A dramatic final-minute goal from Henry Croft saw England’s men pulling off a last-gasp draw against the Netherlands before sneaking the extra point with another shootout win in Valencia on Monday.
Later in the day Belgium’s women were made to dig deep for their 1-0 victory over Germany, while in China, the Dutch women extended their winning run with a comfortable win over England.
(Men’s) Netherlands 2 – 2 England (SO: 3-4)
Having gone behind early in several of their matches in Valencia, the Netherlands did well to avoid a similar scenario in their match on Monday. But England came from behind in dramatic fashion to pull off a draw and another shootout win.
There were opportunities at both ends, but none too threatening, until the final 20 seconds of the first period when Koen Bijen received an excellent pass on the counterattack and had a go from the top of the circle. But the shot went wide, and the teams remained scoreless at the first break. The Dutch looked more settled in the second quarter and capitalised on their first penalty corner when the initial shot from Steijn van Heijningen was saved, but the ball rebounded across the goal to Guus Jansen, who lifted it over the keeper for the 1-0 lead. Just when the Dutch looked to be taking control, England struck back with just over two minutes to go before half time, Henry Croft swatting one in off a penalty corner to reach the break on 1-1.
The Dutch regained the lead in the 34th minute thanks to Jonas de Geus off a penalty corner variation, which caught a deflection off an English defender’s stick. There was a chance to extend that lead off another penalty corner in the final period, but a reflex shot on the rebound just missed the goal. They controlled much of the possession in the closing minutes to stifle England’s attack. But that all changed in the final minute, with Croft again in on the action, receiving the ball from Nick Bandurak and slamming it in with 19 seconds left on the clock. That took the match into a shootout, which the English once again won.
England’s Henry Croft was named player of the match and said: “We did it as a team. We worked really hard. You grab your brother beside you, you run as hard for him as he would for you, and we grinded it out and got the win. So yeah, awesome stuff."
(Women’s) Belgium 1 – 0 Germany
Belgium had to dig deep to find a goal against Germany and return to winning ways with a 1-0 victory.
Having wasted numerous opportunities in their match against Spain a day earlier, Belgium came out with fresh intensity for their match against Germany. But it proved to be short-lived, and they once again failed to capitalise on numerous penalty corner chances. Neither side took real control, and the second quarter also featured few chances at either end. Germany failed to take advantage when Lien Hillewaert received a 10-minute yellow card, and the score was still locked at 0-0 by half time.
After a goalless third quarter, Belgium finally made the breakthrough in the 51st minute when the ball was threaded through to an unmarked Delphine Marien in front of goal to slip it under the keeper and into the back of the net. With the Germans unable to penetrate the circle with any kind of conviction in the final minutes, the Red Panthers managed to hold on for the win.
Alix Gerniers of Belgium was named player of the match and said: “We are happy that we could win with big character today, I think. Not our best game, but I think defensively we did a great job and that's really important for us also.”
(Women’s) Netherlands 3 – 1 England
England’s women put up a good fight but ultimately couldn’t prevent a 3-1 loss to the Dutch who wrapped up their Yunfu leg of the tournament with a perfect four victories.
The English came out fighting at the start, earning a penalty corner within the first minute. The Dutch soon turned the tables, however, asserting plenty of pressure and creating several chances. But Darcy Bourne’s flick off England’s second penalty corner of the match saw them taking an unlikely lead to reach the first break 1-0 up. The Dutch found the equaliser in scrappy fashion in the second quarter with a floated ball across the D popping up for Joosje Burg to tap it in in front of goal.
The Netherlands, who had built some good momentum just before half time, earned a penalty corner early in the third quarter. Yibbi Jansen stepped up to do what she does best, dragging the ball into the left corner to take her side into the lead for the first time in the match. The Dutch continued to control proceedings in the third quarter, creating some excellent chances, but the English defence stood firm to keep the score to 2-1 by the final break. It was then Pien Dicke who sealed the win for the Netherlands after England took off their keeper in the final minutes of the match. Dicke received a beautifully swivelled pass from captain Marijn Veen, worked the ball into the circle, and smacked it into the empty goal for the 3-1 win.
Joosje Burg was named player of the match for the Netherlands and said: “We really enjoyed it in China and I'm really happy with the win. 3-1 is a good score against England, so I'm really happy”
Current Hero Top Scorers:
Women – Yibbi Jansen (NED) (8 goals)
Men – Alexander Hendrickx (BEL), Tom Boon (BEL), Tomas Domene (ARG), Tijmen Reyenga (NED), Thierry Brinkman (NED), Duco Telgenkamp (NED), Henry Croft (ENG) (4 goals)
To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.
FIH Hockey Pro League – 9 February 2026
Estadio Betero, Valencia (ESP)
Men
Result: Match 17 (M)
Netherlands 2 - 2 England (SO: 3-4)
Player of the match: Henry Croft (ENG)
Umpires: Sarah Wilson (SCO), Victoria Pazos (PAR), Wanri Venter (RSA-video)
Women
Result: Match 21 (W)
Belgium 1 - 0 Germany
Player of the match: Alix Gerniers (BEL)
Umpires: Ahmed Elsayed (EGY), Alex Miles (CAN), Allison Mikelson (USA-video)
Yunfu Education Park Hockey Field (CHN)
Women
Result: Match 22 (W)
Netherlands 3 - 1 England
Player of the match: Joosje Burg (NED)
Umpires: Deepak Joshi (IND), Hideki Kinoshita (JPN), Kelly Hudson (NZL-video)
