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News for 07 June 2021

All the news for Monday 7 June 2021


EuroHockey Championship 2021 Men - 7 June
Amsterdam, Netherlands

All times GMT +2)

4 Jun 2021     GER v WAL (Pool B)     8 - 1
4 Jun 2021     NED v FRA (Pool B)     3 - 0

5 Jun 2021     ENG v RUS (Pool A)   5 - 0
5 Jun 2021     BEL v ESP (Pool A)   4 - 2
5 Jun 2021     FRA v WAL (Pool B)   2 - 2

6 Jun 2021     GER v NED (Pool B)   2 - 2
6 Jun 2021     ESP v RUS (Pool A)   5 - 1
6 Jun 2021     ENG v BEL (Pool A)   2 - 1

Pool Standings

Pool A

Rank Team Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 England 2 2 0 0 7 1 6 6
2 Spain 2 1 0 1 7 5 2 3
3 Belgium 2 1 0 1 5 4 1 3
4 Russia 2 0 0 2 1 10 -9 0

Pool B

Rank Team Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 Germany 2 1 1 0 10 3 7 4
2 Netherlands 2 1 1 0 5 2 3 4
3 Wales 2 1 0 1 4 10 -6 3
4 France 2 0 0 2 2 6 -4 0

FIH Match Centre



EuroHockey Championship 2021 Women - 7 June
Amsterdam, Netherlands

All times GMT +2)

5 Jun 2021     NED v IRL (Pool A)   4 - 0
5 Jun 2021     ESP v SCO (Pool A)   4 - 1

6 Jun 2021     ENG v ITA (Pool B)    4 - 0
6 Jun 2021     GER v BEL (Pool B)   1 - 1

7 Jun 2021 12:30     IRL v SCO (Pool A)
7 Jun 2021 14:45     BEL v ITA (Pool B
7 Jun 2021 17:00     ENG v GER (Pool B)
7 Jun 2021 20:00     ESP v NED (Pool A

Pool Standings

Pool A

Rank Team Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 Netherlands 1 1 0 0 4 0 4 3
2 Spain 1 1 0 0 4 1 3 3
3 Scotland 1 0 0 1 1 4 -3 0
4 Ireland 1 0 0 1 0 4 -4 0

Pool B

Rank Team Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 England 1 1 0 0 4 0 4 3
2 Belgium 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
2 Germany 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
4 Italy 1 0 0 1 0 4 -4 0

FIH Match Centre



Defending champions beaten as hosts squander lead late on at men’s EuroHockey Championships

By Neil Shefferd


Germany and Belgium drew 1-1 as Pool B at the women's EuroHockey Championships got underway ©Getty Images

Defending men’s champions Belgium suffered a defeat in their second match at the EuroHockey Championships as they were beaten 2-1 by England.

A dramatic day in Amsterdam also saw hosts The Netherlands squander a two goal advantage as Germany snatched a late draw with two goals in the final three minutes of play.

In Pool A, England moved to the top of the table after claiming their second win of the event by beating Belgium.

England took a fourth minute lead courtesy of a penalty stroke from Zachary Wallace.

Tom Boon levelled for Belgium a minute later with a second penalty stroke before the crucial goal from Liam Ansell, with his field goal just after the half-hour mark proving the winner.

The victory puts England top as they are the only unbeaten side in the pool, and now sit on six points.

In the other game in the pool, Spain ran out emphatic 5-1 winners against Russia.

Xavi Lleonart gave Spain the lead inside the first ten minutes with a penalty stroke, before three field goals in four minutes from Vicenc Ruiz, Pau Quemada and Joan Tarres put Spain in complete control.

A penalty corner in the 33rd minute from Quemada made it 5-0 to Spain before Semen Matkovskiy pulled a goal back for Russia, who now sit bottom of the pool after losing both of their games so far.

In men’s Pool B two goals in the final three minutes helped Germany snatch an unlikely point against The Netherlands.

