Spain is eliminated in the semifinals of the European Men's Field Hockey Tournament
The 2025 Men's EuroHockey Championship saw Spain's men's hockey team put up a valiant effort, but ultimately fall short of winning the gold medal.
In the pool stages, Spain dominated with a 10-0 win over Austria and a 2-1 victory against Belgium. However, they suffered a 3-0 loss against the Netherlands, which put them in a tough position heading into the knockout stages.
In the semi-finals, Spain faced a formidable Germany. The RedSticks struggled against a defensive Germany and found their goalkeeper, Jean-Paul Danneberg, difficult to beat. Spain's only goal came from Gonzalo Peillat in the first minute, but Germany responded with three goals, including one from Thies Prinz in the third quarter and a penalty-corner goal that made it 3-1.
With a 3-1 deficit and 12 minutes left on the clock, Spain found themselves in a difficult position, seeking a new final and medal since the silver they won in 2019. The third quarter was a stalemate with no scoring chances for either team, and Spain's attempts to push down the right wing in the second quarter lacked precision as they searched for a way to reduce the gap.
Luis Calzado held a clean sheet for Spain in the third quarter, but it was not enough to prevent Germany from scoring another goal just before halftime in a great rehearsed play finished by Mats Grambusch. The second half saw Spain create chances, but they were unable to find the back of the net, and Germany went on to win the semi-final 4-1.
However, Spain did not let their semi-final defeat dampen their spirits. They regrouped and played the third-place match against France, where they won 2-0 to secure third place overall in the tournament. The historic season included a third place in the ProLeague, but the team missed the final for the second consecutive year, this time in the 2025 European Championship.
As the team looks to the future, Julian Alvarez is aiming to lead Atletico's attack with a new partner, and the team will be looking to build on their successes and learn from their mistakes as they continue to strive for gold in international competition.
References: [1] EuroHockey.org, 2025 Men's EuroHockey Championship, Results, https://www.eurohockey.org/competitions/mens-euro-hockey-championship/2025/results/ [2] BBC Sport, Spain men's hockey team secure bronze at EuroHockey Championship, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/hockey/58356360
