Pool B brings together a diverse set of nations with a variety targets when they hit the floor at the men’s EuroHockey Indoor Championship in Heidelberg on Thursday.
Ever-present Germany’s new look panel is undoubtedly one to watch in front of their home crowd but rapidly rising Belgium and Spain will look to have their say in the semi-final shake-up.
Switzerland, too, defeated the Germans two years ago; Ireland, meanwhile, are playing in their first ever top level indoor tournament since building their programme six years ago.
Find out more about each team here:
Belgium
- World ranking: 3rd
- EuroHockey Championship appearances: 6
- Best finish: 2nd (1976, 2018); Bronze (2024)
| Number | Player Name | Club | Caps | Goals |
| 1 | Matteo Gryspeerdt | Amicale | 18 | 0 |
| 2 | Dorian Thiéry | Orée | 6 | 1 |
| 3 | Romain Henet | Royal Léopold | 17 | 0 |
| 8 | Mallory Magnant | Amicale | 24 | 9 |
| 9 | Brian Van Bogaert | White Star | 6 | 2 |
| 11 | Philippe Simar © | Royal Léopold | 29 | 77 |
| 12 | Nicolas Bogaerts | White Star | 18 | 1 |
| 13 | Tom Degroote | Royal Léopold | 28 | 26 |
| 17 | Sam Poncelet | Royal Léopold | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Tom Stassin | Namur | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Thomas Joye | Namur | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Gaëtan Dykmans | White Star | 42 | 32 |
| Coach | Maxime Bergez | |||
| Team Leader | Philippe Truyens | |||
| Manager | An Van Aken | |||
| Assistant Coach | Andrin Rickli | |||
| Physiotherapist | Xavier Troessaert | |||
| Video Technician | Nicolas Roche |
Overview: Maxime Bergez says the Indoor Red Lions are pursuing a dual goal of a top four and a team rebuild as they look forward to the men’s EuroHockey Indoor Championship in Heidelberg in January.
“We’ve rebuilt a team with many young players,” said the head coach on announcement of his panel.
“Our ambitions remain high, and we’re playing for a place in the semi-finals, while also developing these new players and discovering where their potential can take us.”
Tom Degroote is one of those key returnees and is one of a cohort from Royal Léopold’s EuroHockey Indoor Club Cup winning side from earlier in 2025.
Philippe Simar is chief among them. The goalscoring machine’s stats are off the charts, scoring 77 times in 29 international matches, including 14 hat tricks (or more) and scoring seven times on two separate occasions.
Indeed, he has only not scored in three of those matches, one of which only lasted 90 seconds in 2024 in Leuven due to injury.
Further back, Gaëtan Dykmans will be crucial around the back while they have excellent goalkeeping options – Romain Henet missed 2024 through injury but is back; Matteo Gryspeerdt won goalkeeper of the tournament at that event.
Brian Van Bogaert and Thomas Joye were reserves for the World Cup last year and elevate to the central panel with the latter currently uncapped.
Sam Poncelet is another set to debut in the coming weeks, following his brother Nicolas to be capped on this stage. Tom Stassin is a third yet to line out internationally named in the squad.
Read more about Belgium here: https://eurohockey.org/bergez-eyes-top-four-finish-with-rebuilt-indoor-red-lions-squad
Germany
- World ranking: 2nd
- EuroHockey Championship appearances: 21
- Best finish: 1st (17x including 2024)
| Number | Player Name | Club | Caps | Goals |
| 1 | Lukas Stumpf (GK) | TSV Mannheim | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Sten Brandenstein | Crefelder HTC | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Nik Proske | UHC Hamburg | 6 | 10 |
| 8 | Anton Boeckel © | Der Club an der Alster | 23 | 16 |
| 12 | Anton Pöhling | Harvestehuder THC | 17 | 4 |
| 14 | Tom Schmidt-Didlaukies | UHC Hamburg | 6 | 0 |
| 16 | Dieter Linnekogel | Der Club an der Alster | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Luca Grossman | TSV Mannheim | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Nik Kerner | Der Club an der Alster | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Jan-Philipp Fischer | Mannheimer HC | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Vincent Scholz | Harvestehuder THC | 0 | 0 |
| 77 | Jasper Ditzer (GK) | Harvestehuder THC | 1 | 0 |
| Coach | Matthias Witthaus | |||
| Coach | Jan Rabente | |||
| Manager | Adrian Kock | |||
| Medical Doctor | Nils Bumb | |||
| Physiotherapist | Marvin Kühn | |||
| Video Technician | Maximilian Hartung |
Overview: Jan-Philipp Rabente and Matthias Witthaus have included five indoor world champions from earlier in 2025 in Croatia, namely Jasper Ditzer, Anton Boeckel, Tom Schmidt-Didlaukies, Anton Pöhling, and Nicolas Proske. Ditzer was also crowned an U21 outdoor world champion before Christmas.
