Belgium aims to better its world ranking in HWL Final

New Delhi: For ever-improving Belgium, the upcoming Hero Hockey World League Final is like a "mini World Cup", which will provide them with an opportunity to better their current fifth position in the world rankings, according to its coach Marc Lammers.

"This tournament is like mini World Cup where the top 8 hockey teams are competing to win the inaugural title of Hero Hockey World League. This team ranks 5th in the world but we aim to come out a better team post this tournament," Lammers said after his side's practice session at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here today.

In Australia, a tough opponent awaits Belgium in the opening match of the tournament on Friday. "We have our best team for the league with just 4 new players in the squad and hence the boys have to live up to the expectation that they have built over the years," Lammers said.

Belgium captain John Dohmen was of the view in such a tournament one cannot afford to take any team lightly. "It's the top 8 hockey teams who will be competing against each other hence no one should be considered as underdogs. Any team can win on any given day and hence we aim to play good hockey and win our matches and keep going ahead in the tournament," he said.

"We want to take each match as it comes and will play as per strategy on that given day."