In a thrilling upset at the Paris Olympics, eighth-ranked Spain sent reigning champion Belgium packing with a 3-2 victory in the men’s hockey quarterfinals. Skipper Marc Miralles scored a crucial third goal with three minutes remaining to seal the win, extinguishing Belgium’s hopes of a comeback. The Netherlands also emerged victorious in a physical encounter against Australia, securing a 2-0 victory. Meanwhile, India overcame a one-man disadvantage for most of the match to defeat Great Britain 4-2 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw. Germany secured their semi-final berth with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Argentina.
Spain’s triumph marks their first appearance in the Olympic semifinals since Beijing 2008, a remarkable feat considering Belgium’s recent dominance, having reached the last two Olympic finals. Belgium’s roster boasts players with gold and silver medals from the Tokyo and Rio Games, respectively.
The match was a tense affair, with both sides trading blows. Forward Jose Maria Basterra opened the scoring for Spain in the 40th minute, capitalizing on a goalkeeper deflection. However, Belgium’s Arthur de Sloover quickly equalised a minute later. Forward Marc Reyne restored Spain’s lead after 55 minutes with a field goal, and Miralles extended their advantage before Alexander Hendrickx pulled a goal back for Belgium.
“I think today is the best day of my life,” an elated Basterra said. “We had pointed to this day in our calendar, and now we are so happy. We have to enjoy today and tomorrow we will see (face) our opponents and we will see how to beat them.”
India’s victory was a testament to their resilience. They faced an uphill battle after defender Amit Rohidas received a red card in the 17th minute for a reckless high stick, forcing them to play with 10 men for the majority of the match. Substitute Raj Kumar Pal’s decisive penalty in the shootout sealed the win, securing the once dominant nation a place in the semifinals for the second consecutive Olympics. Their previous Olympic medal came in the form of bronze at the Tokyo Games.
The Netherlands’ clash against Australia was a physical battle, with several players from both sides needing medical attention. Despite the intensity, the Dutch emerged victorious thanks to a goal from Thijs van Dam, who sliced through two defenders in the 41st minute and angled a shot past keeper Pirmin Blake for the Netherlands’ second score of the match.
The game between Germany and Argentina was a closely contested affair. Forward Teo Hinrichs opened the scoring for Germany in the ninth minute, but Macio Casella Schuth quickly responded with a penalty corner goal for Argentina two minutes later. Justus Weigand secured the win for Germany with a deflection goal, assisted by Niklas Weiland.
With the quarterfinals complete, the stage is set for thrilling semi-final matchups. Germany will face India in one semi-final, while the Netherlands will battle Spain in the other. These matches promise to be intense and captivating, with both teams vying for a spot in the Olympic final.
