence which should decide things here and we pip Wales to go through due to this facet.
Goal-Keeper
Rose Thomas from Wales makes an entry in our team over here. Despite Wales letting in 6 goals, the shot stopper has been an extremely crucial one for her side with her astute saving and blocking abilities. She managed to register a mammoth 64 points against Spain, helping her side remain in the game throughout the match and we see her doing the same against Belarus.
Defenders
After letting in 4 goals against Italy prior to the 8 they had let go through when they have come up against Spain, there is no way that we rely on Belarus as defending unit. They have been left besmirched by attacking sides who have found it way too easy to break their shape and score goals with relative ease past them.
This sees us opt for the singular pick from their side in the form of Ryta Batura, a goal scoring threat for the side. Her marauding runs up the field could yield successful for both her side and us and we are getting her in without second thoughts.
From Wale it’s a two woman partnership that is making an advent for us in the form of Leah Wilkinson and Joanne Westwood, two strong and resolute performers who should help curtail anything Belarus try to put together in the attacking department.
Midfielders
From the middle of the park we have chosen only the one selection from Belarus in the form of Nadzeya Siltiskaya. In a department where Belarus have a dearth of players, leaving a massive void in their side, she’s someone who encapsulates everything that a midfielder needs to have. She’s going to be accompanied by the experienced Nastassia Syrayezhka, well versed performer who should partner Nadzeya perfectly.
A duo of players from Wales as well with Sian French and Beth Bingham coming into our side. We fully expect them to reverberate their rousing performances which have served the side so fruitfully and pummel any attack with Belarus’ strike force tries to conjure up.
Forwards
Belarus finely dominate in one facet with us brining in two strikers from their side. The first who came in without a doubt was Krestine Papkova, the tournament’s top goal scorer whose 6 goals have accounted for more than half her side have nagged to score. The other from the country is Elena Sazhina, the two same players who represented our side the last time around.
Only one striker comes in from Wales given how much they have struggled to put together two attacking moves. However, Phoebe Richards has an affinity for finding the goal, incessantly peppering the goal with her intelligent capabilities and we see her making the most of a poor Belarus back line.
Captain And Vice-Captain
We have decided to cap Krestine as the captain for this one while from Wales its Leah who is our vice-captain.
Match Details
FIH Women’s Series Final
Match: Wales Vs Belarus
Date And Time: 25th June, Tuesday- 11:30pm IST
Venue: Estadio Betero, Valencia
Full team
Disclaimer: This team is made on the basis of our research for the game. This XI is what we think would work – you’re free to choose your own XI.
