Belgium coach Heuvel: We’re right here to defend our World Cup title

The defending champions Belgium made its presence felt because it arrived for the FIH Odisha Hockey Males’s World Cup 2023 on Friday, creating buzz on the Biju Patnaik Worldwide Airport with a big gathering of followers to welcome them.

Led by Felix Denayer, the Pink Lions hope to repeat its final World Cup efficiency and retain the trophy. If Belgium is ready to take action, it is going to turn into solely the fourth nation after Pakistan (1978, 1982), Germany (2002, 2006), and Australia (2010, 2014) to win two consecutive editions of the Males’s World Cup.

Belgium is positioned in Pool B together with Germany, Japan and Korea, and can start its marketing campaign on January 14 in opposition to Korea in Bhubaneswar.

Denayer’s aspect has gained confidence from coaching and successful the matches they performed in Spain. The Belgium captain stated, “We’re rather well ready. Now we have been to a coaching camp in Spain, the place we gained all our video games. So, there may be a variety of confidence in our camp that we’ll do effectively within the event.”

“However clearly, we all know it’s all the time a extremely robust competitors, so we’re actually, actually excited to get began.”

Denayer additional listed out the groups that he believes will pose a tricky problem for his aspect, and defined why retaining the trophy wouldn’t be a simple feat for his group.

“Nicely, there are a variety of favourites, I believe. Clearly, Australia, Netherlands, Germany, and India at residence are all the time sturdy opponents. Then there are groups who’re performing effectively equivalent to England, and Argentina, so I believe it is not going to be a simple competitors for anybody.”

Defending champion Belgium hockey group arrive on the Biju Patnaik Worldwide airport for the FIH Hockey Males’s World Cup 2023 in Bhubaneswar-Rourkela.
| Photograph Credit score: BISWARANJAN ROUT

Curiously, Shane McLeod, the skilled coach who led the Belgium group to the World Cup and Tokyo Olympics 2020 trophy wins, is returning with the contingent because the assistant coach, after a quick sabbatical.

Aside from him, there are a number of skilled campaigners within the squad as effectively, together with veteran John-John Dohmen who has earned over 400 worldwide caps.

Indian crowds is greatest hockey crowd on this planet: Coach Heuvel

The recollections of the thrilling finale between the Netherlands and Belgium from the 2018 World Cup are nonetheless contemporary within the minds of the Belgium gamers. The match that was determined by a shoot-out had witnessed intense drama after Arthur de Sloover’s successful shot within the shoot-out was denied after a evaluate, and the Belgium group needed to cease their celebrations halfway.

However Belgian goalkeeper Vincent Vansach managed to make the Netherlands participant Jonas de Geus miss his last shot, and the celebrations re-started within the Belgium camp as they gained their first-ever World Cup trophy.

When requested if the event will witness comparable dramatic moments this time round as effectively, Denayer stated, “Yeah, I believe the event might be a problem, however we even have the expertise so we really feel assured and we’re very hungry to retain the trophy. We’re an bold group. And I believe we’d like these sorts of challenges to carry out at our greatest stage.”

In the meantime, Belgium head coach, Michel van den Heuvel expressed delight to see the joy among the many followers in Odisha for the upcoming event. On the similar time, he defined why everybody all the time enjoys enjoying in entrance of Indian crowds.

“We like to be right here and once more in Bhubaneswar. That is what we play for the Indian crowds as a result of it’s the most effective hockey crowd on this planet. We’re right here to defend our world title and we’re ready very effectively for that. We’re trying ahead to the beginning of the event,” he stated.

“The gang right here is all the time improbable. Everyone is de facto excited to be right here and to play for this crowd. So, it’s not tough to handle in any respect, regardless of the loud cheers.”

Coach Heuvel defined how the presence of such people within the contingent might be useful for his group within the competitors. “Nicely, all of them are very skilled and so they know the sport. They’ve performed right here earlier than and gained the trophy. So, despite the fact that, we’re beneath tough circumstances this time, their presence will assist the group. It’s so nice to have them in our squad,” he signed off.