Seve van Ass gave the Dutch an early lead from a penalty corner on five minutes before Thierry Brinkman doubled the advantage with a field goal with 15 minutes to go.

Germany secured an unlikely draw as a penalty stroke from Christopher Ruhr in the 58th minute followed by a penalty corner from Lukas Windfeder a minute later made it 2-2.

Following the dramatic draw, Germany and The Netherlands both sit on four points in the pool, with the Germans top on goal difference.

In the women’s competition, Pool B got underway today with the opening two matches, beginning with England registering a comfortable 4-0 victory over Italy.

England’s strikes came courtesy of Sarah Evans, Jo Hunter, Catherine De Ledesma and Elena Rayer and were all field goals.

The other game in the pool was between Germany and Belgium with the spoils shared 1-1 following two late field goals.

Cecile Pieper gave Germany the lead on 53 minutes before Ambre Ballenghien levelled for Belgium two minutes later.

After the opening round of results England top the pool with three points.

Inside the Games



Wallace & Ansell Inspire England's Men To Sublime Win Over Belgium



England’s men produced a brilliant performance to beat Belgium and move to the top of Pool A at the 2021 EuroHockey Championships.

In a fast, frenetic and absorbing game, Danny Kerry’s team showed plenty of attacking skill and defensive nous to overcome the team currently ranked number one in the world.

Zach Wallace and Liam Ansell both scored their second goals of the tournament to secure the win, while at the other end Ollie Payne produced a number of important saves in just his second England cap.

That result means England sit atop their group with six points ahead of Belgium and Spain, who both have three. A draw in their remaining game against the Spanish would be enough for the team to qualify for the semi-finals.


Zach Wallace's second goal of the tournament gave England an early lead. Credit: World Sport Pics

Billed as one of the most anticipated matches of the group stages, the first quarter certainly lived up to the hype as it began at a frantic pace. England won four corners in a row early on, the final flick from Phil Roper blocked by a body on the line. That led a penalty stroke being awarded which Wallace duly converted.

They didn’t have the lead for long though, with Belgium winning their first corner moments later with the resulting effort hitting Tom Sorsby’s face mask on the goal line, with Tom Boon producing an unstoppable stroke to level proceedings.

Both teams won several more corners in the opening quarter but were unable to add to the scoreline, while in the final moments England raced forward on the break but Roper’s shot on the spin was saved by Vincent Vanasch.

Belgium enjoyed plenty of possession in the second quarter but it was England who came closest to scoring again in the 28th minute, Will Calnan unable to turn Jack Waller’s cross on target before Ansell fired a shot towards goal that Vanasch saved with his feet.

Having had to make a save just 30 seconds before the end of the half, Ollie Payne was then required to make another smart block in overtime to keep out another Belgian corner and ensured the score remained level at half-time.


Liam Ansell was also on target for the second time in as many games. Credit: World Sport Pics

England then made the perfect start to the second half, scoring after just 35 seconds as Wallace raced down the right hand side of the pitch before crossing the ball for Ansell to tap home his second goal of the tournament.

Roper and Sam Ward combined to produce an almost identical goal two minutes later, the latter’s effot skewing wide, before the reigning world champions turned up the pressure once more. Payne was required to make another smart save with his feet in the 36th minute before keeping out yet another corner with his pads shortly after.

Ill discipline crept into the game in the closing stages as Arthur de Sloover, Gauthier Boccard and Ward all received yellow cards, while Vanasch was on hand once again to deny Adam Dixon and James Gall looked for a third goal.

But as the minutes wore on, the Belgian press increased and England found themselves camped inside their own half. But the defence held solid, stopping everything the Belgians threw at them to pull off a massive victory.

After the game, Wallace said: “We contained them well. Belgium are a quality side, look at what they’ve done in the last couple of years. We had the tactics and fair play to everyone for going out and executing them.

“We’ve been working on staying concentrated to the end of games and to be fair to everyone we nailed it.”

