The Chinese women’s and Spanish men’s teams are the latest to join the line-up for next year’s Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014 in The Hague. Both teams qualified as reserves after Germany took the men’s and women’s European titles in Belgium this weekend. The European title holder automatically qualifies for the World Cup and the German teams had already won a place through the third round of the Hockey World League. Those places now go to the Chinese women and Spanish men.

Women
The Chinese women came fourth in the Hockey World League semi-final and were first reserve for a place at the World Cup. Eight women’s teams have also been confirmed for The Hague: The Netherlands, Germany, England, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, China and Argentina. The remaining places will go to the winners of the Asian, Oceania, Pan American and African continental championships. If any of the these teams become continental champions, reserves Japan, the USA and Belgium will also qualify for the World Cup event.

Men
The Spanish men were fifth in the Hockey World League in Rotterdam and second reserves for a World Cup place. First reserves Korea joined the World Cup entrant list when Argentina won the Pan American title. Nine of the places for the men’s World Cup in The Hague next year have now been allocated: The Netherlands, Germany, England, Belgium, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Korea and Argentina. The final three places are up for grabs at the upcoming continental championships in Asia, Oceania and Africa. However, if any of the teams which have already qualified also become continental champions it will open the door to the third and fourth reserve teams, namely Malaysia and India.

European Champions
The German men successfully defended their European title by beating Belgium 3-1 in the final. The Netherlands took bronze after beating England 3-2. The German women beat England in a penalty shoot-out after the score was 4-4 with the final whistle. The Netherlands again took the bronze medal with a 3-0 win over hosts Belgium.