Hockey World Cup 2023: Spirited Spain spank listless Wales

After going down 0-2 against hosts India, Spain made a spirited comeback to spank a listless Wales 5-1 in their second match of the FIH Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 at Birsa Munda stadium in Rourkela on Sunday.

While Reyne Marc (16th and 38th minutes) and Miralles Marc (32nd and 56th minutes) scored two goals each, Iglesias Alvaro (22nd minute) struck once. Apart from Miralles’ penalty corner conversion in the 32nd minute, all others were field goals.

Carson James managed to pull one back for Wales in the 52nd minute through a brilliant field goal. France were clearly dominant from the word go. They earned two penalty corner opportunities in the match and managed to convert one of those.

On the other hand, Wales could create only one penalty corner chance. However, they faild to capitalize on it.

Fans flock from across globe

With the progress of the marquee event in Odisha, the entire State is alive and beaming with excitement. The host venues are the iconic Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar and the ‘Mecca of Indian Hockey’, Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in Rourkela.

 

Nearly every match in the World Cup has been played in front of a full house so far, across both the venues. 

The streets are filled with fans from all over, often dressed in their team’s colors and brandishing flags and banners. The atmosphere is electric, and the overwhelming response from the locals and fans alike is a great sign for sports in Odisha and India. 

Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha, is known for its rich cultural heritage and is often referred to as the ‘Temple City of India’. The ancient temples and monuments in the city have been beautifully illuminated for the event, adding to the already vibrant atmosphere. The streets are adorned with colorful murals celebrating the event, creating a truly convivial and celebratory atmosphere.

 

Rourkela, on the other hand, is a bustling industrial city and hockey pocket known for its steel plant. The cities underwent an aesthetic transformation for the event, with several fan parks and screenings being set up to provide an immersive experience for fans.