Quarter-finals locked in at Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2025

Back

The pool stage at theFIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025concluded on Day 5 – confirming the eight quarter-finalists.

Six pool toppers: Germany, India, Argentina, Spain, Netherlands, France and two best second-placed teams: New Zealand and Belgium entered the last-eight stage, which will be played on 5 December.

Here’s how the action unfolded on Tuesday in Madurai and Chennai.

Spain vs Namibia (Full-Time Score: 13-0)

The first match on Day 5 unfolded on expected lines, with Spain blanking Namibia 13-0 in Madurai to take their unbeaten run to three matches and secure a spot in the quarter-finals by virtue of assuring themselves a top-place finish in Pool D.

The result ended Namibia’s thin quarter-final hopes. They finished third with three points.

Bruno Avila’s hat-trick (four goals) led Spain’s goal spree, whereas Andres Medina and Josep Martin added a brace each. Albert Serrahima, Nicolas Mustaros, Ton Moran, Aleix Bozal and Pere Amat completed the rout.

“I think that this match was really, really important because it’s going to matter for the quarterfinals (qualification). I think we played very well as we scored a lot of goals,” said Spain captain Pablo Roman. “We had a lot of circle penetrations and I think that is an important thing as we enter the quarter-finals in the best way possible. Now we have to go to Chennai after a rest day and prepare for the quarters as best as we can.”

Egypt vs Belgium (Full-Time Score: 0-10)

Belgium did the best they could, which was scoring big, and humbled Egypt 10-0 in the last match of Pool D. However, their six points from two wins in three matches were good only for a second place in the pool, while Spain secured the top spot for direct qualification. The result put Belgium on the waiting list as only two best second-placed teams among the six groups will enter the quarter-finals. The defeat was Egypt’s third in a row.

Belgium’s attacking prowess showcased not just in the 10 goals they scored, but also in the 19 penalty corners they earned. But they could convert only four of those, which would disappoint them. Lucas Balthazar scored off two of those penalty corners, while Benjamin Thiery and Hugo Labouchere converted one each.

But leading the charts for Belgium was Maximilian Langer, who finished with a hat-trick. Jean Cloetens, Marin van Heel and Mathias Francois also got their names on the scoring sheet.

To get an extra man in the attack for more goals while targeting a big margin of victory, Belgium came up with an adventurous move to play without a goalkeeper after the first quarter itself. But it didn’t pay off in the manner they would have liked.

“We created a lot of chances and showed the perfect mentality to play this game. So, I am really proud of my guys. But I think we could have scored way more goals,” Belgium captain Balthazar analysed. “The last game against Spain didn’t go as we wanted, but we bounced back today.”

Chile vs Oman (Full-Time Score: 2-0)

The inconsequential rain-hit Pool B game at Chennai’s Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium saw Chile restoring some pride as they ended their pool engagements on a winning note against Oman, who lost all three matches to finish last. Chile ended at the third position.

Both of Chile’s goals came off penalty corners, with Felipe Duisberg striking first in the 10^thminute. Oman did well to hold Chile’s attack thereafter, as the game didn’t see any goals until the final quarter when Tomas Taborga extended Chile’s lead in the 47^thminute.

“It was a tough match. The pitch had too much water (because of rain) and it was difficult to pass the ball. But I think we did a great job. We knew this match would be difficult due to weather conditions and we had trained accordingly, using high balls (aerials),” said Chile captain Felipe Richard.

Netherlands vs Austria (Full-Time Score: 11-0)

The Netherlands helped themselves to a comprehensive 11-0 win over Austria in Madurai to round off their pool fixtures and bag direct qualification to the last-eight stage as Pool E toppers with nine points from three wins in three matches.

Austria, who failed to win even a single match, finished last in the pool and will now contest in the classification games.

In-form Dutch skipper Casper van der Veen led the goal-fest with a hat-trick and Finn van Bijnen added two goals. The other six strikes came off the sticks of Casper Hafkamp, Joppe Wolbert, Thies Bakker, Jens de Vuijst, Pepijn van der Valk and Jan van’t Land.

“We are very happy as we won three times in the group stage. Now we have to step our level up a little bit more and see what we can do in the quarterfinals…The focus is on performing well and playing better than the game before,” Netherlands’ captain Casper van der Veen shared his thoughts after the match.

France vs Bangladesh (Full-Time Score: 3-2)

France, who had handed Australia an 8-3 drubbing, were given a stiff challenge by a spirited Bangladesh team before the last year’s finalists managed to hang on to a 3-2 win to top Pool F with their third win and entered the quarter-finals. Bangladesh, with just one point from three matches, finished third.

France were awarded a penalty stroke in the seventh minute, and Tom Gaillard beat the Bangladesh goalkeeper to give his team a 1-0 lead. Putting up tough resistance thereafter, Bangladesh found the equaliser in the 28^thminute through Mohammad Abdullah to take the game to half-time tied at 1-1.

But France rediscovered their touch after the break, scoring through Gabin Lorrazuri in the 32^ndminute and James Liddiard in the 38^thto take a 3-1 lead.

Bangladesh’s resilience paid off in the 55^thminute, when they earned a penalty corner and their star drag-flicker Amirul Islam scored off it to cut the lead to 3-2. But the French defence held firm in the closing minutes to secure three points that took them to the quarters.

