Australia underlines dominance in 2014; Belgium wins maiden title in style in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar firmly establishes itself as the hockey capital as India joins the Netherlands as a three-time host

2014, The Hague (May 31-June 15)

The Netherlands played World Cup host for a record third time but were not third time lucky, losing to defending champion Australia in an embarrassing one-sided 6-1 defeat in the final. It was the biggest defeat for the Dutch in the competition and firmly established Australia as the best team in the world and extended its position at the top even though the Olympic gold continued to elude it.

It also confirmed Ric Charlesworth as coach extraordinaire. The team’s performance — an incredible 30 goals scored conceding only three — despite not having the tournament’s top-scorer in its ranks proved its collective might.

The Dutch had a tougher route to the final, struggling past a fighting England by a lone goal.

India’s struggles continued, winning and drawing a game each — against Malaysia and Spain respectively — to finish ninth with a 3-0 win against South Korea.

Top three: Australia, the Netherlands, Argentina; India: Ninth.

2018, Bhubaneswar (Nov. 28-Dec. 16)