HOBART (Australia) Oct 8: Germany are favourites to topple defending champions Australia in the Junior World field hockey Cup which starts here Tuesday.

The tournament bring the world’s top under 21 players from 16 nations together for the first time in four years.

Australia won the last Junior World Cup in 1997 at Milton Keynes, England, but Germany, with seven players who are regular members of their senior side, are strong favourites.

The teams most likely to progress into the top 8 second round are Australia, England, Netherlands, South Korea, Canada, Spain, Germany and Argentina.

Schedule:

Round 1

Pool A: Australia, Chile, England, Ireland

Pool B; South Africa, France, Korea and Netherlands

Pool C; Canada, India, Scotland and Spain

Pool D; Argentina, Germany, Malaysia and New Zealand

Oct 9

Chile v England, Australia v Ireland, Scotland v Spain, India v Canada

Oct 10

Argentina v Germany, Malaysia v New Zealand, Korea v Netherlands, France v South Africa, Australia v Chile, Ireland v England

Oct 11

Canada v Spain, India v Scotland, Germany v New Zealand, Argentina v Malaysia, France v Korea, South Africa v Netherlands

Oct 12

Canada v Scotland, Spain v India, Ireland v Chile, England v Australia

Oct 13

South Africa v Korea, Netherlands v France, Germany v Malaysia, New Zealand v Argentina

Round 2

Pools E and F: 1st 2 from each first round pool

Pools G and H: 3rd and 4th teams from ecah first round pool

Match dates

Oct 14, Oct 15, Oct 16, Oct 17

Semi-finals: Oct 19

Classification matches: Oct 20

Final, classification matches: Oct 21.—AFP