Argentina's veteran squad clinches world Masters crown in Rotterdam

La selección argentina femenina de hockey sobre césped +50 clinched a world Masters title by defeating Inglaterra 1‑0 in the final of the Copa Mundial Masters in Rotterdam, Países Bajos, with the legendary Las Leonas captain Vanina Oneto leading the side.

The Argentine campaign was flawless from the start, beating Canada 7‑0, the United States 3‑0, Spain 1‑0 and Uruguay 3‑0 in the group stage, establishing a dominant record before the knockout rounds.

In the quarter‑finals the team overwhelmed Wales 6‑0 and then dispatched Australia 5‑1 in the semi‑final, showcasing both offensive firepower and defensive solidity throughout the tournament.

The decisive moment arrived in the final minutes of the match when Gabriela Giacobone scored from a short corner with just three minutes left, securing the 1‑0 victory for Argentina.

England had the upper hand in the first half, but the Argentine side recovered in the second period, a shift highlighted by coach Marcelo Bossi who said, “In the first half England were better, but in the second we were better and we scored the corner goal with three minutes left.”

Vanina Oneto, the emblematic captain, added her veteran experience to the squad; she is a former Las Leonas forward who won the World Cup in 2002 and earned Olympic medals in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004, now adding a Masters title to her résumé.

Argentina’s success was not limited to the +50 category; the +40, +40 IMC and +45 IMC teams also lifted their respective cups in Rotterdam, making Argentina a tetracampeón del mundo Máster across all divisions.

Looking ahead, the Argentine federation aims for the Pan American Championship next year, while the next Copa Mundial Masters remains a target to extend the dominance achieved after the earlier triumph in Auckland two years ago.