Hockey World Cup 2023 Final: Belgium look to equal this UNIQUE RECORD vs Germany in the FINAL on Sunday, Check Details

Hockey World Cup 2023 Final: Germany vs Belgium – After two weeks of high-profile and intense hockey action, the tournament has its two finalists: Germany and Belgium. Coincidentally, Belgium is also the defending champion in the tournament. They will be looking to not only defend their title but also book a spot in history, which not many teams have achieved in the past. If Belgium wins the final over Germany, they will equal a unique record on Sunday. Follow Hockey World Cup LIVE Updates With InsideSport.IN.

Hockey World Cup 2023 Final: Belgium look to equal this UNIQUE RECORD vs Germany in the FINAL on Sunday, Check Details

Hockey World Cup Semifinals Highlights: Belgium defeat Netherlands in shoot-out, Germany beat Australia 4-3, Follow Hockey WC Highlights

Vincent Vanasch is your Player of the Match for saving three goals in the penalty shootouts.

🇧🇪BEL 2-2 NED🇳🇱
(SO 3:2)#BELvsNED #HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #HWC2023 #HockeyWorldCup2023 #StarsBecomeLegends @CMO_Odisha @sports_odisha @IndiaSports @Media_SAI @hockeybe @oranjehockey pic.twitter.com/nUnNQgnA80

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) January 27, 2023

On Friday, Belgium was pushed to the limit in their semi-final match against the Netherlands. The match went to penalties after a 2-2 draw in the mandatory full-time. Belgium kept their cool and won the penalty shootout 3-2.

The Red Lions are one win away from retaining their world championship. If they succeed against Germany on Sunday, they will become only the FOURTH team in FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup history to do so.

Below is the list of the Men’s Hockey World Cup past champions.

FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup – Past Champions

Edition	Hosts	Winner	Runners-up
1971	Spain	Pakistan	Spain
1973	Netherlands	Netherlands	India
1975	Malaysia	India	Pakistan
1978	Argentina	Pakistan	Netherlands
1982	India	Pakistan	West Germany
1986	England	Australia	England
1990	Pakistan	Netherlands	Pakistan
1994	Australia	Pakistan	Netherlands
1998	Netherlands	Netherlands	Spain
2002	Malaysia	Germany	Australia
2006	Germany	Germany	Australia
2010	India	Australia	Germany
2014	Netherlands	Australia	Netherlands
2018	India	Belgium	Netherlands

As is evident from the list, only Pakistan, Germany, and Australia have captured back-to-back world cup titles in the past. In 1978 and 1982, Pakistan was the first team to accomplish the feat.

Germany achieved the rare feat when they won two consecutive World Cup titles in 2002 and 2006.

Australia was the last team to achieve the unique double of winning back-to-back World Cup titles. They won the 2010 edition in India and went on to win the 2014 edition in the Netherlands.

Belgium has some sweet memories of Bhubaneswar. In 2018, they defeated the Netherlands in the World Cup Final, and now they are on the cusp of creating history five years later. Can Germany stop the Belgian Lions on Sunday?

Hockey World Cup 2023 Final: Belgium look to equal this UNIQUE RECORD vs Germany in the FINAL on Sunday, Check Details

Follow InsideSport on GOOGLE NEWS / Follow Hockey World Cup LIVE Updates With InsideSport.IN.

Cricket