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That’s mine: Belgium’s Simon Gougnard (front) vying for the ball with England’s Liam Ansell during the Hockey World Cup semi-finals at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India, yesterday. — AP

PETALING JAYA: It was a historic moment for Belgium when they powered their way to the Hockey World Cup final for the first time in 47 years.

David Ames at the Odisha Men's Hockey World Cup

England's World Cup dream was ended by Belgium at the semi final stage as the Olympic silver medal winners won with a comprehensive scoreline.

Errol D’Cruz


Photo: s2h photographer Rakesh

It’s all too familiar for England. This is their third semifinal defeat in the World Cup and after two fourth-place finishes at New Delhi 2010 and The Hague 2014, the team has to pick itself up ahead of the bronze medal match a day after a crushing 0-6 defeat to Belgium at the Kalinga Stadium on Saturday.

Emotion flowed through Simon Gougnard on Saturday as he helped Belgium reach their World Cup final with a 6-0 defeat of England, hours after his father passed away.

England defenders look dejected as they fell to semi-final defeat for the third hockey World Cup in a row. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images for FIH

England’s dream of reaching a first men’s hockey World Cup final since 1986 was ended in humbling fashion as they were beaten 6-0 by Belgium in Bhubaneswar, India.

Danny Kerry at the Odisha Men's Hockey World Cup

England were defeated 6-0 by Belgium in their World Cup semi final, and while coach Danny Kerry was of course disappointed with the outcome, he praised his troops for their continued development throughout the event.

By Rutvick Mehta


File photo of Simon Gougnard

At the end of the Belgium-England quarterfinals, every Belgian player went up to Simon Gougnard and gave him a hug.

Focuses on rest and recovery ahead of the final

Y.B. Sarangi


BHUBANESWAR, 15/12/2018: Belgium players celebrates after score goals against England in the Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018 semifinal match at Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneswar. Photo Credit: Biswaranjan Rout

Belgian players will keep their feet on the ground and postpone their celebrations for 24 hours even after securing the country’s maiden World Cup medal by reaching the final for the first time in six appearances. The players did not want to spoil the fine campaign before getting the best possible result.

Ben Somerford



The Kookaburras have suffered World Cup heartbreak losing Saturday night’s semi-final to the Netherlands in a shootout after earlier equalising with less than 30 seconds to play.

s2h Team



Is the Odisha World Cup is turning out to be the craziest. Indications go this way. Earlier, Olympic Champions Argentina were sent packing. Now, the defending champions Australia too faced the same fate of Rio Champions, despite a heroic equalizer struck by captain Eddie Ockenden a mere 26 seconds before the full time, and thus stretching the Dutch to the shoot out.

Belgium hammers England with its biggest ever competition win

Uthra Ganesan


Netherlands players run to greet to their goal keeper Piramin Blaak (No.26) after win their match in the penalty shootout against Australia in the Men's Hockey World Cup 2018 semifinal match at Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneswar.  Photo Credit: Biswaranjan Rout

Australia proved why it is considered one of the toughest teams in the sport, taking the fight till the very end but its dreams of becoming the first team to win a hat-trick of World Cup titles were crushed with a heartbreaking 4-3 shootout loss to the Netherlands in the semifinals here on Saturday. The teams were tied 2-2 at the end of regulation time.

Shantanu Srivastava


The Netherlands moved to their seventh World Cup final with a sudden death win over defending champions Australia on Saturday. AFP

Bhubaneswar: When Dutch coach Maximiliano Caldas was asked what to expect of the Netherlands-Belgium World Cup final, he had the shortest and the most accurate answer conceivable. Spectacle, he said. For two teams who have sneakily built momentum and gathered pace as the tournament wore on, Sunday promises to be their busiest workday. It could also be the most entertaining day of the tournament.

Netherlands celebrate their victory against Australia in the semi-final of the Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar. Image Courtesy: Twitter @HockeyIndia

Bhubaneswar: Belgium created history by making their maiden appearance in the men's hockey World Cup summit clash, thrashing England 6-0 in a lopsided first semi-final while World No 4 Netherlands broke Australia's dream of clinching a hat-trick of World Cup titles.

