belgium

Competing in their first World Cup since the 2002 event in Kuala Lumpur (MAS),Belgium have made incredible strides forward over the past few years. Head coach Marc Lammers, the legendary Dutchman who guided the Netherlands women to Olympic Gold at Beijing 2008, has moulded the “Red Lions” into one of the most feared attacking sides in the world, a fact proven bytwo victories over reigning World Champions Australia on their way to winning the Rabobank Hockey World League Semi-Final event in Rotterdam last summer.

The Belgium side that competes in The Hague is hugely experienced, with ten players having surpassed the 100 international appearances mark – Xavier Reckinger (310+ caps), John-John Dohmen (260+), Jerome Truyens (260+), Cedric Charlier (170+), Thomas Briels (200+), Felix Denayer (170+), Alex de Saedeleer (170+), Simon Gougnard (140+), Tom Boon (150+) and Elliot van Strydonck (100+).

Despite their vast on-field experience, the fact that this group contains just one player over 27 – 30-year-old Xavier Reckinger – suggests that this talented pool of players are likely to remain together for many years to come. Although Belgium were narrowly beaten by Olympic Champions Germany in the final of the TriFinance EuroHockey Nations Continental Championship last summer, they will come into the Rabobank Hockey World Cup knowing they are serious contenders.

Best World Cup results:

The men were 8th in 1978 (Amstelveen) and have taken part in four previous World Cups.

FIH World Ranking:

5th

News:
10-05-2014: Marc Lammers, coach of the Belgian men
03-03-2014: This is: Belgium!
23-06-2013: Belgium crowned RHWL champions

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