spain

With fifth place finishes in both the Tri Finance Euro Hockey 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.

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

News:
29-04-2014: Meet Ramon Alegre
28-04-2014: This is Spain
26-08-2013: Chinese women’s team and Spain’s men join World Cup line-up

See more >>> UNITED STATES