Belgium survive sudden death
In tense shootout, Red Devils outgun three-time champions Netherlands 3-2; Australia finish in third spot
BHUBANESWAR: Belgium heralded a new dawn in hockey on Sunday as their golden generation of players held their nerves to edge out neighbours Netherlands in sudden death and win their maiden hockey World Cup title at the Kalinga Stadium here.
The game dominated by the water-tight defence of both sides ended goalless in full time before Belgium won the shootout 3-2.
It was a fitting rise to pinnacle for Red Lions, who had qualified for only five of the 13 World Cups. They become the first new champions since Germany in 2002. They are only the sixth team to win the World Cup, joining Pakistan, Netherlands, Australia, Germany and India.
Runners-up to Argentina at the 2016 Rio Olympics and to Netherlands in the 2017 Eurohockey Nations Championship, the Thomas Briels-led side made sure they made it count the third time. Neither team could break the deadlock in regulation period and Belgium eventually pushed the Dutch --- runners-up to Australia in the last edition --- to sudden death. It was three-time champions Netherlands who took a 2-0 lead in the shootout before Player-of-the-match Vincent Vanasch showed why he is the FIH Goalkeeper of the Year by thwarting the next three Dutch attempts. Interestingly, Netherlands have been part of all three World Cup final shootouts, winning the first (vs India in 1973) but losing the next two (vs Pakistan in 1994 and Belgium).
The 60 minutes were played cautiously by both teams in a repeat of the 2017 European final, which Netherlands won 4-2. Having played regularly against each other, the players knew each other’s game well. The thinking was the same – defend and then counterattack.
Dutch still had their noses ahead with better possession, more accurate passes, circle entries and penalty corners. However, the Max Caldascoached outfit failed to score, extending their wait for a title since 1998. “We’re very disappointed. After the semi-final (beat Australia in sudden death), we were confident of winning in penalties. We have an amazing goalie (Pirmin Blaak) and he stopped three (shootouts),” said Jeroen Hertzberger, who missed Netherlands’ final penalty to give Belgium victory.
Following three relatively quiet quarters, the game came alive when both teams showed urgency for a goal. Defence turned into offence but such was the quality that neither team committed many fouls or give away penalty corners.
Blaak, hero of the shootout win over Australia, blocked back-toback penalty attempts to help the Dutch go 2-0 up, but it was Vanasch who shone after that.
“I’ve played in Holland and have seen their videos. So, I have an idea about them. Moreover, we have good strikers and it turned the match in our favour. As a goalie you may stop two balls in 60 minutes, but in shootouts you have to be there to keep the ball out,” said Vanasch before joining his team in celebration.
AUSTRALIA WIN 8-1
Smarting from their semi-final loss, Australia hunted like hungry wolves to pummel England 8-1 to claim bronze. Forward Tom Craig’s hat-trick (9th, 19th and 34th), Jeremy Hayward’s brace (57th and 60th) and a goal apiece by Blake Govers (8th), Trent Mitton (32nd) and Tim Brand (34th) gave Australia something to celebrate after their failure to achieve a ‘three-peat’ of titles.