Men's Hockey World Cup 2018: 5 teams with the best defence

Can India match the best defensive sides in the World Cup?

#3 Netherlands

The Dutch have, of late, transformed into a side with loads of flair, but have the expertise to keep the best strikers in the world at bay as well.

Sander Baart, who interestingly, has Belgian roots, has been manning Holland's defence for almost a decade now. The 30-year-old defender was part of the Dutch squad which won silver at the Delhi World Cup in 2010 and silver at home in 2014.

The Germans are quite familiar with the kind of resistance that their neighbours and long-time rivals can offer, but, in Bhubaneswar, their Asian group mates in Pool D - Malaysia and Pakistan, may well face a formidable hurdle in trying to weave their way past Baart, alongside Mink van der Weeden, and Glenn Schuurman in the Dutch defence.

At the Champions Trophy at Breda, earlier this year, Max Caldas' side were without van der Weeden but conceded just 7 goals, in 6 matches, during the course of the entire tournament.

It will be fascinating to witness the battle between the free-flowing Asians pitted against a resolute European defensive style in the World Cup's Group of Death.

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About the author

Subhashish has been an Indian sports journalist at Sportskeeda since 2017. He primarily covers hockey along with other Indian Sports, and endeavors to bridge the coverage gap between the multitude of Indian sports and cricket via his articles. Subhashish’s interest in Indian sports peaked after watching a few hockey and football matches live during his childhood days, and has also played Hockey, Football, Table Tennis, Badminton at school and college level.

As a journalist, he covered every single Indian hockey match at the 2018 & 2022 Commonwealth Games, 2018 & 2023 Asian Games, 2018 Women's World Cup, 2018 & 2023 Men’s World Cup and the 2021 Olympics. An interview specialist, he has conducted over 100 interviews with the Indian Men's and Women's Hockey team, and has also been part of the UK-based DesiSportsCast Podcast.

Subhashish’s favorite Indian athlete is Vandana Katariya for her relentlessness and never-say-die attitude. For him, India men's hockey team's 7-1 win over Pakistan in 2017 Hockey World League semis on the same day as India men's cricket team's loss to the same opponent in the Champions Trophy final is an iconic moment in Indian Sports history.

When not writing, he likes to spend his free time blogging, singing, jogging, and trekking.

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Edited by Arvind Sriram