Belgium vs Netherlands, Hockey World Cup 2018 Final, Match Highlights: Belgium are world champions after winning tie in shootout

Belgium captain Thomas Briels lifts the trophy!

A proud day for the entire country.

Now it’s time for the Belgium team players to collect their winners’ medals.

Netherlands players are receiving their runners-up medals.

Best player of the tournament is Arthur Van Doren of Belgium.

Top scorers of the World Cup are Alexander Hendrickx of Netherlands and Australia’s Blake Govers.

Best goalkeeper of the tournament is Netherlands’ Pirmin Blaak.

Best junior player of the tournament is Thijs van Dam from Netherlands.

Maximum team goals award goes to Australia.

Fair Play Award of the World Cup goes to Team Spain.

Amazing scenes here at the stadium. Hugs all around in Belgium camp, who performed a happy gig too. The Dutch are standing aside, stoic in defeat.

That kind of night!  

This has been such a dramatic night. Four tense, goalless quarters culminating in sudden death. This was a final to remember. Netherlands did nthng wrong, they perhaps did fewer things right. That kind of game. #HockeyWorldCup2018
Follow LIVE on @FirstpostSports pic.twitter.com/hH3yMhLC5n

— shantanu srivastava (@journoshantanu) December 16, 2018

Belgium goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch is the Man of the Match. Calm under pressure, he did a great job in the shootout.

Belgium’s SImon Goungnard is in tears. He is receiving warm hugs from his teammates. Just two days ago his father lost the battle against cancer and now pays the best ever tribute. A World Cup winner!

What a day for Belgium hockey!

A dream fulfilled for the @BELRedLions 🏅#BELvNED #IndiaKaGame #HWCFinal2018 #DilHockey pic.twitter.com/Ck9QNy4SMY

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) December 16, 2018

MATCH SCORE BEL 0-0 NED

SHOOTOUT SCORE BEL 3-2 NED

BELGIUM!! They are the world champions! Jeroen Hertzberger misses in sudden death, and on this rainy night, the unassuming Belgians have made the World Cup their own. Phew!

MATCH SCORE BEL 0-0 NED

SHOOTOUT SCORE BEL 3-2 NED

Goodness what drama! Belgium celebrated the victory once but the video referral came in the way. It was sudden death and Netherlands’ Jeroen Hertzberger misses his shot. Belgium, for the first time in their history, have won the men’s Hockey World Cup.

MATCH SCORE BEL 0-0 NED

SHOOTOUT SCORE BEL 3-2 NED

Hertzberger misses it! BELGIUM ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!

MATCH SCORE BEL 0-0 NED

SHOOTOUT SCORE BEL 3-2 NED

Belgium score! Van Aubel gives them the lead. Dutch refer it, but the goal stands.

MATCH SCORE BEL 0-0 NED

SHOOTOUT SCORE BEL 3-2 NED

Belgium score! Van Aubel gives them the lead. Dutch refer it, but the goal stands.

MATCH SCORE BEL 0-0 NED

SHOOTOUT SCORE BEL 2-2 NED

BELGIUM SCORE! Wait a minute, the Dutch are using their referral. So no goal! The ball hit Sloover’s foot before he converted the chance.

Belgium, who were celebrating, are shocked.

MATCH SCORE BEL 0-0 NED

SHOOTOUT SCORE BEL 2-2 NED

MISS! Thijs van Dam is down

MATCH SCORE BEL 0-0 NED

SHOOTOUT SCORE BEL 2-2 NED

Victor Wegnez scores! It’s 2-2 and sudden death.

MATCH SCORE BEL 0-0 NED

SHOOTOUT SCORE BEL 1-2 NED

Van Ass misses it! Dutch fail to capitalise.

MATCH SCORE BEL 0-0 NED

SHOOTOUT SCORE BEL 1-2 NED

Florent van Aubel scores for Belgium!

MATCH SCORE BEL 0-0 NED

SHOOTOUT SCORE BEL 0-2 NED

Superb from Jonas de Geus! Delivers under pressure and the Dutch double their lead.

MATCH SCORE BEL 0-0 NED

SHOOTOUT SCORE BEL 0-1 NED

Yet another miss! Denayer for the Belgium!

MATCH SCORE BEL 0-0 NED

SHOOTOUT SCORE BEL 0-1 NED

The Dutch also miss their chance. Mirco fails to convert it.

MATCH SCORE BEL 0-0 NED

SHOOTOUT SCORE BEL 0-1 NED

Arthur van Doren misses! Superb from Pirmin Blaak who stops the hit twice.

MATCH SCORE BEL 0-0 NED

SHOOTOUT SCORE BEL 0-1 NED

The Dutch go first and Hertzberger makes no mistake.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

Shootout time! Would you believe it! The World Cup final being decided on penalties. That’s rough on both teams who have given nothing away tonight. Netherlands did prevail in sudden death last night, and that gives them a genuine edge.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

The fourth quarter comes to an end. No goals from both the team so the winner of the World Cup will be decided on shootout.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

SHOT! But it’s wide. Good effort from Belgium’s Der Kerpel.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

SAVE! Vanasch does well to stop the hit from a Dutch player. Four minutes left in the match. Will we see a goal? Or will the winner of the World Cup be decided in shootout?

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

Just about five minutes on the clock. One can sense the urgency for a goal now, but the defence of both teams has been excellent. Spare a thought for the midfielders, though, who have created a majority of chances. Riveting hockey, this.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

The Dutch are dominating the final quarter. Belgians are doing good to check all attacks. Less than eight minutes left.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

Last 15 minutes of this World Cup. Expect a change in gameplan. This has been a tense, slow burn. Plenty of moves but nothing on the scorecard. Meanwhile, the drizzle is steadily gaining momentum here.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

And the final quarter of the men’s Hockey World Cup is underway.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

And that’s the end of the third quarter!