In terms of EuroHockey Championship experience, it is quite a changed squad since 2024 with just Boeckel and Pöhling in situ once again. For the former, it will be his fourth Euros, winning gold last time out in Leuven. That extended their record to 17 wins on this stage out of 21 indoor championships.
Anton Boeckel lifting the World Cup trophy. Picture: Will Palmer/World Sport Pics
Witthaus and Rabente, who recently both extended their contracts as national indoor hockey coaches until 2029, announced the squad on the sidelines of a training camp in Hamburg.
Theirs is a largely Hamburg-based panel with Dieter Linnekogel – a veteran of 74 outdoor caps – Nik Kerner and Boeckel from Club an der Alster; Ditzer and Pöhling from Harvestehuder THC and Schmidt-Lindaukies and Proske – who scored 10 times in the World Cup – from UHC Hamburg.
More local to Heidelberg, TSV Mannheim are represented by Luca Grossmann and Lukas Stumpf and experienced Mannheimer HC man Jan-Philipp Fischer. They did have a late change with the injured Finn Langheinrich replaced by Vincent Scholz.
Read more about their side here: https://eurohockey.org/five-world-cup-winners-named-in-german-mens-side-for-euro-indoors-in-heidelberg
Ireland
- World ranking: 23rd
- EuroHockey Championship appearances: Debut
| Number | Player Name | Club | Caps | Goals |
| 1 | Stephen O’Keeffe (C, GK) | Three Rock Rovers | 25 | 0 |
| 2 | Jakim Bernsden (GK) | Avoca | 14 | 0 |
| 4 | Jody Hosking | Three Rock Rovers | 14 | 11 |
| 4 | Harry MacMahon | Three Rock Rovers | 9 | 0 |
| 5 | Jack Haycock | Cookstown | 22 | 1 |
| 7 | Oliver Kidd | Lisnagarvey | 17 | 22 |
| 8 | Scott McCabe | Queen’s | 14 | 2 |
| 9 | Ross Canning | Three Rock Rovers | 23 | 45 |
| 10 | Gregory Williams | Corinthian | 10 | 7 |
| 11 | James Walker | Three Rock Rovers | 19 | 18 |
| 12 | Craig Mackay | Corinthian | 14 | 8 |
| 28 | Rory Patterson | Wimbledon | 12 | 10 |
| Coach | Brinsley Powell | |||
| Manager | Carol Metchette | |||
| Assistant Coach | Brad Venter | |||
| Physiotherapist | Leigh Porter | |||
| Video Technician | Kenny Carroll |
Overview: Ireland will make their top division debut in Heidelberg six years since making their debut in a men’s European indoor championship, playing in the third tier in Spain in 2020.
After a tough initial tournament, they achieved back-to-back promotion from Championship III in Cyprus in 2022 and then Championship II in Paredes in 2024, edging out Denmark 3-1 in the final.
Ross Canning (31) fittingly struck the two clinching goals in the last three minutes; along with goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe, he has been along for each step of the journey, amassing 45 goals in 23 caps.
His father, Liam, is one of the Irish indoor pioneers, playing to a high level before pushing Three Rock Rovers to take the boards more seriously. Under his coaching, they have won 11 of the past 14 National Indoor Trophy titles.
Ireland goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe at the Röhrmax Cup. Picture: Frank Uijlenbroek/World Sport Pics
Greg Williams – one of the Irish stars of the Junior World Cup in December in India – and James Walker will be the key goal-getters while there are 10 of the side that won promotion involved once again.
Harry MacMahon is the one event rookie with Ollie Kidd back in having played in 2022 in Cyprus. They finished in seventh place the Röhrmax Cup last weekend where they faced top 10-ranked sides Austria, Belgium and Czechia for the first time before defeating host side SV Arminen.
Read more about Ireland here: https://eurohockey.org/ireland-embrace-transformative-debut-six-years-since-entering-international-arena
Spain
- World ranking: 19th
- EuroHockey Championship appearances: 13
- Best finish: 2nd (2001, 2003); Bronze (2006)
| Number | Player Name | Club | Caps | International Goals |
| 1 | Pablo Luna (GK) | Junior FC | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | Enrique Zorita | Club de Campo | 17 | 6 |
| 4 | Pablo Manuel Román | Sanse Complutense | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | César Curiel | Club de Campo | 12 | 3 |
| 8 | Manuel Rodríguez | Club de Campo | 6 | 2 |
| 9 | Juan Muñoz | Sanse Complutense | 12 | 9 |
| 11 | Ignacio Cobos | Royal Uccle | 17 | 11 |
| 14 | Ignacio Abajo | Club de Campo | 11 | 15 |
| 17 | Manuel Prol © | TSV Mannheim | 17 | 8 |
| 25 | Diego Palomero (GK) | Club de Campo | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Pere Amat | Club Egara | 0 | 0 |
| Ferran Muñoz | Junior FC | 0 | 0 | |
| Coach | Federico Gonzalez | |||
| Manager | Javier Perea | |||
| Assistant Coach | Roberto Oliveira | |||
| Assistant Coach | Ignacio Usoz | |||
| Physiotherapist | Guillermo Herranz | |||
| Video Technician | Joan Carol |
Overview: Spanish coach Fede González says his side’s preparations have been “intense but positive” as they look to continue their rise back up the Euro ranks.
