Wagener Stadium Awaits Exciting Pro League Action Among World Hockey’s Who’s Who!
Amsterdam’s Wagener Stadium awaits high-voltage men hockey as Olympic gold medallist Netherlands, Olympic silver medallist Germany, and Belgium renew their fierce rivalry in the first lot of 2024-25 Pro League games kickstarting in November-end.
World number two Germany would be thirsting for revenge when they lock horns with the world number one Netherlands – they would strive to exact sweet revenge they suffered at the hands of the Dutch in the Paris Olympics final. Interestingly, there isn’t much ranking points between the Germans and the Dutch – the Netherlands have just 137 points more than Germany – who knows an impressive Pro League campaign can help the Honamas move ahead of the Dutch in world rankings.
World number four Belgium, who did everything correct in the pool phase of the 2024 Paris Olympics, ran out of momentum towards the latter stages of the tournament, first being held to a 3-3 draw by spunky Argentina and subsequently shocked 2-3 by Spain in the quarterfinals.
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The Red Lions under newly-installed coach Shane McLeod, would look to make a statement of sorts in their first lot of six games of the 2024-25 edition – the team is in rebuilding mode with retirements of several key players such as Paris Olympics captain Felix Denayer, John-John Dohmen, Loick Luypaert, Cedric Charlier, and Florent Van Aubel. The national team would look to rediscover the mojo they attained during Shane McLeod’s first stint as Belgium coach when they won the World Cup, European Championship and the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
There is so much at stake when three of the top four teams are competing and spectators have so much to look forward to as they know hockey feast is in the offing.
