Unexpected shock for a place in the Hockey World Cup semi-finals: Red Lions v New Zealand (2:30pm)

After victories over Korea (5-0) and Japan (7-1), as well as a draw with Germany (2-2), the Belgians won Group B, avoiding a dangerous passage in the crossover. While everyone, including the Belgian camp, expected to take on the serious challenge of crossing the road to India in the hot Kalinga stadium, the host country didn’t survive until the end of the ‘black sticks’, penalty shootout winners (3-3, 5-5 so on) Sunday evening.

If Michel van den Heeuvel can count on Arthur van Doren, whose playing time was adapted during the group stage due to back discomfort, then it should be different for Alexander Hendricks. The best sleeper in the world, the Antwerp resident was beaten by the first Japanese player on Friday and is very uncertain. In the event of a final change within the Belgian group, Maxime Van Oost, a defender like Antwerper, would logically enter the Combi line.

The Belgians and New Zealanders have not faced each other in an official match since February 2020, due to the fault of the Covid pandemic and ‘black sticks’ travel restrictions. The Red Lions remained unbeaten in five matches against Oceania. In the event of qualification, the Belgians will face on Friday (2:30 pm Belgian) the winner of the duel between the Netherlands and South Korea, falling to the general surprise of Argentina on Monday after a match rich in twists and turns (5-5, 3-2 thus).