Men's Hockey Pro League 2020: 3 teams which can win the title

#2 Belgium

Belgium - Rise of the Red Lions in the Pro League too

The Red Lions have stunned the hockey fraternity with their amazing rise to the top - and contrary to what many expected have managed to stay at the top as well.

Quite a few experts wondered if the Olympic silver medalists could sustain the winning ways but courtesy of a World Cup win in 2018 and a Euro triumph earlier this year, the Belgians look good enough to go one better in Tokyo 2020 - and, indeed the Pro League too.

A 2-3 loss to Australia in the final of the 2019 Pro League has been the only blot for the Europeans amidst a remarkable run with the Rio veterans still going strong.

Champion teams can inexplicably raise their game for the big matches and the Belgians seem to do it best. A draw against India and a lower goal difference meant that the eventual World Champions had to play the crossovers, while India earned a direct ticket to the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

Yet, when it mattered the most, the Belgians powered their way past Pakistan, Germany, and England in the knockouts to finally record a shootout win against the Dutch.

The Belgians scored 57 goals in their 16 matches - more than any other side in the tournament, but could have been a shade more consistent in the 2019 Pro League season, and Shane McLeod's brilliant team will perhaps be looking to expose a few more youngsters to international hockey next year.