A tournament returning to the German city that hosted it in 2023, where Spanish teams will seek to surpass their sixth-place finish and fight for medals.
Both teams arrive with serious aspirations. RedSticks by Max Caldas, ranked fourth in the FIH rankings, will face powerhouses such as the Netherlands and Belgium, while Carlos García Cuenca's RedSticks, ranked sixth in the world, will face Belgium and England in a very competitive group.
The RedSticks on the hunt for the giants
The men's team, led by the coach Max Caldasfaces a tough Group A. Their debut will be on August 9th at 13:15 PM against the absolute favorite, the Netherlands, world number 1 and champions of the last two European Championships. Despite recent adverse results against the Dutch, Caldas is confident that his team, in excellent form, will be at their best from the first minute.
The second match, on August 10 at 19:30 p.m., will be against AustriaA rival that Spain has already convincingly defeated in previous encounters. The key match for passage to the semifinals will be on August 12 at 14:45 p.m. against Belgium. The rivalry with the "Red Lions" has intensified, and the Spanish have proven capable of beating them, as in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympic Games.
According to Max CaldasThe team arrives with one less objective on their minds: qualification for the 2026 World Cup is already secured thanks to their third-place finish in the FIH ProLeague. "This World Cup qualification has been very special. It's one less thing to worry about, since that objective has already been achieved," declared the coach. However, he didn't downplay the importance of the European Championship, stating that the goal is "to win every single match."
RedSticks Calendar:
August 9: Netherlands – Spain (13:15)
August 10: Spain – Austria (19:30 PM)
August 12: Spain – Belgium (14:45 PM)
The RedSticks are a group of titans
Carlos García Cuenca's women's team will also have a tough road ahead in Group A, facing Belgium, Scotland, and England. The RedSticks will debut on August 10 at 10:15 a.m. against Belgium, a powerful opponent they recently defeated.
On August 11 at 13:30 PM, they will face Scotland, a team they must beat if they want to reach the semifinals. The final group stage match will be on August 13 at 10:00 AM against England. This match could be decisive not only for qualification, but also for securing a place in the 2026 World Cup.
Coach Carlos García Cuenca is optimistic after the team's strong performance in the FIH Pro League. "The real goal is to reach the semifinals. It's ambitious, but realistic considering the team's current situation," García Cuenca commented. "We'll be in great shape; our preparation has been intensive."
RedSticks Calendar:
August 10: Belgium – Spain (10:15)
August 11: Spain – Scotland (13:30)
August 13: Spain – England (10:00)
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