Red Lions miss World Cup semi-finals after draw with Spain

The Belgian men's national field hockey team, the Red Lions, failed to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup following a 1-1 draw against Spain in Wavre. Despite dominating much of the match and taking an early lead through an Arthur Van Doren penalty corner, the team struggled to convert opportunities and conceded multiple penalty corners, ultimately allowing Spain to secure the result.

Analysts noted a lack of clinical finishing and experience in the current squad compared to previous championship-winning generations. While the team showed strong offensive play and defensive efforts from goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch, the inability to maintain control in the circle led to their elimination. The team will now compete for fifth place, mirroring recent exits at the Paris 2024 Olympics and Euro 2025.