Following the 1-1 draw with Spain on Wednesday, the Irish hockey team narrowly missed out on a semi-final spot in the European Championships through having an inferior goal difference to the Spaniards.
The semi-final spot would’ve also ensured qualification to the 16-team World Cup in Amsterdam and Spain next summer.
Unfortunately for Sean Dancer’s side, they are yet to qualify but hope is not lost just yet.
In the European Championships, there’s still plenty to play for as group C offers an extra route towards World Cup qualification.
Ireland and Group C
Four teams make up the group with the team who finish top gaining qualification to the World Cup.
The third and fourth placed teams from the original groups are all now part of Group C – England, Ireland, Italy and Scotland.
As every team has already played another team in the group, those points are carried forward.
This leaves Ireland on three points, thanks to their victory over the Scots.
England are also on three points from their 4-0 defeat of Italy.
This leaves these two teams in good stead to vie for that coveted fifth-placed finish.
They face off against each other in a huge ‘six-pointer’ game on Friday morning at 10:30am.
The final Irish game against Italy is pencilled in for 15:30 on Saturday afternoon.
Both games are live on RTÉ Player and RTÉ News Now.
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