WAVRE, 23 August, 2026 (News Desk): Spain moved closer to securing a place in the semi-finals of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 after defeating defending champions Germany 2-1 in the 28th match at the Belfius Hockey Arena on Friday. The Spanish side, known as the Red Sticks, secured three crucial points with a hard-fought victory. Jose Basterra was the star of the match, scoring twice, while Justus Weigand netted Germany’s only goal. Neither team managed to break the deadlock during the opening quarter as both sides remained scoreless. Germany took the lead in the second quarter when Justus Weigand found the net in the 25th minute. Spain responded quickly, with Jose Basterra converting a penalty stroke four minutes later to level the score at 1-1. The score remained tied at the end of the third quarter, setting up a tense final period. Basterra then struck again in the 49th minute to give Spain a 2-1 lead and put his team in a strong position.Spain held on to its advantage until the final whistle to claim a valuable victory and strengthen its hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the tournament.