Hockey World Cup 2018, Belgium vs Netherlands: 3 Standout Players from the Final

#2 Florent van Aubel (Belgium)

Florent van Aubel vindicated his ability to deliver under immense pressure

After being largely inconspicuous in the preceding matches of the tournament, Florent van Aubel rose to the occasion when it mattered the most. He scored twice during the penalty shootout and propelled Belgium to glory.

In regulation time, van Aubel came the closest to breaching the deadlock for the Red Lions. At the 32nd minute, his fierce strike was saved brilliantly by Dutch goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak. He continued to work steadfastly and even managed to penetrate the inner circle on quite a few occasions.

During the penalty shootout, van Aubel got his first chance when Belgium were trailing by one. Having watched the likes of Arthur van Doren and Felix Denayer miss, the 27-year old held his nerve to help the Red Lions pull level. His lethal backhand managed to off-set Blaak's anticipation.

When the penalty shootout came to sudden death, van Aubel had his second chance to make an impact. Backing his skills under massive pressure, the seasoned striker found a way past Blaak and made life easier for Vincent Vanasch.