![\"Germany](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/20260830__fih_hockey_world_cup_belgium__netherlands_2026_m_spain_vs_germany_-__hfn0785_20260830-1024.jpeg\")
Germany repelled dominant Spain PIC: FIH\/WorldSportPics<\/p>\nGermany make more history to deny Spain their own, as Argentina make it a memorable gender double<\/p>\n
Wavre \u2013 A goal from Michel Struthoff, a sports soldier from Cologne, won a historic Men\u2019s World Cup victory for Germany, who put in another now traditional shift when it matterred, a dogged performance to withstand Spanish dominance and then pounce with final third, military-like precision.<\/p>\n
A game of no cards, but dealt with no lack of physical presence, Struthoff netted after a superb move in a third quarter where Spain looked as if they would take a huge stride towards a first World Cup title.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was a classic counter punch from the defending champions, who became the first nation to claim two back-to-back titles following a 1-0 win in front of a 10,000 sell out crowd at the Belfius Hockey Arena.<\/p>\n
Christopher Ruhr said: \u201cI think everyone said, \u2018Ah, the Germans this year, nah, they won\u2019t be there.\u2019 Everyone took it on the other teams, but we showed what we\u2019re capable of and played an amazing German competition.\u201d<\/p>\n
This final men\u2019s weekend had undertones of the 2006 World Cup, one where Germany claimed the first of their successive golds, a year the Dutch last failed to medal and when Spain last won a medal.<\/p>\n
Germany repelled dominant Spain PIC: FIH\/WorldSportPics<\/p>\n
This was also the third edition running where a host couldn\u2019t lift the men\u2019s title after India\u2019s two failures and Spain ousting Belgium in the Wavre pool stages.<\/p>\n
With no Belgian or Dutch team in this finale, the match needed to be high octane for the crowd to be engaged. What the patrons saw \u2013 many sitting with their glasses of Duvel in the stands \u2013 were two armoured defences snaffling out chances and a Spanish side intent on going direct with width at a premium.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But they couldn\u2019t find their man \u2018Chefo\u2019 Basterra, their chief goal architect in this campaign, when it mattered and a third final was lost.<\/p>\n
Spain had plenty of ball deep in their own territory early on, all navigated with ease. Coping with that, they were exploiting central channels in the second quarter. When Germany lost rare control at the top of the D, Borja Lacalle pounced and his reverse was gloved away by JP Danneberg.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, any German forays into Spain\u2019s circle were adeptly dealt with. Conversely, Andre Henning\u2019s defence showed signs of wobbling. Or was it the pitch? The first chance of the third quarter fell to Basterra but he couldn\u2019t connect as last man, nor could any German and the ball sailed across goal to safety.<\/p>\n
It seemed that this final would be decided by brilliance, a card or an umpire\u2019s decision. Gerard Clapes\u2019 stick to ball run, deceiving two Germany midfielders in the process, nearly opened the former. It won their first PC but Marc Miralles missed.<\/p>\n
Such opportunities needed to be taken. For a German attack on the left, started by Christopher Ruhr on the 23, found a pass to Paul-Phillip Kaufman, whose spun pass fell to Struthoff and he gleefully lifted into the net.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How do they do it time and again? Then again, this was a fourth final in a row at a major tournament for Henning, who took over in early 2022. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Now we had a final. But while Spain missed with another PC, Germany were getting closer to sealing the title. Justus Wiegand\u2019s cute deflection from the back of his feet was saved point blank by Luis Calzado. Danneberg\u2019s right boot then defied a fine team Spanish goal after four, one-touch moves.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was unbelievably tough,\u201d Ruhr added. \u201cI think Spain played a hell of a tournament. We always struggle against Spain. They are a tough side, and they played a really good game today, and we had the luckier end.\u201d<\/p>\n
Argentina double up<\/p>\n
In the bronze play-off match, Argentina won their first medal for 12 years, with a 2-1 win, while for the Dutch it was the first time they hadn\u2019t finished with any bounty for the same duration.<\/p>\n
Tomas Domene\u2019s goal, either side of two Dutch green cards, had been the sole difference between the two sides.<\/p>\n
That was until the Netherlands were shown a 10-minute yellow card in the final quarter for the second match running for Jorrit Croon\u2019s high stick.<\/p>\n
![\"Argentina](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/20260830___fih_hockey_world_cup_belgium__netherlands_2026_m_netherlands_vs_argentina_-_wp7_2114_2026.jpeg\")
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The game lit up as Lucio Mendez\u2019s angled shot was then superbly saved on the dive by Derk Meijer.<\/p>\n
Moments later, the Dutch equalised through Floris Middendorp\u2019s PC goal.<\/p>\n
Koen Bijen thought he had scored a delicious backhand but for touching an Argentine body on the way through.<\/p>\n
Matias Rey, 42 in December and playing his sixth World Cup, scored with 90 seconds left.<\/p>\n
\u201cArgentina is a football country and we learn from their World Cup not to give up until the end and keep fighting,\u201d he had said before the tournament.<\/p>\n