FIH Pro-League: Belgium And Dutch Sides Shine Across Four Pro League Openers

Belgium and the Netherlands made a statement on the opening day of the FIH Hockey Pro League, sweeping all four of their men’s and women’s fixtures. Dominant set pieces, disciplined defending and standout goalkeeping defined a day where both nations set an early tone against tough European and Asian opposition. Individual milestones were also highlighted as Michelle Struijk celebrated her 150th cap for the Belgium women, while Yibbi Jansen celebrated her 100th international for the Netherlands.

(Men’s) Germany 1 – 4 Belgium

The 7th edition of the FIH Hockey Pro League got underway in a windy Ireland with Belgium logging a convincing 4-1 win over European champions Germany.

The Belgians enjoyed the lion’s share of possession as they completely dominated the first half. They created some excellent opportunities before Tom Boon, last season’s top goalscorer, fired them ahead with the first penalty corner of the competition in the 13th minute. Thomas Crols made it 2-0 from a counterattack six minutes later, with Joshua Onyekwue Nnaji’s superb goalkeeping the only thing preventing the Red Lions from pulling further ahead before half-time.

Crols was given far too much space to complete his brace with a well-struck field goal in the 33rd minute before Germany started to apply some pressure of their own. Vincent Vanasch made several good saves before Paul-Philipp Kaufmann opened Germany’s account from open play four minutes later. The game opened up as both teams played aggressively towards the end of the third quarter, and again, only some high-quality goalkeeping prevented more goals at either end. Alexander Hendrickx then restored Belgium’s three-goal cushion with his 48th-minute drag flick. And while Germany rallied to control the balance of the fourth quarter, they failed to take any reward from their five penalty corners during that period.

The player of the match was awarded to Belgium’s Thomas Crols who said: “It was a nice game to play. I think heavy, I think Germany we always have to play really physical. The first half we played a very good game, we played together, second half was a bit more difficult, but we managed to get the three points.”

(Women’s) England 0 – 3 Belgium

Michelle Struijk celebrated her 150th cap for Belgium with a 3-0 win over England as howling winds from storm Bram lashed the venue and strained the netting around the pitch.

Belgium dominated the opening stages before Stephanie Vanden Borre fired them ahead with her 7th-minute penalty stroke. Play ebbed and flowed with both teams enjoying periods of attack in a riveting opening half, but excellent goalkeeping from Miriam Pritchard and Elodie Picard meant that there were no further goals before half time.

The Belgians assumed control in the third quarter, earning five penalty corners and doubling their lead when Vanden Borre fired her 38th-minute drag into the bottom left corner. The pace of the encounter never dropped off, and England were still in contention throughout the final quarter, and they substituted their goalkeeper to have a full go in the closing minutes. The plan backfired when Belgium’s Charlotte Englebert slammed into an empty net to put the result beyond any doubt in the 58th minute.

Alix Gerniers of Belgium was named player of the match and said: “We are actually happy to play some games again and I think England is a tough opponent to start… We had quite a good game. I think we gave away a bit too easy circle entries and big chances, but at the end we scored three goals and I think as a first game that is what we have to remember.”

(Men’s) Netherlands 5 – 2 Pakistan

Three third-quarter goals powered the Netherlands to a 5–2 victory over Pakistan after the teams went into halftime level at 2–2. Pakistan struck first when Hannan Shahid sliced through the Dutch defence from the left, driving into the circle and blasting his shot past the outstretched foot of Mauritz Visser.

The Dutch equalized before the end of the opening quarter, sparked by a tempo-setting tackle from Thierry Brinkman that launched a right-side attack. Koen Bijen did well to lead into out space and fire the hosts level, before Timo Boers put them 2–1 up with a penalty-corner conversion just ahead of the first break.

Pakistan hit back early in the second quarter, Sufyan Khan flicking home from a penalty corner to make it 2–2. But the match ultimately turned on set pieces. The Dutch capitalized twice more in the third quarter, with Tijmen Reyenga and Boers each converting penalty corners. Duco Telgenkamp added a clever baseline finish for the Netherlands’ fourth of the period, setting up a final 15 minutes they controlled comfortably.

Tijmen Reyenga of the Netherlands was named Player of the Match and said: “I think we needed time to come in to the game and we did well improving throughout. We had a great second half. We didn’t know how (Pakistan) would play against us so I think we did well and anticipated well. We got the three points and can move on.”

(Women’s) Germany 0 – 2 Netherlands

On her 100th international appearance, and not even four minutes into the match, penalty-corner ace Yibbi Jansen opened the scoring with an unstoppable flick into the bottom corner. Frédérique Matla nearly doubled the lead soon after, but her powerful penalty flick was denied by the sprawling stick of German goalkeeper Finja Starck as Germany struggled to contain the Dutch attack. A superb reverse-stick tackle from Marleen Jochems sparked a turnover inside the German 23, and patient, composed passing between Jochems, Felice Albers and Jossje Burg ended with Burg slapping in to make it 2–0. The Netherlands dominated the opening half, registering 11 shots, two goals and striking the post twice.

Germany managed the second-half pressure more effectively, with significant credit to the excellent Starck, who made a series of sharp saves to frustrate Luna Fokke. The Dutch controlled possession throughout but eased off the accelerator in the final quarter. Their patient build-up play and clever circle entries kept Germany pinned back, but a scoreless second half did little to reflect the imbalance in chances and territory. The Netherlands nonetheless secured a confident three points to open their seventh FIH Pro League season on a positive note.

After the match, Felice Alberts, of the Netherlands, was named Player of the Match and said: “I think it was a good game for our side. We scored more gaols but our defence was really good today. Our defence was really good and we are happy with the win. I think the start of the Pro League, both teams are a bit nervous but in the second half it was a lot more of an open game which is good.”

Current Hero Top Scorers:

Women – Stephanie Vanden Borre (BEL) (2 goals)

Men – Thomas Crols (BEL) (2 goals), Timo Boers (NED) (2 goals)

To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.

FIH Hockey Pro League – 9 December 2025

Sport Ireland Campus (IRE)

Men

Result: Match 1 (M)

Germany 1 – 4 Belgium

Player of the match: Thomas Crols (BEL)

Umpires: Hyosik You (KOR), Lukasz Zwierzchowski (POL), Jonas van’T Hek (NED-video)

Women

Result: Match 1 (W)

England 0 – 3 Belgium

Player of the match: Alix Gerniers (BEL)

Umpires: Gemma Calderon (ESP), Lizelotte Wolter (NED), Sandra Adell (ESP-video)

Santiago del Estero Hockey Club, Argentina (ARG)

Men

Result: Match 2 (M)

Netherlands 5 – 2 Pakistan

Player of the match: Tijmen Reyenga (NED)

Umpires: Michael Dutrieux (BEL), Jonathan Altamirano (MEX), Ivona Makar (CRO-video)

Women

Result: Match 2 (W)

Germany 0 – 2 Netherlands

Player of the match: Felice Albers (NED)

Umpires: Ivona Makar (CRO), Kamile Mockaityte (LTU), Jonathan von Hoesslin (RSA-video)