Men's Hockey World Cup 2018 , PTI

World No. 4 Netherlands broke Australia's dream of clinching a hat-trick of World Cup titles, beating the two-time defending champions 4-3 in sudden death in a pulsating semi-final of Men Hockey's show-piece tournament in Bhubneshwar on Saturday.

©: Frank Uijlenbroek / World Sport Pics

Belgium and the Netherlands will face off in a repeat of the 2017 European Championships in Sunday as they contest the World Cup final in Bhubaneswar following their wildly contrasting semi-final wins

Dutch horror for Oz, Belgium crush England

Indervir Grewal in Bhubaneswar


The Netherlands players congratulate goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak after beating Australia in a penalty shootout. PTI

The Oranje squeezed into the final after a thrilling encounter with Australia, ensuring that the World Cup will go to a country other than Australia and Germany for the first time in 20 years.

For Australia and England, how do they come back less than 24 hours later and repeat for bronze?

By Todd Williams



And so, after 34 matches, we finally reach the last day of this wonderful World Cup and the two games that will determine the three medal winners.

Errol D’Cruz

Neighbours last clashed for top honours in the World Cup 43 years ago. In an epic battle, India beat Pakistan 2-1 to win their first – and only – World Cup title in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

By Rutvick Mehta


Netherlands Netherlands players celebrate their win over Australia in the semifinal of the World Cup in Bhubaneswar on Saturday , AFP

Netherlands goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak saw the ball trickle between his legs and into the goal after being deflected by the body of his own teammate. After keeping the Australians at bay with multiple valiant blocks throughout the match, he let them in with 26 seconds on the clock.

By SAIFUL AFFENDY SAPRAN


Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) technical director Terry Walsh slammed his critics who are demanding for his resignation following the national team’s failure to achieve their target at the World Cup in Bhubaneswar, India. (Bernama photo)

SEPANG: Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) technical director Terry Walsh slammed his critics who are demanding for his resignation following the national team’s failure to achieve their target at the World Cup in Bhubaneswar, India.

By Rutvick Mehta


Liam Sanford Liam Sanford with his parents after receiving RAF sportsman of the year award in 2017 , Twitter

Liam Sanford sees a lot of similarities in the twin careers he combines: one in shielding the England citadel as defender of the national hockey team and the other in protecting the skies as part of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force (RAF).

Amit Kamath


Rogier van 't Hek in the media tribune during the Hockey World Cup 2018 in Bhubaneswar.

Rogier van 't Hek cannot help but chuckle as he remembers the hand-made banner that his friends left at the stadium of FC Utrecht during the 1998 Hockey World Cup.

Harendra blamed poor umpiring for India’s defeat to Netherlands in the quarterfinals

Uthra Ganesan


Indian Hockey team coach Harendra Singh addressing the press conference ahead of their upcoming match in the Men's Hockey World Cup 2018 at Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneswar on December 07, 2018. Photo Credit: Biswaranjan Rout

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced some major decisions on Saturday but also made it clear that questioning its officials was not acceptable.

By Rutvick Mehta


Harendra Singh Harendra Singh , AFP

Under-fire India coach Harendra Singh faced further heat on Saturday, with the International Hockey Federation (FIH) president Narendra Batra threatening to take action against Harendra next week for criticising the umpires after India's quarterfinals exit against Netherlands.

Men's Hockey World Cup 2018 , Twitter

Striker Akashdeep Singh faces a possible two-match suspension for breaching Code of Conduct at the end of India's quarterfinal loss against the Netherlands in the ongoing hockey World Cup in Bhubneshwar.

s2h Team



The FIH, in their executive board meeting held during the 14th World Cup, took some significant decisions. The Junior World Cup, CEO Thierry Weil said at a media conference would be held every two years now. The dates and venue for the next edition would be announced later this year, said the Frenchman. The last Junior World Cup was held in Lucknow, India, in 2016, when the hosts emerged champions beating Belgium in the final.

