FIH Junior Men’s World Cup: Spain wins battle of European giants against Belgium, Malaysia suffers first loss

Spain provided a glimpse of its championship pedigree, beating European nemesis Belgium 2-1 in the marquee Pool D encounter of the FIH Men’s Junior World Cup at the Madurai International Hockey Stadium on Sunday. The fourth-ranked side displayed immense control throughout the game, ensuring that the opponent, which had scored 12 goals in its opening game, couldn’t sound the board on the day.

Despite the Iberian side beginning the game on the offensive, it was the seventh-ranked Belgium that created the first opening of the game. Benjamin Thiery’s pass into the circle found Maximillian Langer, who couldn’t direct the shot towards the target on the turn. After a tight first quarter, Spain broke the ice in the 20th minute. Pere Amat stationed himself high up on the pitch and managed to wrestle the ball away from the defender to set it up on a platter for Juan Prado to strike home, drawing loud cheers from the reserve Spain players seated in the stands.

Drag-flicker Bruno Avila doubled the lead via a Penalty Corner (PC) in the 32nd minute, stroking Amat’s push into the bottom right corner. Just as the beating sun gave way to a spell of rain, Belgium had the ball in the net, but the referee had already blown for a PC following a transgression in the D, much to the dismay of the team’s forwards. The junior Redsticks needed a full-length dive to the right from goalkeeper Jan Capellades to keep their clean sheet intact. 

Spain’s Bruno Avila in action.
| Photo Credit:
G. MOORTHY

As time wore on, Belgium was forced into playing percentage balls. Its attackers had to rely on individual brilliance to try and beat their man on either flank, as the sturdy Spain defence gave nothing away. The technical quality of the opponent’s midfield made it hard for the Belgian counterparts to dispossess them of the ball. The Spaniards held on, all but sealing their place in the quarterfinal, extracting massive applause from the crowd in Madurai at the final whistle for their masterclass on the field. Belgium’s big win in the first round keeps it in contention for progressing through as one of the two best second-placed teams. 

Namibia earns historic win

In the earlier Pool D game, Namibia earned its first Junior World Cup win, a 4-2 victory over continental rival Egypt. Namibia, the second-lowest-ranked team in the competition (34), began the game on the front foot, seeing much of the ball, but was unable to find the killer pass in the striking circle. One goal brought two as Liam Bruys and James de Jager deflected two long passes into the D past the keeper. Egypt missed a glorious chance to turn the ball into the net after it ricocheted off the post, but Abdelrahman Kasem made amends when the side got a similar rub of the green a second time. 

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Egypt slowly grew back into the game, eventually edging the opponent in circle penetrations. But Namibia’s strong in-circle defence left them with very little to show in front of the goal. Its problems were further compounded when goalscorer Kasem was stretchered off, yelping in pain after a tweaked hamstring. Skipper John-Paul Britz capped the day off with a PC goal with just six seconds left, but his players had already joined in embrace long before it went in. 

Netherlands blanks Malaysia, England trounces Austria

The Jong Oranje are primed to qualify as the group winner. 
| Photo Credit:
Special Arranagement

Captain Casper van der Veen’s twin tomahawk finishes and a brace of set pieces from Joppe Wolbert helped the Netherlands to a 6-0 triumph over Malaysia in their Pool E encounter.

The Speedy Tigers were meant to be a tough opposition for the Dutch, but two quick goals from van der Veen in the ninth and 10th minutes changed the complexion of the game. The 11th-ranked Malaysian side, forced to chase the game for the remaining allotted time, managed to garner some chances to reduce the deficit in the final quarter but failed to find the back of the net. With two wins in two, Jong Oranje are primed to qualify as the group winner. 

England plundered 13 goals against Austria to earn its first win of the tournament. The goals kept pouring in for the Three Lions after a goalless first period. Kaden Dreysey top-scored with four, including three in five minutes, while Henry Markham also bagged himself a hat-trick. The side, which lost its opening game to the Netherlands, will be one of the teams in contention for qualifying from second place in the table.

Published on Nov 30, 2025