Spain, the land of flamenco and fiesta, is also the team that many sides fear when it comes to major hockey tournaments. They play with style and flair and, with many of the team currently playing in the Dutch domestic league, the Spanish team has taken on board some northern European influence, which will add another dimension to their game.
Currently ranked 7th in the world, Spain has participated at every World Cup since the tournament began. They won silver in the first World Cup in 1971 and took silver again in 1998. A bronze medal in 2006 is the best result that captain Ramon Alegre and his team has managed of late in the World Cup, but silver in the 2011 Champions Trophy will have given Spain confidence that they can perform on the big stage.