England’s final group game against Spain is at 16:00 on Tuesday 8 June and will be live on BT Sport 1.

England 2 (1)

Wallace (4’, PS); Ansell (31’, FG)

Belgium 1 (1)

Boon (5’, PS)

Starting XI: Ames, Martin, Griffiths, Sloan, Roper, Dixon (C), Payne (GK), Ansell, Gall, Sanford, Wallace

Subs (Used): Ward, Creed, Goodfield, Waller, Sorsby, Calnan

Subs (Unused): Pinner (GK)

England Hockey Board Media release



Ledesma Nets On Debut As England Top Italy



England’s women emphatically surpassed Italy 4-0 in their opening EuroHockey Championships match.

Catherine Ledesma enjoyed a dream start to her international career with a goal on debut as Esme Burge, Fiona Crackles and Lizzie Neal also picked up their maiden England cap.

In an accomplished performance from Mark Hager’s side, goals from Sarah Evans, Jo Hunter and Ellie Rayer ensured England would take the three points in their first game of the competition.

England looked sharp from the start, Erica Sanders finding herself in bags of space inside the circle before unleashing a driven shot on the reverse just wide before Fiona Crackles won a penalty corner.

Italy's defence tightened up and chances were few and far between until the 13th minute, when Hollie Pearne-Webb fired a sumptuous ball into the circle that Evans controlled brilliantly before spinning a defender, rounding the goalkeeper and slotting home to give England the lead.

Halfway through the second quarter, Italy looked to have found an equaliser only for the goal to be chalked off on review, with the ball hitting a foot during the build-up.

It was to be a double blow for the Italians as Grace Balsdon’s pass found Hunter in the circle who turned well and ferociously arrowed the ball through the defender’s legs and into the backboard.

Two goals to the good and having dominated possession, England were looking solid going into half-time.



Immediately after the restart England were on the front foot again, producing several half-chances before a Grace Balsdon flick forced a good save from the Italian goalkeeper.

Having weathered the storm, the Italians then produced a chance of their own as Maddie Hinch was required to make a smart block from a corner before Rayer and Lily Owsley were then themselves denied.

After entering the field during the second-half, it didn’t take long for Ledesma to make her mark on the match when she profited from a loose ball in the circle and conjured a tidy finish in the 48th minute to bag a goal on debut.

Determined to continue their attacking play until the end, Balsdon fired a brilliant ball across goal into the path of Rayer to clinically sweep in her first England goal to ensure her team would take the three points in their opening EuroHockey Championships match.



"I was so amazed to score on my international debut! When I saw the ball had gone in the goal I think I was more shocked than anything," 22-year-old Ledesma said after the game.

"The team have been so nice and welcoming and celebrating with them all after I had scored was a special moment for me."

Mark Hager added: "I'm pleased to come away with the victory. There were lots of positive elements to our play today and I'm looking forward to adding to them in our second game against Germany."

England’s women are back in action on Monday 7 June against Germany at 16:00, the match will be shown live on BT Sport.

England 4 (2)

Evans (13’ FG), Hunter (25’ FG), Ledesma (48’ FG), Rayer (52’ FG)

Italy 0 (0)

Starting XI: Hinch (GK), Unsworth, Evans, Toman, Townsend, Rayer, Ansley, Pearne-Webb (C), Owsley, Balsdon, Petter

Subs (Used): Burge, Sanders, Neal, Hunter, Ledesma, Crackles

Subs (Unused): Heesh

England Hockey Board Media release



England men outwit world champions Belgium

By Rod Gilmour


Zach Wallace was a class apart against the world champions PIC: EHF / World Sport Pics

How to turn the tables. The current kings of hockey were toppled by dominant opponents who were a cut above in defence and on the counter as England men beat world champions Belgium for the first time in seven years on Sunday night at a sun-kissed Wagener Stadium.

