Hockey World Cup: Netherlands, Belgium in quarters

Bhubaneswar, Dec 12: Netherlands thrashed Canada 5-0 while Belgium hammered Pakistan in the crossover matches of the Hockey World Cup to qualify for the quarter-finals here on Tuesday.

Netherlands will now face India in the quarters on Thursday while Belgium will take on Germany.

In the first match of the day where Belgium hammered Pakistan 5-0, Belgium scored in each quarter with Alexander Hendrickx (10th minute), Thomas Briels (13th), Cédric Charlier (27th), Sébastien Dockier (35th) and Tom Boon (53rd) finding the target.

The second match between Netherlands and Canada saw some brilliant hockey from the Netherlands. The Dutch were a little sloppy with the penalty corner conversion but at the end registered a comfortable victory.

Thijs van Dam (40th minute and 48th) scored a brace while goals from Lars Balk (16th), Robbert Kemperman (20th) and Thierry Brinkman (41st) helped the Dutch team to enter the next round.