As the IQA World Cup approaches, excitement and anticipation have been building within the England camp. After two years of dedicated preparation, the squad is ready to showcase its talent on the world stage.
The excitement is palpable for both the coaching team and player group. Everyone has worked incredibly hard to get England to be in the best possible position, and now is the time for them to take on the world with a lion on their chests and pride in their hearts.
Competing at a World Cup is one of the most special things you can do as a Quadball player, and they’re ready to embrace the challenge.
England’s build-up to the tournament has been comprehensive. They've held monthly training camps in London, covering a broad spectrum of technical, tactical, and physical aspects of the game. They also travelled to Norway in May to compete against some of the other top nations in Europe and get some high-quality reps in before the big dance in Belgium.
Focused, ambitious, and aiming for the top spot. Throughout the years, England has always been about striving for excellence and representing our country and community at the highest possible level. They are going for gold, as every country should be, and they want to be a team that the players are proud to play for and fans across the world love to watch.
There’s also a strong emphasis on the experience and development of the players. Specifically, they want the players to relish the experience of pulling on an England shirt, whether for the first or fiftieth time, and show the world what they’re capable of. Regardless of what happens in Belgium, we hope the experience makes them hungry for more as we head into the next World Cup cycle and the future of UK Quadball.
Luke Twist, England Chaser
Douglas Bryant, England Beater
Benan Emre, England Chaser
Reflecting on the European Games 2024, where England finished as runners-up to an incredible German side, the team has taken valuable lessons on board.
“We found plenty to celebrate from the tournament but also lots of opportunities for growth. We've honed our tactical approach, placed a strong emphasis on individual preparation outside of training camps and we've been very fortunate to have access to some incredible training facilities which has elevated the coaching and playing experience. We've taken notable strides towards where we want to be both in the short term in regards to the World Cup but also beyond into the next cycle.”
Fraser Posford, Assistant Coach
Looking ahead to the fixtures in Belgium, several nations stand out as exciting challenges, and England finds itself with some exciting matches in the group stages.
Alongside fellow United Kingdom side, Wales, England will also face off against the Basque Country and old rivals Canada and Australia. Both Wales and the Basque Country boast some great talent, with the Basque Country scoring a win against England in the 2023 Quadball Nations Cup.
Historically, Canada has been a fiercely competitive rival, and England knows that facing them will be a fantastic opening match to kickstart their World Cup campaign.
And for the first time in nearly 12 years, England will finally face former world champions Australia in an official IQA World Cup match. This group game is sure to be electric and physical for both nations.
Beyond the group stage opponents, there is one team that every top nation has its eyes on.
England, of course, wants to take on the four-time world champions, the USA. With their pedigree in the sport, playing against them is the ultimate test of whether you have what it takes to be a world champion. After their last encounter in 2018 as Team UK, England would embrace a rematch with the USA and do whatever they can to make it a match for the ages.
The England squad boasts a mixture of experience and fresh talent.
Khushi Sampat, England Chaser
Ed Brett, England Chaser/Seeker
Paula Morazo, England Beater
Voted Team Europe Keeper at European Games 2024, Ben Malpass is a force to be reckoned with and is always a tough presence for opponents to control.
Michael Vong is an incredible beater and always puts on a show for the crowd, and Tash Ferenczy's persistence and courage is matched only by her work rate to excel in the game.
Ed Brett is also making his return to Team England, with power and passion both on and off the pitch. World Cup debutants Will Brilliant, James Martin and Khushi Sampat bring so much energy and athleticism to the squad.
And finally, England captain Bex Lowe is one of the fiercest competitors out there and provides great leadership, experience, and consistency in every game she plays.
Bex Lowe, England Captain
I'm honoured to be captaining Team England at the Quadball World Cup. I’ve been part of Team England/Team UK since 2016 and have seen the team grow year after year. After several seasons as Team Manager, I’m especially excited for the opportunity to lead on pitch this time. This is a squad full of passion, talent, and determination, and I’m confident we’re ready to make a real impact at World Cup!
England is prepared, set, and ready for whatever the world throws at them this weekend. It's sure to be a testing time for our athletes, but we can't wait to see what they achieve.
Come on, England! And good luck.
You can follow Quadball England, and all of their games right here on their instagram page.
