BHUBANESWAR: Pain, tragedy, emotion, drama, tears, will, determination, ambition, happiness, revenge, ecstasy, celebrations. Belgium lived almost each of those moments spread across the last two days; and when their time to rejoice came, God chose to tease them before gifting a success that they deservingly earned from hard work of over a decade. The Red Lions are the new men's hockey world champions. Their opponents, the Netherlands, settle for a painful second consecutive silver in a sudden-death (3-2) defeat.The goal-less regulation period was the first in the history of World Cup finals. But in a game where both the sides put up a defensive masterpiece of epic proportions, none deserved to concede, and it happened that way. It was 0-0 at full-time.The shootout unfolded in a fashion that can give Bollywood its new script. When it seemed the Belgians had won 3-2, technology came to the Dutch rescue. While the red shirts were celebrating in the left corner of the pitch, the video umpire upstairs was checking if the ball hit Arthur de Sloover's foot. It had. Belgium were asked to cut short their celebrations. Pirmin Blaak , the Dutch goalie, was punching the air. 3-2 became 2-2. It was not over yet.That sent the game to sudden death. Florent van Aubel beat Blaak to get Belgium ahead. Jeroen Hertzberger couldn't go past Vincent Vanasch. Now there was no stopping the Belgians. Red became the colour of the day.Simon Gougnard, who had lost his father on the morning of the semifinal against England, was in tears -- and understandably so. Tim Boon's eyes too welled up. This was the unbelievable moment they couldn't live in the 2016 Rio Olympics final against Argentina. On Sunday at the Kalinga Stadium, they ensured it wasn't a miss again. Belgium became the sixth team to win the World Cup.The victory was also a revenge of sorts -- for the 2017 European Championships defeat against the Dutch. The Belgians couldn't have done it on a bigger stage.Three-time champions Netherlands had lost the 2014 final to Australia. They will be dejected, but will accept that the better team won.And Dutch coach Max Caldas couldn't have expressed that in better words."First thing is to be good losers," he said after the match. "Shake the hands, say well done and move on."It was a tough match, a lot of ebb and flow. Belgium dominated the first quarter but couldn't breach the Dutch citadel. When the men in orange upped the ante, the Red Lions displayed their defensive prowess.Netherlands will rue missing the two penalty corners they earned. Belgium got none.Such effective were the two defensive structures that forwards from the both sides struggled to find an opponent's foot in the circle. It was neat tackling at its best.One man who was unperturbed during the shootouts was Belgium coach Shane McLeod. Captain Thomas Briels revealed why."'It (their victory) is written in the stars', he (McLeod) had said before the game," Briels told the media. "Even before the shootout he said it's written in the stars.""It's been a funny day," McLeod said. We had spoken pre-game...if the stars were aligned, we will be winning the World Cup."And the stars were actually aligned.Belgium's Arthur van Doren was named the 'Player of the Tournament', while the rest of the awards were given to:Best goalkeeperBest junior playerTop scorer awardFair play awardFans choice awardMaximum team goalsBest team goal celebration1. Belgium2. Netherlands3. Australia4. England5. Germany6. India7. Argentina8. France9. New Zealand10. China11. Canada12: Pakistan13: Spain14: Ireland15: Malaysia16: South AfricaNo. 6 is India's best finish at a World Cup after No. 5 in 1994 at Sydney, Australia.</s>BHUBANESWAR, India — Goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch proved the difference as Belgium beat the Netherlands 3-2 in a shootout to win the men’s field hockey World Cup final on Sunday.

Vanasch helped to clinch Belgium’s first title when he forced Jeroen Hertzberger wide and the attacker’s shot went over in sudden death.

The penalty shootout at Kalinga Stadium came after neither team had managed to break through in normal time.

The Netherlands had knocked out defending two-time champion Australia in an epic semifinal on Saturday, while Belgium demolished England 6-0.

It was Belgium’s third straight major final after the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, and 2017 European championship, where it lost to the Netherlands 4-2.</s>A gritty Belgium defeated former champions the Netherlands in sudden death in a thrilling summit clash to win their maiden men’s hockey World Cup title at the Kalinga Stadium in BHubaneswar on Sunday.

Olympic silver medallist Belgium created history by eking out a 3-2 win in the penalty shoot-out after the final match of the game’s showpiece event ended in a goalless draw.

