Welcome to the Fieldhockey.com Archives

All the news for Sunday 13 June 2021

EuroHockey Championship 2021 Men - 13 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

8 Jun 2021     BEL v RUS (Pool A)   9 - 2
8 Jun 2021     FRA v GER (Pool B)   5 - 6
8 Jun 2021     ESP v ENG (Pool A   2 - 3
8 Jun 2021     NED v WAL (Pool B)   6 - 0

10 Jun 2021     RUS v FRA (Pool C)   5 - 6
10 Jun 2021     ESP v WAL (Pool C)   6 - 1
10 Jun 2021     ENG v GER (SF1)   2 - 3
10 Jun 2021     NED v BEL (SF2)   2 - 2 (SO 3 - 1)

11 Jun 2021     ESP v FRA (Pool C)     2 - 3 (Spain qualifies for the 2022 World Cup)
11 Jun 2021     WAL v RUS (Pool C)    3 - 3 (Wales and Russia are relegated)

12 Jun 2021     ENG v BEL (3rd/4th Place)   2 - 3
12 Jun 2021     GER v NED (Final)   2 - 2 (SO 1 - 4)

Final placings
(Bold qualifies for 2022 World Cup)

1. Netherlands
2. Germany
3. Belgium
4. England
5. Spain
6. France
7. Wales
8. Russia

Pool Standings

Pool A

Pool B

Pool C

FIH Match Centre

EuroHockey Championship 2021 Women - 13 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 IRL v SCO (Pool A) 1 - 0
7 Jun 2021 BEL v ITA (Pool B) 4 - 0
7 Jun 2021 ENG v GER (Pool B) 0 - 2
7 Jun 2021 ESP v NED (Pool A 1 - 7

9 Jun 2021 IRL v ESP (Pool A) 1 - 1
9 Jun 2021 GER v ITA (Pool B) 4 - 0
9 Jun 2021 BEL v ENG (Pool B) 1 - 1
9 Jun 2021 NED v SCO (Pool A) 10 - 0

11 Jun 2021 SCO v ITA (Pool C 3 - 1
11 Jun 2021 IRL v ENG (Pool C) 1 - 5
11 Jun 2021 NED v BEL (SF1) 3 - 1
11 Jun 2021 GER v ESP (SF2) 4 - 1

12 Jun 2021 IRL v ITA (Pool C) 3 - 0 (Italy is relegated)
12 Jun 2021 ENG v SCO (Pool C) 3 - 1 (England qualify for 2022 World Cup - Scotland is relegated)

13 Jun 2021 BEL v ESP (3rd/4th Place) 3 - 1
13 Jun 2021 12:30 NED v GER (Final)

Final Placings
(Bold qualifies for 2022 World Cup)

1. Netherlands or Germany
2. Germany or Netherlands
3. Begium
4. Spain
5. England
6. Ireland
7. Scotland
8. Italy

Pool Standings

Pool A

Pool B

Pool C

FIH Match Centre

Dutch delight home fans as they win EuroHockey title



Goals, shoot-outs and a passionate, knowledgable crowd roaring every piece of skill in the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen – the final day of action at the men’s EuroHockey Championship 2021 had it all. And for Head Coach Max Caldas and his Netherlands team, a winning performance in front of their fans was the perfect end to this EuroHockey adventure.

The Netherlands topped off an impressive 2021 EuroHockey Championship campaign with a scintillating display of attacking hockey as they beat Germany in a shoot out to take gold medal and seal their spot at the FIH Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup India 2023.

Germany will also qualify for the 2023 blue riband event, as will bronze medallists Belgium, fourth placed England and Spain, who finished in fifth position despite losing 3-2 to France in the final match of their campaign.

