Spain got their men’s EuroHockey Championship tournament underway with a healthy 5-0 win over Austria built around three goals between the 24th and 27th minute which turned the game their way.

Quique Gonzalez’s backhand shot put them in front with the first of that trio; Marc Miralles added a penalty stroke after Pau Cunill’s drag-flck hit a body on the line to lead to a stroke and then Rafa Vilallonga thrashed in a rebound.

Joaquin Menini picked out the top corner with an outstanding backhand shot for the fourth early in the second half and the win was crowned by player of the match Jose Basterra when he intercepted a crossfield ball on the edge of the circle. He finished calmly for 5-0.

Basterra: “We are happy with the performance. We had discipline and tomorrow we have to be very concentrated to beat Belgium and make the semi-finals.

“It is good for the sport,” he added about the strength of the competition. “There are a lot of teams who can win which is better for the public and for us!”