It was a great day for Belgium hockey as the country registered its second biggest international title after the Olympics silver in Rio in 2016.

In the last edition of the World Cup at The Hague in Netherlands, Belgium had finished fifth.

The Netherlands, on the other hand, failed to match Pakistan’s record of a fourth world title for the second consecutive edition. The Dutch had finished runners-up to Australia four years ago in front of their home crowd. They last won a World Cup title way back in 1998 in Utrecht.

Incidentally, it was the Netherlands’ second consecutive match that went to shoot-out in the tournament after their victory over Australia in the semi-finals on Saturday.

In Sunday’s shoot-out, Belgium goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch outmatched his Dutch counterpart Pirmin Blaak by making four saves to hand his side their maiden World Cup title.

There was hardly anything to separate the two sides in the shoot-out as they were levelled 2-2 after five tries. While Jeroen Hertzberger and Jonas de Geus scored for Netherlands, Florent van Aubel and Victor Wegnez were on target for Belgium.

However, the shoot-out was not without drama as Belgium needed Arthur de Sloover to score from their fifth and last attempt to win the game and he did so, sending the Red Lions bench into wild celebrations.

But the Dutch goalkeeper asked for a referral for a foot and the goal was later withdrawn after TV replays showed the ball indeed touch De Sloover’s feet while he was pushing it into the net past Blaak.

The reversal meant that the match went into sudden death and Van Aubel was given the responsibility by Belgium to take the first opportunity and he duly converted it.

It was then Netherlands’ turn to score and continue the sudden death but Hertzberger faltered this time as Belgium goalkeeper Vanasch came up with another brilliant save to hand his side the biggest win of their careers.

Earlier in the day, Australia thrashed England 8-1 to claim the bronze medal.

The title clash, which was witnessed by none other than cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, turned out to be a fierce contest between the two European sides.

While the Netherlands took the early initiative and attacked continuously in the first two quarters, Belgium made a strong comeback after the change of ends.

Belgium, though, had the first chance but Tom Boon’s deflection in the second minute went just wide. Minutes later, Hertzberger’s reverse struck the side-netting.

It was a midfield slugfest between the two teams as both created chances but lacked the final touch inside the opposition circle.

The Netherlands had two penalty corners in the match but the Red Lions defended stoutly to deny them any inroads.

Belgium, on the other hand, failed to secure a single penalty corner in the game.

Two minutes after half time, Belgium skipper Thomas Briels’ shot was saved by Dutch goalie Blaak.

Belgium pressed hard in the final 10 minutes of the game, putting relentless pressure on the Dutch defence but a breakthrough eluded them.</s>Olympic silver medallists Belgium beat three-time champions the Netherlands via shootout in the final of the 2018 FIH Men's Hockey World Cup at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar on Sunday.

The regulation time of the intense all-European final ended goalless, forcing the penalty shootout. In the shootout, three Belgian players converted from the spot, while only two Dutch players managed to beat the opposition goalie.

In the semis, Belgium beat England 6-0, while the Netherlands beat India 3-1. This was the first time Belgium had managed to go past the semi-final stage, and they have lifted the most prestigious trophy in field hockey in their first ever final.

Ranked third in the world, Belgium's tournament proper actually started in the second round. They finished second to hosts India in Pool C, then in the crossover,

they defeated the most successful team in the tournament's history and four-time winners Pakistan 5-0, which was followed by the mauling of England.

Then, in the final, they beat neighbours and second-most successful team.

Earlier in the evening, history chasing Australia defeated England 8-1 in a one-sided third-place play-off to claim the bronze medal.

In the last edition of the World Cup at The Hague in the Netherlands, Belgium had finished fifth.

The Netherlands failed to match Pakistan's record of a fourth world title for the second consecutive edition. The Dutch had finished runners-up to Australia four years ago in front of their home crowd. They last won a World Cup title way back in 1998 in Utrecht.

Incidentally, it was the Netherlands' second consecutive match that went to shootout in the tournament after their victory over Australia in the semi-finals on Saturday.

In Sunday's shoot-out, Belgium goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch outmatched his Dutch counterpart Pirmin Blaak by making four saves to hand his side their maiden World Cup title.

