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

#2 Belgium

The Belgians have been known to be fearless in attack, even against the best

Which is the team that can pose a serious challenge to Australia's dream of capturing a third-consecutive World Cup title?

The Red Lions beat Australia in a pool game at Rio and repeated the feat in the semifinal of the HWL Semifinals, at London, last year. What's more, the Olympic silver-medalists beat the Germans by a 6-1 margin in the final of the same tournament, and also got the better of the Dutch in the semifinals at Rio.

For Shane McLeod's Belgian side, the strategy is simple - take the attack to the opposition, paying scant regard to the reputation of the side in question.

As far as the Belgians are concerned, it is not the just the strikers who possess the capability to attack. The defenders can move upfield as well, and do so quite often, with marauding runs that can offset the best-laid plans of great sides Australia and the Netherlands.

Emmanuel Stockbroekx advanced from the back line, and in tandem with Sebastien Dockier and Charlier manufactured an outstanding goal against the Kookaburras at London last year. Cedric Charlier is never short of support in the circle, backed up by the redoubtable Thomas Briels, Van Aubel, and the dangerous Tom Boon.