The country was a frequent top five finisher up until 2012 before they took time away from the indoor scene. Their return in 2020 saw them quickly sweep back up the ranks from Championship III to the top tier in 2024 where they ended in fifth place.
Spain’s Juan Muñoz. Picture: Frank Uijlenbroek/World Sport Pics
And González says his side is hungry for more: “What we have is a desire to be ourselves and reach our full potential and then results will usually be the consequence of that and I’m sure they will be good.”
His side has a cohort of players who have been part of the six-year journey like Enrique Zorita, Ignacio Cobos and the TSV Mannheim-based Manu Prol. César Curiel, Juan Muñoz and Ignacio Abajo are all looking forward to a third Euro campaign.
On the goalkeeping front, there is a new look with Pablo Luna and Diego Palomero vying for time between the posts. Pablo Manuel Román, Pere Amat and Ferran Muñoz are all making their debuts.
Switzerland
- World ranking: 13th
- EuroHockey Championship appearances: 13
- Best finish: 3rd (1974, 1999, 2003)
| Number | Player Name | Club | Caps | Goals |
| 9 | Mika Conrad | Rotweiss Wettingen | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Loris Grandchamp (C) | Royal Orée | 6 | 7 |
| 11 | Elias Brönnimann | Basler Hockey Club | 12 | 9 |
| 13 | Yves Morard | Rotweiss Wettingen | 24 | 36 |
| 14 | Boris Stomps | Basler Hockey Club | 25 | 22 |
| 15 | Michel Morard | Rotweiss Wettingen | 28 | 9 |
| 16 | Fabio Reinhard | UHC Hamburg | 12 | 4 |
| 18 | Lorenz Gassner | HC Olten | 25 | 5 |
| 23 | Bastian Thoma | Basler Hockey Club | 6 | 0 |
| 28 | Lukas Hengartner | HC Olten | 6 | 2 |
| 30 | Timo Bütler (GK) | Luzerner SC | 5 | 0 |
| 31 | Laurent Rogger (GK) | HC Olten | 8 | 0 |
| Coach | Jair Levie | |||
| Manager | Fabio Marelli | |||
| Assistant Coach | Claas Henkel | |||
| Assistant Coach | Nastasjia Erasmus | |||
| Physiotherapist | Mark Bicker | |||
| Video Technician | Johannes Oberlies |
Overview: Switzerland’s Loris Grandchamp knows it will be a huge task as they seek to find some of their Leuven form next weekend in Heidelberg at the men’s EuroHockey Indoor Championship.
The 22-year-old scored an historic winner for the Swiss in 2024 as his side beat Germany for the very first time in a 6-5 thriller. They ultimately ended in sixth place, just missing out on a World Cup spot which, in turn, meant a two-year hiatus in international fixtures for the side.
Their group is an exceedingly tough one, featuring four of the top six from the 2024 Euros with hosts Germany, Belgium and Spain lying in wait.
The Spanish were their nemesis in Leuven with two wins while Belgium went on to take bronze. Nonetheless, Grandchamp has been able to get a strong insight into the Indoor Red Lions having played in the Belgian competition with Orée.
Switzerland team talk at the Röhrmax Cup. Picture: Frank Uijlenbroek/World Sport Pics
One advantage for Switzerland is the continuity within the squad. Nine of the players who featured in 2024 remain in the lineup, offering familiarity and cohesion while one of the players coming back in – Yves Morard – is a crucial figure.
It also gives Grandchamp an even wider leadership group. He is captain of the side – taking on the role from Fabio Marelli who is now team manager – despite being the youngest player in the line-up – he took on the armband two years ago when set-piece specialist and defensive enforcer Boris Stomps and Yves Morard were on a break.
Two years ago, Switzerland made headlines by defeating Germany for the first time—a landmark moment for Swiss hockey and it is those moments they are looking to emulate.
“For us, the Germans are the biggest country in the world for indoor hockey,” Grandchamp says. “They always have a crazy team. Winning against them was crazy. It’s not something that happens often.”
Official press release: https://eurohockey.org/switzerlands-young-captain-eyes-more-memories-in-heidelberg
