Rourkela, Jan 20: Hosts India will face defending champions Belgium in the quarterfinals of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup if they beat New Zealand in the crossover match in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
India had finished second in Pool D behind England on goal difference, forcing the home side to play in the crossovers round. They needed to beat Wales by a margin of eight goals in their final pool match on Thursday to directly qualify for the quarterfinals, but could only notch up a 4-2 win.
The top team of each of the four pools directly qualify for the quarterfinals while the second and third-placed sides feature in crossover matches to fill up the remaining four slots in the last eight stage.
In the first Pool B match of the day at the Birsa Munda Stadium, Belgium hammered Japan 7-1 to top the group and directly qualify for the quarterfinals.
Tom Boon slammed five goals in a superb show of finishing as he helped defending champions Belgium steamroll Japan.
Boom scored four field goals – in the 22nd, 27th, 28th and 51st minutes – before converting a penalty stroke in the 56th minute. Cedric Charlier (18th) and Sebastien Dockier (52nd) were the other goal getters for Belgium. Both scored field goals.
Kentaro Fukuda scored a consolation field goal for Japan in the 46th minute.
Belgium will play the winner of the crossover match between India and New Zealand.
Japan made an exit from the tournament after losing all their three matches.
In another match, Germany defeated South Korea 7-2 to finish second in Pool B. South Korea, who finished third in the pool with three points – from one win and two losses – face Argentina in their crossover match. (PTI)
