Spanish hockey stalwart Juan Escarre said on Monday that anything can happen during the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 in Odisha and hosts India also have a chance to win the tournament.
Escarre, who recently toured Bhubaneswar with Spain Men’s Team for the FIH Hockey Pro League 2022/23 matches against India and New Zealand, said that “anything is possible at the World Cup.” The 16 teams competing in the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela from January 13-29 are Australia, Belgium, Netherlands, India, Argentina, Germany, New Zealand, England, France, Korea, Malaysia, Spain, South Africa, Japan, Chile, and Wales.
“If you see the world rankings- Belgium, Australia and you will always find a very good German team. Of course, India also, I think they have a chance. And, the Netherlands and Spain as well. But, you never know, anything is possible in this kind of tournament,” he said as per a press release from Hockey India.
Escarre further opened up on Spain’s chances of making it to the knockout round of the tournament. “We will have the first match with India, and then Wales and England. Then, you have to cross with another group, and with two good matches, you are in the semi-Final. During my time, the system was very difficult, you have to be on the top of six teams and straight to Semi-Final or from there play 5-8 placing. We will see, we are working to give our best and we will try to win it,” the Assistant Coach concluded his point.
Escarre went back in time to reflect on his Silver medal-winning feat at the 1998 World Cup and Spain’s exciting rivalry with the Netherlands during his time.
The Spanish team, led by Joaquim Malgosa, remained unbeaten in the group stage, finishing second in Pool B of the 1998 Men’s Hockey World Cup with four wins and a draw. They went on to defeat Germany 3-0 in the Semi-Finals before succumbing to a narrow 2-3 loss to the hosts Netherlands to earn a silver medal.
“I got injured in the Final. I remember, we scored the first two goals, I got injured and then we lost. Every time I go to the Netherlands, they thank me and say because of my injury they won the world cup,” Escarre, who scored three goals in the tournament, said.