> Spain and Belgium have faced each other five times before in Olympic history.
> Belgium won the last Olympic encounter in 1976 (3-2), having lost 4 previous Olympic matches against Spain.
> The last encounter in a major competition between Belgium and Spain came at the 2003 European Championship, when Spain defeated Belgium 3-2.
> Spain qualified for Beijing as silver medal winners at the EuroHockey Nations Championship.
> Belgium earned their Olympic ticket by taking third place at the EuroHockey Nations Championship, defeating Germany 4-3 in the final 3-4.
> Pol Amat was also present at the last three Olympic Games (1996, 2000 and 2004).
> Belgium's head coach is Adam Commens, who won bronze as a player with the Australian team at Sydney 2000.
> At Age 32, Commens is the youngest head coach at Beijing 2008.
> Spain's head coach Maurits Hendriks makes his third Olympic appearance as a coach, having won a gold medal with his native Netherlands at Sydney 2000 and finishing fourth with Spain at Athens 2004.