Zach Wallace’s creativity, carry, transitional speed and license to attack proved the difference as the Surbiton man put in another memorable shift in an England and Great Britain shirt. He first scored from an early penalty stroke and then carved through the Red Lions kingdom to set up the winner for Liam Ansell and a first European Cup defeat for Shane McLeod’s side since the 2017 final.

“We contained them pretty well and they are a high quality side over the last few years,” said the outstanding Wallace. “We’ve been working on our counter attack, we committed to it well and we got a few outcomes.”

England’s 2-1 win puts them top of Pool A and needing only a point to qualify for the semi-finals ahead of their final game against Spain, which had been billed as a likely decider for the final four pre-tournament.

Although this win was unexpected, there were signs that the world No 1 side were not at full power after the Top League’s season-ending domestic campaign and a recent 4-0 Pro League defeat to Holland. Tapering ahead of the Olympics? Only time will tell.

Wallace had given England the lead in the fourth minute from a stroke, the Red Lions responding from the same result a minute later through Tom Boon. There were a speight of early penalty corners, while Ansell and Wallace were green carded in the first quarter, setting the tone for the match: five in total and three yellow cards late on, crucially two for an increasingly rattled Belgium, who were down to nine at one point.

Yet, with England holding a one goal advantage, Belgium were offered some respite when Sam Ward was also yellow carded in the circle with eight minutes left.

England survived the tide for those five minutes as Ward returned. Yet it wasn’t an easy watch as Danny Kerry’s side failed to maintain possession, turnover ball omnipresent as the world champions camped in England’s half until three seconds from time when a free hit was awarded in Ollie Payne’s circle.

“Later in the game, the chat and the communication goes when you are physically tired,” admitted Wallace afterwards. Little wonder that goalkeeper Payne, who put in another good shift, said afterwards that he was now “buzzing”.

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The Hockey Paper



England's women put four past Italy in opener as men win again

England's women opened their EuroHockey Championships campaign with a 4-0 victory over Italy in Pool B in the Netherlands.

The men's team later made it two wins from two with a tight 2-1 victory over world champions Belgium in Pool A.

England women will play their second pool match against Germany on Monday while the men face Spain next on Tuesday.

Qualification for the 2022 World Cup is on offer in the Netherlands.

Sarah Evans scored the opening goal for the women's team inside the first quarter, before Jo Hunter doubled the advantage.

Catherine de Ledesma added the third on her international debut, with Ellie Rayer sealing the rout late on.

In the men's game, Zach Wallace's early goal from a penalty stroke was cancelled out almost straight away as Tom Boom equalised for world number one Belgium.

Wallace then set up Liam Ansell to score from close range at the start of the second half and that sealed victory for England, who beat Russia 5-0 on Saturday in their opener.

BBC Sport



McLoughlin relishing Euro experience as big Scottish date nears


Hannah McLoughlin. COPYRIGHT WORLDSPORTPICS FRANK UIJLENBROEK

Hannah McLoughlin says while there is no way to be satisfied with a 4-0 loss, there was enough in the Irish performance against the Netherlands to carry into their vital group game against Scotland on Monday.

“We’re 18 extremely competitive people so none of us will walk away being 100% happy with that scoreline,” the defender said as her side looks to bounce back and get back in the frame for a semi-final spot.

“After the initial emotions go away and we look back, there’s an awful lot of positives to take. Couple that with working on a few things that we didn’t do quite how we wanted, I think it will be a really exciting tournament for us.”

For McLoughlin, a graduate of Avoca and Loreto Hockey Clubs, Saturday’s tie was a first senior international tournament appearance and the latest step in a meteoric rise to prominence.

Last September she was on the fringes of the panel but a star performance in the Irish Senior Cup pushed her claims and a good winter has seen her be ever-present in training camps ever since.

“As cliché as it sounds, it’s been surreal; it’s the only word for it,” McLoughlin said. “I don’t want this experience to pass me by. I am with an amazing group of friends, doing what I love and all 18 of us have worked extremely hard and all deserve to be here.

