The Belgian hockey men were only tested sporadically in the group stage of the European Championship, but are today in the semi-finals for their first exam against the Netherlands. Eddy Demarez gives the Red Lions the advantage, also in a possible final against Germany.
Actually, you can’t say much about the Red Lions’ tournament so far. It’s all yet to begin for them.
They were challenged against England, because they had to make up a deficit, but all in all that happened very quickly and easily.
Spain just wasn’t good enough, even though the Belgians weren’t playing at their highest level, and Austria wasn’t a measure of value at all.
Now is the time to show color. Are the Red Lions still worthy of their top favorite status?
The penalty corners by Hendrickx and Luypaert are running very well this tournament. It proves that we don’t miss Tom Boon.
Eddy Demarez
The Belgian weapons: “There is music in it”
During this European Championship, some young people were also integrated into the group. Onana and Ghislain certainly showed themselves. Van Dessel intrinsically has the most talent, but he may have shown a little too little guts until now, something he did in the Pro League.
For the rest, the penalty corner of the Belgians at this tournament is going well. Not only with Alexander Hendrickx, but also with Loïck Luypaert. It proves that we don’t miss Tom Boon.
Defensively, no other country is as strong as the Belgians and that also applies to midfield.
Kina has yet to find his good form, but otherwise he is one of the best players in the world. Stockbroekx is completely back and is actually better than ever. And then we would forget Van Aubel, technically perhaps the best player in the world. He is also in great shape.
In short: there is music in this team. I can therefore not imagine that they would not be at the meeting in the semi-finals.
First the Netherlands, then Germany?
The semi-final will be played against the Netherlands at 7 p.m. Jeroen Delmée, ex-national coach of the Lions, has made further selections over the past year and opted for a new, young group.
That worked wonderfully at the World Cup at the beginning of this year, because the Netherlands only lost in the semi-final against Belgium, which won on experience.
The Netherlands impressed in the Pro League, including by winning 2 times in Antwerp against the Lions. Although these are glorified practice matches.
Because at this European Championship, the Netherlands was beaten 0-3 by Germany. How will they deal with that mentally?
Purely in terms of quality, Belgium is still better than the Netherlands. The Lions have a better defense, a better penalty corner and more individual talent. The Netherlands puts in a lot of running ability and speed, coupled with an offensive and direct game.
Still, I think that if the Belgians can quickly give Orange a few taps, the Dutch can go down mentally.
If that succeeds, Germany will most likely wait in the final. A re-edition of the World Cup final, which the Lions lost partly through their own hands.
Germany has a lot of tournament experience, plays at home and has an extra weapon with the naturalized penalty corner specialist Peillat. But apart from that World Cup final, the Belgians have almost always won against the Germans in the past 6-7 years.
Eddy Demarez
save lions on i hockey
semifinals Belgium Netherlands Fri 7pm Germany England Fri 9pm matches in group A Spain Austria 5-0 England Belgium 3-5 England Austria 3-0 Belgium Spain 5-1 Belgium Austria 3-1 Spain England 3-4 standings in group A M W G F +/- pts 1. Belgium 3 3 0 0 +8 9 2. England 3 2 0 1 +2 6 3. Spain 3 1 0 2 -3 3 4. Austria 3 0 0 3 -10 0
2023-08-25 15:44:19
#Red #Lions #show #colors #worthy #top #favorite #status #hockey