The Hockey Insider


The Indian hockey team will not play in the FIH Pro League. AFP

Necessity, as they say, is the mother of invention. Two years of futile search for title sponsors for the proposed global elite nations’ league has brought wisdom to the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

By SAIFUL AFFENDY SAPRAN

KUALA LUMPUR: After winning the TNB Malaysia Hockey Premier League last season, Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) are determined to win more next season with a target to snatch the TNB Cup from Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL).

Sevilla (ESP)

ESP v CAN     1 - 1

FIH Match Centre

SPAR South Africa Indoor Hockey Ladies arrived at the Pro Series Indoor Nationals on the back of a superb 2018 that saw them win 13 of the 15 test matches they have played, without tasting defeat. They were expected to see that run end when they took on a star studded International All-Stars at UCT in the first of a four match exhibition series. They had other plans.

The South African Womens team vs The All Star International Womens Team match held as part of the PSI 2018 Nationals matches played at UCT Sports Centre on 15th December 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa Photo - Andrew Swarts

An expectant crowd at UCT awaited the SPAR South Africa and PSI International All-Stars for the second match of the four-match series. The two sides had played out a scintillating opening fixture that ended 3-3 and set the scene for an exciting second match.

There were goals galore at day one of the Jaffa Super 6s Men’s Premier Division at Bromsgrove School in Worcestershire, with both Hampstead and Westminster and Sevenoaks going unbeaten.

East Grinstead and Slough are both unbeaten at the top of the early table after an action-packed day one of the Jaffa Super 6s Women’s Premier Division at the Phoenix Sport and Leisure Centre in Telford.

Inverleith are still very much in the driving seat in Scottish indoor Men’s National League 1 with back-to-back victories over Dunfermline Carnegie and Dundee Wanderers, but both Western Wildcats and Grange have both moved up the table with unbeaten records in their three match session.

The Green Army have won the coveted RTE Team of the Year award following a public vote and head coach Graham Shaw was announced as RTE Manager of the Year. The awards come as deserved recognition for the history-making silver medallists from the summer's World Cup in London. Ayeisha McFerran was nominated for the prestigious Sportsperson of the Year but narrowly missed out to World Rugby Player of the Year Jonny Sexton.

The Ireland women's hockey team are named RTÉ Sport Team of the Year

The Irish women's hockey team have been named RTÉ Sport Team of the Year in a public vote.

Bhubaneswar (IND)

Fixtures 15 December 2018 (GMT +5:30)

ENG v BEL (SF 1)   0 - 6
AUS v NED (SF 2)   2 - 2  (Shoot out - 3 - 4 (x=goal - xoxox o - oxoxx x)

Medal matches

16 Dec 2018 16:30     ENG v AUS (Bronze Medal)
16 Dec 2018 19:00     BEL v NED (Gold Medal)

FIH Match Centre

By Todd Williams



And then there were four. Emulating the achievement of their footballing countrymen, England were first to qualify for the World Cup semi-finals with a tough and inspired performance against Argentina.

©: Frank Uijlenbroek / World Sport Pics

Wimbledon man Phil Roper and HC Oranje-Rood’s Thomas Briels are both hungry for a World Cup final spot as they face off against each other in Saturday’s semi-final.

Adam Dixon and George Pinner at the Odisha Men's Hockey World Cup

England's Adam Dixon is aiming to make the World Cup final this weekend - having experienced heartache at the semi final stage in both 2010 and 2014.

Rutvick Mehta


Australia Australians have been dominant in the whole tournament so far and have emerged as firm favourites to lift the Cup , AFP

It’s down to last four teams in the hockey World Cup with a mouth-watering clash between Australia and Netherlands in the second semifinal tonight. Preceding it will be surprise semifinalists England taking on Belgium. Both matches are expected to produce high quality hockey, making it a Super Saturday.

s2h Team



INDIAN COACH, HARENDERA SINGH:

"I would like to tender my apologies. We haven't given the country what we had to".

Harendra took risks pushing youngsters to the forefront and it almost paid off

Uthra Ganesan


Well tried, but... The average age of the Indian team was an incredible 23.5 years, the youngest of the entire lot. Photo Credit: BiswaranjanRout

The revamped Kalinga Stadium here has a capacity of 15,000. On Thursday, at least 3000 more had managed to pack into the venue, hoping to see the Indian team advance to its first World Cup semifinals since 1975. That did not happen but how the powers-that-be view a 6th-place finish might well decide where Indian hockey goes from here.