The win by Netherlands was just reward for an outstanding performance that saw them come back twice from being behind their German rivals during the match. The ensuing shoot out was as near perfect as possible, with Pirmin Blaak stopping two of the German attempts before Jorrit Croon scored the winner, giving Max Caldas a final victory on home turf before he leaves for Spain after the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

The largely Dutch crowd of 3,000 fans in the Amstelveen Stadium played their part in this extraordinary final. But even the German fans and neutrals will have been hugely appreciative of a showcase of hockey by two teams at the top of their game.

The highly competitive tournament featuring some of the top teams in the world has also given a heightened sense among the wider hockey community of a gathering momentum towards the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Certainly, the players left everything on the pitch as they embraced this opportunity to play competitive hockey in front of knowledgable fans.

In the final, the first half was played at breakneck speed, and with a surprisingly open and cavalier approach as the ball flew from one end of the pitch to the other. While the Netherlands shaded possession, it was Germany who created more opportunities and Dutch goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak was called on time and again to make some remarkable saves.

The deadlock was finally broken when a foul on Benedict Fürk resulted in a penalty stroke. Christopher Rühr showed no hesitation as he slotted the ball neatly past Blaak into the corner of the goal.

The second half saw Robbert Kemperman restore parity as he dived on a loose ball and turned it into the German goal. This was the only goal of a third quarter that was epitomised by high quality attacking play and even higher quality goalkeeping by both Blaak and Alexander Stadler in the German goal.

A match full of action exploded into drama in the final four minutes. Germany took the lead when Constantin Staib jabbed the ball over Pirmin. Caldas removed his ‘keeper to gain an on-field advantage and with 10 seconds left Jip Janssen shot home a penalty corner to send the game to shoot-out.

Speaking after the shoot-out, Player of the Match Blaak praised his team and said that while he was sitting on the bench in the final seconds of the match, he had every confidence his team could equalise and they could go on to win the shoot-out.

In the bronze medal match earlier in the day, Belgium defeated England by a 3-2 scoreline. The scoreline reflected the nature of the game. While competition was fierce and England were slightly on top in the early stages of the game, the world number two team looked stronger towards the final whistle.

Belgium took the lead through a penalty stroke, converted by Tom Boon, in the first quarter, and that goal separated the teams going into the half-time break.

England’s Sam Ward brought the scores level just after half-time, only to see Thomas Briels restore his team’s lead a few minutes later. Tom Boon scored his second of the match to make it 3-1 and although Ward struck again with a fabulous penalty corner strike to make it 3-2, Head Coach Danny Kerry’s men were unable to break down the experienced Belgium side as the time ticked down.

While the top five placed teams can now look forward to taking their places at the FIH Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup India 2023, there is a further opportunity to qualify for France, Wales and Russia.

These teams will join the teams that ranked 1-5 in the EuroHockey Championship II 2021 to contest the European World Cup Qualifying Tournament 2021. This event offers a further two places at the FIH Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup India 2023.

Final Standings

1. Netherlands
2. Germany
3. Belgium
4. England
5. Spain
6. France
7. Wales
8. Russia

Player of the Tournament

Pau Quemada (ESP)

Goalkeeper of the Tournament

Pirmin Blaak (NED)

Top scorers

Tom Boon (BEL), Sam Ward (ENG) - 6.

FIH site

The Netherlands lift the EuroHockey Championship Cup!

FINAL: Germany 2 (C Rühr, S Ctaib) Netherlands 2 (R Kemperman, J Janssen), Netherlands win shoot-out 4-1



The Netherlands dug as deep as they could possibly go to dig the men’s EuroHockey Championship title out of the fire, equalising with time gone dead and then prevailing with a perfect shoot-out.

Germany looked on course for a ninth title when Constantin Staib’s delightful finish put them ahead with just over four minutes to play. But, with just two seconds on the clock, Jip Janssen fired an equaliser before Jeroen Hertzberger, Thierry Brinkman, Robbert Kemperman and Thijs van Dam scored the all-important shoot-outs.

Goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak was named MVP of the final for his series of saves and later won the OMVS Goalkeeper of the Tournament.