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

Oh what a chance for the Dutch! Mirco Pruijser’s hit is inches wide from the goal.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

Belgium slowly mounting attacks but the Dutch defence has stood tall, again. These are so similar teams. so tough to pick favourites tonight. Gut feeling says a late goal will decide matters.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

Less than six minutes left in the third quarter. Meanwhile, a decent chance for Belgium but Dockier’s shot is not up to the mark.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

Not a free-flowing game. Plenty of good tackles from both the teams.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

Save! Thomas Briels’ shot is saved by the Dutch goalkeeper.

Well…

.@sachin_rt is in the house, and the familiar chants for the big man follow. On another note, a galaxy of country's hockey legends have been calmly cast away behind glass panels. #HockeyWorldCup2018 #HockeyWorldCup #BELvNED
Follow LIVE on @FirstpostSports pic.twitter.com/shjNMD1Cnp

— shantanu srivastava (@journoshantanu) December 16, 2018

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

Alright then, time for the third quarter.

Here are the stats for the second quarter! 

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

50 seconds to go in Q2, and The Netherlands get their second PC after their first was saved. And Belgium save again! They have been so composed inside their circle. Almost nerveless.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

Another penalty corner for the Dutch. Two in quick time.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

First penalty corner of the game and the variation didn’t work out. Well defended by the Belgians.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

Netherlands have applied for a penalty corner. The video umpire says it’s a penalty corner!

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

End to end stuff but again, not many chances are being created. Maybe both the teams will raise the tempo after the half-time break.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

Nothing much is happening in the second quarter. Both the teams are cautious with regard to creating chances.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

The second quarter is underway!

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

Q1 ends with both teams looking to test each other. This looks like a slow build-up to an explosive climax. On the form tonight, Belgium clearly the more combative of the two teams,

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

End of the first quarter! Not many chances were created by both the teams but plenty of time left in the final.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

Less than two minutes left in the first quarter. Not many chances and that’s because both the teams are playing at a steady pace.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

First shot on goal by Belgium, and it goes just wide. They are building pressure in the Dutch half already. And just as I type, Netherlands’ Jeoren Hertzberger enters the Belgian D and almost scores. Almost.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

After the initial burst of chances, the game has slowed down a bit. Belgium are ahead in terms of possession.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

First chance of the game to Belgium already. Tom Boon’s shot is just wide.

BELGIUM 0-0 NETHERLANDS

The final of the 2018 Hockey World Cup is underway at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

Full house! We are minutes away! 

The teams have taken the turf amid deafening applause. Full house, as expected, and flashlights taking their effect already. #HockeyWorldCup2018 #HWC2018 #BELvNED
Follow LIVE on @FirstpostSports pic.twitter.com/ik4MeUQ9RF

— shantanu srivastava (@journoshantanu) December 16, 2018

The full squad of both the teams:

Here are the line-ups for the big game.#HockeyWorldCup2018 #HWC2018 pic.twitter.com/0yAM7NmvSK

— shantanu srivastava (@journoshantanu) December 16, 2018

Dutch legend Stephan Veen meets me at the doorway. Predicts a “game of small margins” and says a lot hinges on how key players perform. “Big players should take small opportunities,” he says. Wisdom.

Here are the playing XI of both the teams: 

Belgium: Arthur van Doren, Florent van Aubel, Gauthier Boccard, Thomas Briels, Felix Denayer, Vincent Vanasch, Simon Goungnard, Arthur de Sloover, Loick Luypaert, Victor Wegnez, Tom Boon

Netherlands: Jeroen Hertzberger, Lars Balk, Billy Bakker, Valentin Verga, Glenn Schuurman, Sander Baart, Robbert Kemperman, Mirco Pruijser, Thierry Brinkman, Pirmin Blaak, Mink vander Weerden

Hello and welcome from the Kalinga Stadium where slight drizzle, cool evening and loud music have combined well to set the stage for the Hockey World Cup final. The Netherlands are in their seventh final and also playing their 100th World Cup match, while Belgium’s golden generation has brought their team to its maiden World Cup final. Get ready for some attacking European spectacle, as the Dutch coach predicted last night.

Netherlands have the edge in terms of head to head record!

10th medal at the World Cup for Australia! Outstanding! 

True titans indeed!

🥇X 3 (1986, 2010, 2014)

🥈 X 2 (2002, 2006)

🥉 X 5 (1978, 1982, 1990, 1994, 2018)

This is the @Kookaburras 10th Medal at Men's Hockey World Cups.#ENGvAUS #IndiaKaGame #HWC2018 #DilHockey

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) December 16, 2018

The bronze medal match has just finished. Australia with a 8-1 thumping win over England! 

Wow what a win!! Bronze medal goes to Australia!! 🥉👏
ENG 1 AUS 8
Odisha #HWC2018 Bhubaneswar @Kookaburras @EnglandHockey @TheHockeyIndia
📸FIH/@GettySport pic.twitter.com/t6bjEgJWy4

— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) December 16, 2018

Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of the Hockey World Cup 2018 final between Belgium and Netherlands at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. 

So today is the day we will find out which team will take home the title. European giant and three-time champions Netherlands will look to crush the spirit of Belgium, who are in the final for the first time. Both teams deserve their place in the final after playing some sensational hockey over the period of 20 days.

We will bring you all the updates from the match so stay tuned!