Spain beats Germany 2-1 to reach World Cup semifinals

Spain's men's field hockey team beat Germany 2-1 on Friday, with Chefo Basterra scoring in the 50th minute, and now faces Belgium in the World Cup semi-finals.

22 Aug 2026 By Marco Dobson · senior correspondent

Result

Spain's men's field hockey team beat Germany 2-1 on Friday, at the start of the second phase of the World Cup being played in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Match details

The 'RedSticks' turned the score with a great second half. Chefo Basterra scored in the 50th minute after a serious error by the German goalkeeper, converting the penalty stroke set up by Marc Recasens. The goal gave Spain a 2-1 advantage. Before the break, Germany had opened the score with a goal by Luis Calzado, but Spain equalised. The pupils of Max Caldas kept the pressure and the Spanish defence worked hard in the second quarter.