Germany send Spain into hockey World Cup

New Delhi, Aug 26 (IANS)

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has confirmed that Spain, courtesy Germany’s triumph at a tournament in Belgium, have become the latest team to qualify for the 2014 Men’s Hockey World Cup.

The highly anticipated joint men’s and women’s event takes place at the Kyocera Stadium in The Hague, Netherlands from May 31 to June 15 next year.

Spain’s berth at hockey’s global showpiece event was guaranteed following Germany’s triumph in the final of the EuroHockey Nations Championships in Boom, Belgium.

Like all of the continental championships, the big prize on offer at the Euros was direct World Cup qualification to the event winner. However, with Germany having already achieved World Cup qualification thanks to a first place finish at the recent World League Semi-Final in Johor Bahru, a World Cup ticket was immediately handed to the higher ranked of the fifth place finishers from the two World League Semi-Final events.

Spain (FIH World Ranking 6) and Malaysia (13) were the respective fifth place finishers in Rotterdam (NED) and Johor Bahru (MAS), with Spain’s superior ranking being enough to guarantee a World Cup berth.

Spain become the ninth men’s team to qualify for theWorld Cup, with three more places up for grabs at the upcoming continental championships in Asia, Oceania and Africa.

Eight women’s teams have also been confirmed for the event, with the remaining places going to the winners of the Asian, Oceania, Pan American and African continental championships.