“Just seconds on the clock and that goal from Jip Janssen! That gave us the energy to win the shoot-outs,” Blaak said afterwards, laughing it was the second time he had been off the pitch for a last second corner against the Germans.

In the group stages, it was because of a green card suspension; this time he was withdrawn as the Dutch went in search of a crucial equaliser.

“I watched the last corner from under a towel. This time, it was not on purpose that I was on the bench. We had the confidence he would score and it gave us the vitamins to have some serious fire in the shoot-out.”

Germany made most of the first half running and carried a 1-0 lead into half-time courtesy of Rühr’s penalty stroke in the 21st minute.

Indeed, but for some excellent Pirmin Blaak goalkeeping, it could have been more. His first big stop came from Timur Oruz’s first-time shot following a lovely move set in motion by Martin Zwicker. Their first two corners were blocked before the Dutch found some of their mojo.

This time, Alexander Stadler was assured to block Mirco Pruijser’s close range tip from a corner.

Benedikt Fürk’s thunderous shot was tipped over while Constantin Staib was the next to be brilliantly blocked by Blaak. Again, it was a lovely move with Tobias Hauke’s aerial pass unlocking Lukas Windfeder on the right flank.

The goal came when Zwicker – seemingly in perpetual motion around the pitch – picked up a corner rebound and flicked it goalward onto the body of Jorrit Croon. Rühr made no mistake with the stroke.

The Dutch came on much stronger in the second half, buoyed by a boisterous home crowd, and they got level in the 34th minute. Robbert Kemperman was the man to unlock the door, his quickly taken free-in saw him dance in between a couple of tackles and then whip across the face of goal where Lukas Windfeder was the unlucky defender to redirect the ball into his own goal.

Germany did pick up their fifth corner in a brief moment of respite but, otherwise, they were thankful to goalkeeper Stadler who made a couple of key blocks to keep it 1-1 going into the final quarter.

The German composure returned in the fourth quarter, Niklas Bosserhoff flashing a shot just wide. Jeroen Hertzberger was brilliantly blocked from a big chance but the crucial moment came when Rühr’s ball through the middle was miscontrolled.

Paul-Philipp Kaufmann got half a touch on it but Blaak looked in control until Staib appeared from nowhere to impudently punch the ball into the ground behind his back with enough on it to roll over the line.

But that was not the end to the drama as the Dutch won a corner with just two seconds showing on the stadium clock. After a video review, Janssen produced all his power to bust the net as the crowd exploded to celebrate 2-2 on the hooter.

And they carried that emotional high into the shoot-out where they could not miss while Blaak did enough to deny Rühr and Timm Herzbruch and carry the day, securing their sixth title and third as hosts.

“Some people have sent me messages saying don’t peak too early!” Blaak added of his personal performance. “I do what I can, train hard for the team and it was a nice team performance. You save some and you lose some, sometimes!”

In the post match presentations, England’s Sam Ward and Belgium’s Tom Boon were joint Auping top goalscorers with six goals each. The Netherlands’ Pirmin Blaak was named the OMVZ Goalkeeper of the Tournament.

The Deloitte best goal of the tournament went to Niklas Wellen for his semi-final effort against England. The Volvo Under-21 talent of the tournament was France’s Antonin Igau. And the Rabobank player of the tournament was Spain’s Pau Quemada!

Germany – Netherlands

21’ 1-0 Christopher Rühr (PS)
34’ 1-1 Robbert Kemperman (FG)
56’ 1-2 Constantin Staib (FG)
60’ 2-2 Jip Janssen (PC)

Umpires: F Vazquez (ESP), D Barstow (ENG)

Bronze medal match: England 2 (S Ward 2) Belgium 3 (T Boon 2, T Briels)

Belgium landed a men’s EuroHockey Championship medal for a third successive edition as they overturned their group stage defeat at the hands of England to win bronze at the Wagener Stadium.

Arthur van Doren was pleased to land the prize after the disappointment of missing out on the final and a chance to defend the title.

