The hockey venue built for the rise of the Red Lions went from boisterous to bereft on Sunday night as Spain ruined Belgium’s campaign in stunning style.
At Paris 2024, they ousted the defending champions in the quarter-finals. To EuroHockey 2025, they beat the Red Lions to reach the semi-finals.
And now, one year on, Spain completed the treble with a stunning knockout, via a 1-1 draw, to reach their first Men’s World Cup semi-final since 2006.
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Max Caldas has turned Spain into a formidable, gutsy unit and he was embraced at the final hooter in Wavre.
If there is a hoodoo, it is that Belgium’s exit was the third in succession from a host nation failing to reach the last four (after India’s two previous attempts).
Arthur van Doren scored from a fourth minute corner and then Belgium had a goal disallowed.
One minute into the fourth quarter, Spain’s seventh corner saw Marc Miralles net his 50th goal.
Spain had scored only one from more than 20 setpiece attempts prior to Miralles levelling.
Thibeau Stockbroekx hit the post, then De Sloover saw his effort blocked by Marc Vizcaino.
Tom Boon had two chances late on, but Luis Calzado made some exceptional stops. The best came via an angled deflection which came off his pads.
Victor Wegnez said: “We weren’t good enough. When you don’t win the big games you don’t deserve to play in a semi-final.”
Australia became the third semi-finalist in the women’s tournament, joining the Dutch and Argentina, after holding India to a 0-0 draw.
With a 4-2 victory over Australia, Germany men also qualified for the semi-finals.