The Belgian men's national team has been in peak form recently. Throughout the 2020/21 Men’s FIH Pro League, they've consistently averaged three goals per game, with defender Alexander Hendrickx leading the scoring charts with 10 goals.
The team's offensive prowess is spread across the entire pitch, anchored by a dangerous forward line including Thomas Briels (the captain), Florent Van Aubel, Cedric Charlier, and Tanguy Cosyns. At this moment, Belgium likely has the most potent attack in international men's hockey.
Following a three-month break over the New Year, the 2020/21 Men’s FIH Pro League is back, and team executives believe this is the start of a pivotal year for the sport.
Holding the top spot in the FIH World Rankings, the Red Lions are aiming to improve upon their silver-medal finish from 2019. Their recent preparation in Gran Canaria was a total success, leaving them feeling in top condition to compete globally.
The team's ability to be clinical is well-documented; for example, at the 2016 Rio Olympics, they scored 29 goals in total, which included a dominant 12-0 victory over the host nation, Brazil.
While the squad is beginning to see the rise of promising young players like William Ghislain and 20-year-old Thibeau Stockbroekx, their primary advantage this year is their immense collective experience.
The depth of experience is staggering, with ten players having earned over 200 caps. Notably, Sebastien Dockier reached this milestone during a 3-2 victory in Spain on February 5th, while the legendary John-John Dohmen celebrated his 400th international appearance during that same set of matches.
These statistics are remarkable for a team that, despite its veteran core, still has plenty of peak years left. The Red Lions have enjoyed a meteoric rise, becoming world champions for the first time in 2018 and following that up by winning the European title a year later.
Red Lions have become first-time world champions in 2018 and a year later, European champions.
Looking at the data, it's clear that Belgium is currently fielding a 'golden generation' of athletes.
Despite their incredible scoring record, a wealth of international experience, and a history of winning, one trophy remains out of reach: Olympic gold. With core leaders like Dohmen and Briels both turning 33, the window of opportunity for Belgium to make history is wide open.