“The atmosphere was unbelievable. I have never played in front of a crowd that big and a home tournament for the Dutch – you have to hit the ground running!”

The difference in opponent is stark between day one and two; from meeting the world standard bearers, they now meet the world number 22 who are the lowest rated of the eight teams in Amsterdam this week.

That rating, though, is often a false perspective as the Scots can only pick up a miniscule amount of ranking points in Olympic cycles as the minor party in Great Britain’s Olympic line-up.

It also means little can be drawn from the Green Army’s 4-1 and 5-1 victories over the Scots in Belfast last month. Three GB players – Charlotte Watson, Sarah Robertson and Amy Costello – are back in the fold since then as is goalkeeper Amy Gibson who plies her trade professionally in Germany.

What Ireland have seen, though, is the Scots opening game, a 4-1 defeat to an impressive Spanish outfit.

For Ireland, the good news is Lizzie Holden did not sustain a concussion from the ball that hit her head in the game against the Dutch and she should be available to play a part.

And the top two in the four-team group remains the first goal.

“Scotland is definitely a game to target three points and we are confident we can come out of it,” McLoughlin concluded.

“If we look back on the Dutch game, take the things we did really well and tweak the others we didn’t do to the best of our ability, we will get those three points another three against Spain.”

Irish Hockey Association media release



‘We’re up for the challenge,’ says Scotland coach Jen Wilson

Scottish Hockey women 'are a team of teachers and students and the hours of preparation as opposed to other teams is off the scale,' says South African coach

By Rod Gilmour


Scotland showed resolve in opening defeat PIC: EHF / World Sport Pics

“We are not here to make up numbers, we are here on a journey and if we want to be competitive we know we have the ability to compete against them.” So said Jen Wilson, Scotland’s South African coach, after being asked her views on facing Europe’s elite following the Tartan Heart’s opening 4-1 defeat to Spain on Saturday.

Scotland women had played in a training game against Germany three days ahead of the EuroHockey Championships. It was the first time they had competed as a full squad since being promoted to the A Division in 2019.

For the lowest-ranked side, coupled with a squad which last played any meaningful hockey at the second tier Euro event in Glasgow, Scotland women showed plenty of grit and resolve in defeat to Spain on their return to Europe’s top flight.

“We are a team of teachers and students and the hours of preparation as opposed to other teams is off the scale,” said Wilson, who admitted to ‘disappointment’ at the opening scoreline.

“But we are here to make ourselves better and we make the most of that.

“We chose as a team to never make excuses about that, but to grab hold of that challenge. I know they have learnt a lot about themselves and we now need to turn them into positives. The grit and determination is in the team and it is building.”

The squad had only returned to the pitch in January, the pandemic forcing the part-timers on to Zoom for fitness and bonding sessions, unlike their fully-funded European counterparts.

They had even been without the services of their quartet of Great Britain players before meeting up in Amsterdam. However, Scotland were boosted by the return of Sarah Robertson and Amy Costello, who have played in recent FIH Pro League action in recent weeks, while Charlotte Watson is returning from injury, and Emily Dark is an emerging talent from GB’s development programme.

Dark had recently put aside her rising hockey career as she finished as top recruit and top shot in her bid to become an RAF reservist in April and one of the first females in the role.


Scotland coach Jen Wilson PIC: Jonathan Porter / Press Eye

Dark, who scored in the 4-1 defeat with a low PC strike, said: “All the girls have learnt really quickly on the camps. It was so nice to be back with a crowd and it was a huge difference from all the friendlies.

“Some people don’t think we are as good as we are. We may have lost a few goals but it turns us the other way. None of us give up and we have been super optimistic.”

Scotland play Ireland on Monday before a final Pool game against the fearsome Dutch on Wednesday. The match will be played out with the maximum 3,000 Oranje fans allowed into the stadium due to Covid restrictions and will mark one of the biggest matches in Scotland’s recent history.

