8th ranked Belgium thrash 4th ranked England 5-0 to win sweep three Test series

With the FIH Hockey World League semifinals getting under way next week, one team who would be the most watched team would be Belgium. The Red Panthers, coached by top Dutch coach Marc Lammers, would be one of those teams who could spoil the party of top teams at the HWL event.

Belgium, who grew in stature under Australian coach Colin Batch over the last couple of years, finishing fifth in the London Olympics, has maintained its impressive run in recent times with Marc Lammers taking charge after Colin Batch joined as coach of the New Zealand men’s hockey team.

The eighth ranked European side have shown that they are a team who can upset the applecart of any team on any given day. They demonstrated that when they drubbed fourth ranked England 5-0 Beerschot, Belgium to whitewash their higher ranked opponents 3-0 in the three Test series which concluded recently.

Tom Boon gave Belgium the lead in the 5th minute, scoring a nice field goal. England let in an own goal in the 23rd minute before Arthur Van Doren rattled the England cage in the 31st minute to help the home side take a 3-0 half-time lead.

England needed to press hard to stay in the contest in the second half but Belguim nullified their hopes when Jerome Dekeyser converted a penalty corner in the 42nd minute.

Belgium administered the last rites when Tom Boon scored his goal two minutes from the final hooter, converting a short corner to give his side a morale-lifting win ahead of the HWL semifinals.

Earlier, in the second Test match, Belgium outplayed England 4-1. England took the lead when their captain Barry Middleton scored in the first minute of play. Loick Luypaert converted a penalty corner in the 25th minute to draw first blood for the Red Lions.

Florent Van Aubel doubled the advantage in the 28th minute before Tom Boon struck the third goal at the stroke of half-time as they led 3-1 at the break. Xavier Reckinger slotted home the fourth goal in the final minute of play to cap off a facile win for Belgium.

Belgium had won the first Test 5-3. Captain John-John Dohmen struck twice in the first half while Felix Denayer scored once as Belgium led 3-0 at the break.

Jerome Dekeyser made it 4-0 early in the second half before England hit back with two quick goals through Darren Cheesman and Dan Fox.

Cedric Charlier enhanced the goal cushion for Belgium, firing the fifth goal in the 47th minute.

Belgium are placed in Pool A alongside Australia, Spain and France in the first semifinal to be played at Rotterdam.