16 best men’s teams from around the world are converging in Odisha, India As we count down the last few days to the start of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023! Each team arrives with the aim of becoming world champions, but only one team can earn the highest honor at the end of the World Cup. The first hurdle for all 16 teams in the event comes in the form of their pool opponents. Winning the pool gives teams a huge advantage, as it qualifies them directly for the quarter-finals, while the second and third placed teams play an additional cross-over round. In today’s preview, meet the teams in Pool B, and learn what unique styles of play they will bring to the World Cup.
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belgium
Belgium’s rise from European hockey to the pinnacle of global hockey has been one of the extraordinary stories of the last two decades. In the last five years, the Red Lions have won all major titles including the World Cup (2018), Olympic Games (2021), European Championship (2019) and FIH Hockey Pro League (2020-21). It would take a brave man to bet against him to successfully defend the world title he memorably claimed in Bhubaneswar four years ago.
Coached by Dutchman Michael van den Heuvel, the team includes some of the best players in the world, proven winners who have claimed the biggest titles on the biggest stages. In Vincent Vanache and Loic van Doren, they have two world-class goalkeepers, while Arthur van Doren, Victor Vagnez, Felix Denayer, Florent van Aubel, John-John Dohmen, Alexander Hendricks, Arthur de Slover and Tom Boon – both of the latter two. Shortlisted for the FIH Hockey Stars Player of the Year Award for 2022 – all are exceptional talents. With strength and depth in every department, you can be sure that Belgium will be regarded as favorites for the title.
Germany
With four Olympic gold medals, two World Cups and eight European titles, Germany have a vibrant history in international hockey and, when at their best, few teams can match them. Tactically astute and technically brilliant, Die Honmaas have a knack for hitting form at the Olympic Games and World Cup, something they will be hoping to replicate here in Odisha.
While the squad was yet to be confirmed at the time of writing, there are several names we expect to see in action at this FIH Men’s World Cup. Two players from Germany were shortlisted for the FIH Hockey Stars Awards for 2022, with attacker Niklas Wellen nominated for the Best Player award and goalkeeper Alexander Stadler nominated for the Best Goalkeeper award. They are far from being the only superstars in Germany’s squad, with flamboyant attacker Christopher Ruhr, captain Mats Grambusch and penalty corner weapon Gonzalo Pilat – the man who led Argentina to Olympic gold in Rio 2016 – just a handful of world-class players. At the disposal of coach Andre Henning.
Japan
Playing in their first FIH Men’s World Cup since Monchengladbach 2006, Japan’s samurai will be determined to remind everyone of his talent.
At the delayed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the 2018 Asian Games gold medalists proved themselves to be a formidable attacking unit which was perhaps unlucky to be eliminated in the competition’s pool stage. The team competing in Odisha is significantly less experienced than the one that took to the Olympic grounds in Tokyo, with 11 players under 50 caps and ten athletes aged between 18 and 23. Thirty-year-old captain Seiren Tanaka is one of six players to pass the 100-cap mark, along with goalkeepers Takashi Yoshikawa, Shota Yamada, Masaki Ohashi, Hiromasa Ochiai and Koji Yamasaki, all of whom competed at Tokyo 2020.
Japan, who booked their place at this FIH Men’s World Cup by finishing fourth in the 2022 Men’s Asia Cup, was recently in action at the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup in South Africa, registering wins against Canada and Pakistan. It was 6th place finish. The team is coached by Akira Takahashi, who represented Japan at the 2002 FIH Men’s World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and four years later was head coach of the Samurai in Mönchengladbach.
Korea
After failing to qualify for the 2018 edition, Korea returned to FIH Men’s World Cup action courtesy an impressive win at the 2022 Men’s Hockey Asia Cup, where they beat Malaysia in the competition final. Veteran defenders Jang Jonghyun and Hwang Taeol contributed 11 goals each to that title success, which marked Korea’s return to the top table of international hockey.
The team has been involved in two high-profile competitions in recent months, with Malaysia exacting revenge by defeating the Koreans 3–2 in the final of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in November. The Korea–Malaysia rivalry continued a few weeks later at the inaugural FIH Hockey Nations Cup, with evergreen 39-year-old captain Namyoung Lee on the scoresheet as Korea recorded a stunning 4–0 victory in the bronze medal game. While the bronze medal was not enough for Korea to secure a berth in the next edition of the FIH Hockey Pro League, their solid performance in that competition in South Africa provided ample proof that Korea are a team not to be underestimated should go.
The 15th edition of FIH’s flagship event for men will be played in Odisha, India from 13 to 29 January. All information about the tournament is available at www.worldcup.hockey.
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