With Scotland likely to be fighting out for the lower placings this week – unless they can win over Ireland and Holland – Wilson’s side will still have a chance of staying up in Europe’s top flight if they finish in the bottom two placings, with a qualifying event for the 2023 Championships installed to give lower-ranked nations the chance of promotion.

And Wilson knows that if the Scots can tighten up – they shipped three goals in five minutes against Spain – then they can cause some upsets.

She added: “The resolve from the players showed that you have to be tough with these moments. If you take the five minutes out then our goal was an equaliser.”

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The Hockey Paper



Indian hockey team strong Olympic medal contender: Tushar Khandekar

Olympics scheduled to open on July 23 in Tokyo


Khandekar believes the current squad has raised the level in every aspect. PTI file

The Indian men’s hockey team would be a strong medal contender in the Olympic Games thanks to the self-belief it has acquired over the past decade by raising its game against top teams, feels former forward Tushar Khandekar.

The Olympics is scheduled to open on July 23 in Tokyo.

“I feel the way the team (Indian Men’s Team) is doing right now; they are a strong contender to finish on the podium,” Tushar said on ‘Hockey Te Charcha’, a podcast series initiated by Hockey India ahead of the Games.

He said players understand what small mistakes can do in big-ticket events such as the Olympics. The Indian team has been in impressive form during its tours of Australia and Europe in the past few months.

“We have learnt from each of the Olympic Games. While we didn’t qualify in 2008, we finished 12th in London and 8th in Rio. We learnt from the mistakes we made in 2012,” he said.

“...players part of the London Olympics like Sreejesh, Manpreet, Sunil, Danish Mujtaba, Raghunath (and others) who also got to play in Rio had told themselves the team won’t make the same mistakes they made in London.

“Likewise, I am sure players who were part of the Rio Olympics will caution the team of the errors they need to avoid making in Tokyo.”

Khandekar, who was part of India’s support staff between 2014 to 2016 as the assistant coach, believes the current squad has raised the level in every aspect.

“I feel the current team has raised the level and they have developed a great sense of self belief that they can do well against top teams of the world.

“After a slump in 2008-09, it has taken us 10-11 years to climb to this level we are at now,” stated the former India forward who made his International debut in 2003.

The Tribune



Ex-Kenyan hockey player's body detained in hospital over bills

By  Agnes Makhandia


Former international hockey player Julius Odera. He died on May 31, 2021. Pool

The body of ex-international hockey player Julius Odera, who passed on last Monday, is being held at the Reale Eldoret Hospital due to non-payment of medical bill.

Odera, whose story was highlighted by Nation Sport on January 21 and May 2 respectively after undergoing tumor surgery on January 15, developed breathing problems on Sunday and was taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) before he died.

Odera's brother in-law, Alex Musungu said the family owes the hospital Sh3,267,121 as per June 3. The hospital's daily charge is Sh3,500.

Odera, who has been recuperating at the facility since the successful surgery on January 15, had been detained at the facilty after the family then failed to raise Sh4,240,176.

The family through the help of hockey fraternity, friends and well wishers had raised and paid Sh1,095,000, but it was not enough to release the deceased.

Musungu said the hospital management has scheduled a meeting with the family on Monday to discuss the way forward.

"We just hope we will reach a common ground. Earlier on the hospital had indicated that we had to clear the bill for us to access the body to conduct final rites, but now that they have given us an opportunity for a talk so there is a silver lining, but let's see what will come out of the meeting," said Musungu, who called on well-wishers to help them.

"The Mpesa paybill number is 303030 under account number 2043582472 and I urge people of good will to continue supporting us to clear the bill. The public has been channelling their support through the account and we remain grateful," noted Musungu.

Prior to his death, Odera was paralysed on one side of the body and had lost his vision. He underwent his first surgery in 2009 before the second one was conducted early this year.

Odera, who hailed from Nyahera in Kisumu County, has left behind three children (Weber Otieno, Nyerere Oduor and Joshua Odhiambo) and wife, Mophine.

Daily Nation

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