For Indian hockey, the future is now

Uthra Ganesan


Indian men's hockey team before a World Cup hockey match in Bhubaneswar. Photo Credit: Biswaranjan Rout

The selection of the Indian team for the Hockey World Cup came in for a fair bit of criticism. Sardar Singh had been forced into retirement, Rupinderpal Singh was dropped, and S.V. Sunil and Ramandeep Singh were lost to injury — India knew it would miss close to a thousand international games’ worth of experience at the marquee event in Bhubaneswar.

IIndervir Grewal in Bhubaneswar

India’s end in the World Cup felt anticlimactic. They were so close, yet it never looked that way. They fought so valiantly, yet it seemed they didn’t do enough. India’s journey to their first knockout match was so long — 16 days; it seemed they had reached so far. Yet, the abrupt end was a reminder that it was only India’s fourth match, and all the world No. 5 had confirmed was a top-8 finish. In the end, India finished sixth.

Errol D’Cruz


Photo: s2h photographer Rakesh

Just one goal separated India from the Netherlands in the rousing World Cup quarterfinal clash at the Kalinga stadium.But, in hindsight, there was a plethora or reasons that made for a Dutch 2-1 victory over the host nation. And even more reasons, perhaps, why India failed to cross the last-eight hurdle much to the disappointment of their vast legion of fans that packed the stadium on Thursday night.

LAHORE: In the backdrop of the national hockey team’s humiliating ouster from the ongoing World Cup, head coach Tauqir Dar on Friday said he is not interested to continue with the job and has conveyed it to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

LAHORE: Former Olympian and secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Khalid Mah­mood slammed the PHF president for forming of probe committee to find out reasons for the poor display of the national team in the ongoing World Cup, instead of clai­ming responsibility for the poor show and tendering resignation.

Rutvick Mehta


Van Dam

Dutch forward Thijs van Dam was running around like a hare in the quarterfinals against India on Thursday. Two evenings ago, he pumped in a couple of goals in Netherlands’ cross-over match against Canada that set up the last-eight clash.

The final Hockey Series Open event of the season is an intriguing four team competition involving some nations who are taking their first tentative steps into major international competition.

LAHORE   -  Chief selector former hockey Olympian Islahuddin Siddique on Friday announced the 18-member Pakistan team for the Hockey Series Open scheduled from December 17 to 22 here at the National Hockey Stadium.

It’s all change at the elite end of international hockey as the FIH Pro League becomes a reality. While there is enormous excitement on a global scale, the new competition format is doubtless causing Head Coaches and their staff to rethink the way they do things.

Ali Meeke is in Cape Town for her PSI debut. Pic: Adrian Boehm

Ali Meeke will become the first Irish woman to play in the Pro Series Indoor festival in South Africa on Friday evening following her selection for the International All Stars team.

A new state of the art hockey pitch will be laid at the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus, providing a welcome boost to Ireland’s national hockey teams as they go in search of Tokyo 2020 qualification.

The National Sports Campus in Abbotstown is set to become the new training centre for the Irish senior hockey teams following news a new water-based hockey pitch will be laid there.

By BRIAN YONGA


Telkom's Barbara Simiyu (blue) in action against GRA in the final of the Africa Cup for Club Championship on January 27, 2018 at the at the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium in Accra, Ghana. PHOTO | BRIAN OTWAL |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

Abuja comes alive on Saturday as the 2018 Africa Cup for Club Hockey Championship bullies off in the West African state of Nigeria.

After the first weekend`s series of indoor games Inverleith have opened up a six point cushion at the top of the men`s table, meanwhile Dundee Wanderers are top of the women`s, but only a point ahead of Tayside rivals Grove Menzieshill – although both leaders have played a game more than most of their rivals.

Sorry for the slight delay this morning. I have had to run some errands. Today's news is on the Archive portion of the site if you can't wait.

INDIA’S defender Harmanpreet Singh and forward Simranjeet Singh are having a great run in the Hockey World Cup.