Kissing a medal after the bitter taste of Paris: the challenge of hockey at the European Championships in Germany

A year ago, around this time, in the famous Paris that hosted the most photographable Olympic Games in history, the field hockey teams were mourning their fate in the competition. It was bittersweet, even though the men's team managed to reach the semifinals 16 years later, and the women's team fell in the quarterfinals when, before the tournament, they had a better chance of reaching the top four. They failed to secure a medal, which they will pursue starting this Friday at the European Championships in Mönchengladbach (Germany).

They're coming into the game with a bang. At the Games, they defeated the all-powerful Belgium in the quarterfinals, but were unable to overcome India's haphazard play in the fight for bronze after falling to the Netherlands in the semifinals. Two consecutive defeats for a young team dulled the major tournament, but made it clear that the future could be bright. This is what is proving to be the case after finishing third in the Pro League.

"The Netherlands and Belgium are the two toughest teams. Right now, I see them as slightly better than us, in terms of consistency and players. But we're getting closer," said the Spanish coach, who has called up the bulk of players who already participated in the Games.

The squad and the match schedule The group of 13 players

Luis Calzado (RC Polo) Rafa Revilla (Club de Campo) Jordi Bonastre (Athlètic Terrassa) Marc Recansens (Rotterdam/NED) Pepe Cunill (Athlètic Terrassa) Marc Vizcaíno (Den Bosch/NED) Alex Alonso (RS Tenis) Bruno Font (Junior) Joaquín Menini (Rotterdam/NED) Marc Miralles (Bloemendaal/NED) GROUP PHASE ​​Spain-Netherlands August 9 (1:15 PM) Spain-Austria August 10 (7:45 PM) Belgium-Spain August 12 (2:45 PM)

Spain's debut will be on Saturday against the Netherlands, the favorite, Olympic champion, and winner of the last two European Championships. On Sunday, they will face Austria, and on Tuesday, the 12th, they will face Belgium. This is the key match. Only the top two teams will advance to the semifinals. Spain has a tough time against two of the favorites.

In the women's category, and after finishing sixth in the Pro League—without the reward of qualifying for the World Cup—the goal is to "reach the semifinals after intensive preparation," said coach Carlos García Cuenca.

At the Paris Games, Belgium knocked them out of the semifinals in a match in which they were blocked in attack. In this European Championship, they will face the same team this Saturday. And then they will face Scotland and England in the "decisive match."

The squad and the match schedule The group of 13 players

Berta Agulló (Country Club) Patricia Álvarez (RC Polo) Constanza Amundson (Country Club)Florencia Amundson (Country Club)Clara Badia (Mannheimer/GER)Sara Barrios (Country Club)Xantal Giné (RC Polo)Lucia Jiménez (Mannheimer/GER)Paula Jiménez (Sanse Complutense)Teresa Lima (Junior)Jana Martínez (Junior)Candela Mejías (Club de Campo)Luciana Ángeles Molina (Real Sociedad) Clara Pérez (Atlètic de Terrassa)Estel Petchamé (CD Terrassa)Marta Segú (RC Polo)Berta Serrahima (Junior)Laia Vidosa (Junior) GROUP PHASE Spain-Belgium August 10 12:30 Spain-Scotland August 11 August 13:30​England-Scotland August 12, 10:00