May 31 - June 15, 2014

Rabobank Hockey World Cup

Spain

Men

With fifth place finishes in both the TriFinance EuroHockey Championships (Boom, BEL) and the Hockey World League Semi-Final (Rotterdam, NED), it is fair to say that 2013 was not the best of years for Spain. That being said, they have more than enough big game players in their team to perform well above what their 10th place in the FIH World Ranking would suggest.

The squad selected by head coach Salva Indurain contains eight survivors from the side that claimed Olympic Silver at the Beijing 2008 Games, including attacking superstars Santi Freixa and Eduard Tubau; brilliant shot-stopper Quico Cortes as well as talented siblings Ramon and David Alegre. Roc Oliva, Sergi Enrique and Eduard Arbos were also members of the “class of 2008”, ensuring that the squad contains plenty of world class experience.

As well as their tried and tested campaigners the team also contains a number of promising youngsters who are very much the future of the Spanish team.

The pick of the bunch is 23-year-old speed merchant Xavi Lleonart, who has the potential to be a big star at this Hockey World Cup. Spain come into the Rabobank Hockey World Cup on the back of winning a four nations invitational tournament in Barcelona, defeating Wales (5-0), Russia (4-3) and Ireland (4-2) to finish top of the standings.

Spain-men-hoockeyy

Best World Cup results:

The Spanish men won silver in 1971 (Barcelona) and 1998 (Utrecht). They have taken part in 12 earlier World Cup events.

FIH World Ranking:

8th

Team

1 Quico Cortes2 Santi Freixa
3 Sergi Enrique 5 Bosco Perez-Pla
7 Miquel Delas8 Vincenc Ruiz
10 Eduard Tubau11 Roc Oliva
13 Ramon Alegre14 Gabriel Dabanch
17 Blanco Lleonart18 Andres Mir
19 Marc Salles20 Salvador Piera
21 Alex Casasayas22 Manel Terraza
23 David Alegre25 Mario Fernandez

Staff

Head Coach – Salvador Indurain

Assistant Coach – Oriol Alcaraz

Team Manager – Alejo Noblom

Stand-In Manager – Ignacio Saladrigas

Team Doctor – Quim Terricabras

Physiotherapist – Jaume March