There was hardly anything to separate the two sides in the shoot-out as they were levelled 2-2 after five tries. While Jeroen Hertzberger and Jonas de Geus scored for the Netherlands, Florent van Aubel and Victor Wegnez were on target for Belgium.

However, the shoot-out was not without drama as Belgium needed Arthur de Sloover to score from their fifth and last attempt to win the game and he did so, sending the Red Lions bench into wild celebrations.

But the Dutch goalkeeper asked for a referral for a foot and the goal was later withdrawn after TV replays showed the ball indeed touch De Sloover's feet while he was pushing it into the net past Blaak.

The reversal meant that the match went into sudden death and Van Aubel was given the responsibility by Belgium to take the first opportunity and he duly converted it.

It was then Netherlands' turn to score and continue the sudden death but Hertzberger faltered this time as Belgium goalkeeper Vanasch came up with another brilliant save to hand his side the biggest win of their careers.

The title clash, which was witnessed by none other than cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, turned out to be a fierce contest between the two European sides.

While the Netherlands took the early initiative and attacked continuously in the first two quarters, Belgium made a strong comeback after the change of ends.

Belgium, though, had the first chance but Tom Boon's deflection in the second minute went just wide. Minutes later, Hertzberger's reverse struck the side-netting.

It was a midfield slugfest between the two teams as both created chances but lacked the final touch inside the opposition circle.

The Netherlands had two penalty corners in the match but the Red Lions defended stoutly to deny them any inroads.

Belgium, on the other hand, failed to secure a single penalty corner in the game.

Two minutes after half time, Belgium skipper Thomas Briels' shot was saved by Dutch goalie Blaak.

Belgium pressed hard in the final 10 minutes of the game, putting relentless pressure on the Dutch defence but a breakthrough eluded them.</s>Bhubaneswar: Belgium defeated Netherlands in the final to clinch Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018 title at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.

With this, Belgium became the World Champion for the first time and the sixth team to win the Hockey World Cup.

After both the teams failed to score in the regulation time, the final match ended in the penalty shootout 3-2 in favour of Belgium.

For Belgium, Florent Van Aubel struck twice in the shootout while Victor Wegnez was on target once. Meanwhile, for the Netherlands Jeroen Hertzberger and Jonas de Geus scored once each.

Netherlands lost the chance to win the fourth title. On the other hand, Pakistan still hold the record of most Hockey World Cup wins even though they won its last final in 1994.</s>Olympic silver medallists Belgium edged past three-time champions Netherlands 0(3)-0(2) via sudden death to win the FIH Hockey World Cup title at the Kalinga Stadium here on Sunday.

Both teams failed to score in the regulation time and the match went to penalty shoot-outs in which Belgium proved superior.

This is Belgium’s first ever World Cup title.</s>In the Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018 Belgium defeated the Netherlands 3-2 in sudden death. Both the teams were at level 2-2 after five penalties. Belgium and the Netherlands were goal-less at full time.

Australia and Germany had won two titles apiece since 2002. The three-time world champions Netherlands last won the title 20 years ago.</s>Belgium's national team won the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup title for the first time in history, proving victor in the final match following a penalty shootout against the Netherlands, which finished 3-2 after a 0-0 tie at the end of regulation time.

The Red Devils managed to frustrate the Netherlands offense, especially in the first quarter.</s>NEW DELHI: Belgium won a tense penalty shootout 3-2 against three-times champions Netherlands to win their first men's hockey World Cup title at Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium on Sunday (Dec 16).

A goalless stalemate in regulation time forced the shootout which also resulted in a 2-2 deadlock after five penalties each.

Florent van Aubel then converted to put Belgium ahead before the Netherlands' Jeroen Hertzberger shot wide to dash their hopes of a fourth title as Belgium became the sixth nation to win the World Cup.</s>Belgium routed England 6-0 here Saturday to advance to a showdown in the field hockey World Cup final against the Netherlands, who had to dig deep to prevail over Australia in a penalty shootout after the teams were tied 2-2 at the end of regulation.

Belgium, the Olympic silver medalists, controlled the game from start to finish and scored in each quarter, with Tom Boon getting his team on the board eight minutes into the contest.
In field hockey, Belgium wins the title, defeating the Netherlands 3–2 in a sudden death shootout. After regular playing time, the score was 0–0.