France’s James Liddiard said: “We did very well on the pitch, so we are very happy. We are now focused on the quarterfinals.”

England vs Malaysia (Full-Time Score: 3-1)

England met Malaysia in a desperate battle for the second position in Pool E after the Netherlands had secured the top spot to enter the quarter-finals. England went on to win in tough weather conditions but couldn’t manage the big victory margin they needed. As per the tournament format, two best second-placed teams join the six pool toppers in the quarters.

England beat the Malaysian post early with a penalty corner converted by Henry Markham in the 4th minute. But the dogged Malaysians got their defensive structure together to restrict the English lead to 1-0 at half-time.

Six minutes after the break, Michael Royden provided England the much-needed cushion to make it 2-0. England entered the last quarter unscathed, but Malaysia finally breached England’s defence in the final quarter, when Azimuddin Kamaruddin scored off a penalty corner to make things tight at 2-1 with 13 minutes left on the clock.

But Alex Chihota’s 57th-minute goal ensured that England ended on the right side of the result, winning 3-1. Malaysia finished third in the pool and Austria fourth.

“It was not fun (playing in rain). When you passed the ball, it just dragged. But we worked through it and got the three points. So, it was good,” said England’s Royden.

Korea vs Australia(Full-Time Score: 1-3)

With unbeaten France sealing the top spot in Pool F, Australia had to beat Korea to keep their quarter-final hopes alive, which they eventually did with a 3-1 win. However, the scoreline couldn’t take their goal difference (-1) into the positive, which is critical to the quarter-final hopes of second-placed teams in each pool.

Australia had their hopes hanging by a thread as the game stood 1-1 at half-time, courtesy Australia’s Duncan Jackson scoring in the 17^thminute, and Seunghan Son equalising for Korea with a penalty corner in the 22^ndminute.

A goal each in the third and fourth quarters through Ian Grobbelaar (35^th) and Daykin Stanger (53^rd) helped Australia secure the much-needed victory to end with six points from two wins in three matches.

Australia captain Toby Mallon sounded disappointed analysing Australia’s pool-stage performance: “(After) Losing that second game to France, we knew it was going to be tough to make it to the quarterfinals. But to bounce back in this last game and take the win in these tough (weather) conditions, it’s really good. I think (we need to improve) our final pass, final shot at goal. We have had a lot of chances and a lot of circle entries, so we just need to finish it off.”

India vs Switzerland (Full-Time Score: 5-0)

India’s facile 5-0 win over Switzerland ended the pool stage of the tournament as the hosts collected their third impressive win on the trot to top Pool B and qualified for the quarter-finals. It was the Swiss team’s first defeat in the pool, leaving them in second spot with six points. Chile finished third with three points and Oman fourth.

India began in a dominating fashion, racing to a 3-0 lead in the first quarter – thanks to Manmeet Singh’s double strike in the 2^ndand 11^thminutes, while Sharda Nand Tiwari added to the home team’s lead before the quarter break off a penalty corner.

The two-time former champions largely missed finishing touches in the second quarter but managed to score in the 28^thminute through Arshdeep Singh. Player-of-the-Match Tiwari completed his brace in the 54^thminute with another penalty-corner conversion to cap the scoreline.

“Happy with the result, but there are a lot of areas to improve,” said India’s coach PR Sreejesh after the match. “Tournament starts from the next match (quarter-final) onwards. So it’s important for us to focus on those areas.”

The quarter-finals line-up

Spain vs New Zealand

France vs Germany

Netherlands vs Argentina

India vs Belgium

Challenger Trophy

Teams participating in the classification matches for the 17^th to 24^th positions will be playing for the ‘Challenger Trophy’, which has been introduced as an initiative from the FIH President Tayyab Ikram as a sign of encouragement for all teams.

To see the final pool standings after Day 5,click here

To see the full match schedule,click here

FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 – 2nd December

Result: Match 29

Spain 13-0 Namibia

Player of the Match: Pere Amat (ESP)

Umpires: Bevan Nichol (NZL), Salim Lucky (BAN)

Result: Match 30

Egypt 0-10 Belgium

Player of the Match: Hugo Labouchere (BEL)

Umpires: Sourabh Rajput (IND) and Hideki Kinoshita (JPN

Result: Match 31

Chile 2-0 Oman

Player of the Match: Arnau Labbe (CHL)

Umpires: Ali Mohammad Shahbaz and Harry Collinson (ENG)

Result: Match 32

Netherlands 11-0 Austria

Player of the Match: Joppe Wolbert (NED)

Umpires: Liu Yao (CHN) and Khamis Al Balushi (OMA)

Result: Match 33

France 3-2 Bangladesh

Player of the Match: Rafael Stab (FRA)

Umpires: Ana Escalante Vazquez (MEX) and Ravdeep Sethi (HKG)

Result: Match 34

England 3-1 Malaysia

Player of the Match: Michael Royden (ENG)

Umpires: Benjamin Peters (USA) and Annelize Rostron (RSA)

Result: Match 35

Korea1-3 Australia

Player of the Match: Daykin Stanger (AUS)

Umpires: Ahmed Elsayed (EGY) and Ilanggo Kanabathu (MAL)

Result: Match 36

India 5-0 Switzerland

Player of the Match: Sharda Nand Tiwari (IND)

Umpires: Rawi Anbananthan (MAS) and Timothy Sheahan (AUS)