“It’s always good battles against England,” he said afterwards. “We were disappointed not to play the final but that is what happens in international hockey these days; good battles against top nations and we are happy to be standing here with a bronze medal. A hard-fought loss against the Dutch but I think there will be more to come this summer.

“We had a slow start to this tournament with a slow preparation and we felt that but it is about qualifying for the semi-finals and then playing well and we did that. We made positives, tactically and mentally and we have shown we are getting into our best shape and I feel confident about that.”

England started off at high intensity with Phil Roper’s pull back to David Goodfield going close while Roper drew the best of Vincent Vanasch with a stinging shot.

Belgium were slow to start but soon hit top gear with Ollie Payne tested on three occasions, standing up to challenge with assurance. He was, however, beaten by a penalty stroke from Tom Boon in the 12th minute when Sebastien Dockier was impeded by Jack Waller when through on goal.

Again, England showed endeavour and won a couple of corners before the break but could not through with Vanasch palming away Liam Ansell’s effort.

Early in the second half, David Condon’s trickery almost produced the equaliser but a corner did accrue which Sam Ward fired at goal and a deflection lifted it out of Vanasch’s clutches.

Belgium, though, found a new reserve of energy and they returned to the lead in brilliant fashion, a quick interchange down the left ending with Florent van Aubel shooting on the right of the D. Payne looked to have it covered but Thomas Briels got a nick on the ball to leave the keeper little time to adapt, 2-1.

Boon then looked to have made the game safe with eight minutes to go when his drag found its way home, his sixth goal of the competition.

But England responded instantly to keep the game alive with Ward joining Boon on six goals for the tournament with yet another corner flick.

Danny Kerry’s side pushed hard for an equaliser but Belgium held firm to land their fifth European medal, adding to the 2019 gold, silver in 2013 and 2017 and bronze in 2007.

England – Belgium (1-1)

12’ 0-1 Tom Boon (PS)
32’ 1-1 Sam Ward (PC)
42’ 1-2 Thomas Briels (FG)
52’ 1-3 Tom Boon (PC)
53’ 2-3 Sam Ward (PC)

Umpires: B Goentgen (GER), M Otten (NED)

Euro Hockey media release

Netherlands ace shootout to claim Men's Eurohockey Championships 2021

Netherlands came out on top of a thrilling final between two hockey heavyweights that went all the way to penalty shuttles

By Ken Browne


Netherlands ace shootout to claim Men's Eurohockey Championships 2021Picture by (c) Copyright 2021, dpa

Netherlands claimed the 2021 Men's Eurohockey Championships after a pulsating 4-1 shoot-out win over Germany following a 2-2 draw after regulation time on Saturday 12 June.

Germany were six seconds from victory, leading 2-1 at the end of the fourth quarter when a Jip Janssen penalty corner goal sent the local fans wild and the game into a shootout at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands.

Dutch 'keeper and Man of the Match Pirmin Blaak was outstanding throughout, holding off a first half German onslaught with a string of spectacular saves, before stopping Christopher Rühr's shootout effort and forcing misses from two others.

Germany started the match brighter and struck first through Rühr on '21 but Robbert Kempermann evened things up just after halftime.

Kempermann somehow managed to get his shot off as he crashed to the ground and the ball flicked off German player Martin Häner's stick to end up in the goal.

When Constantin Staib netted in the 34th minute it looked like Germany would go on to claim their 9th Eurohockey title and further extend their dominance on the competition.

But the Oranje never gave up and drew level six seconds from the end to send the game to a shootout.

Dutch resilience was a theme of this tournament as they won two and drew three matches on their way to lifting the trophy for the sixth time.

In the group stages the Oranje drew 2-2 with Germany in a carbon copy of the final, a full-time scoreline they also shared with defending champions Belgium in the semi-final.

A shootout win over Belgium in the semi-final and another over Germany in the final underlined the Netherlands' never-say-die attitude and they head to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a huge boost in confidence.

Dutch hero Blaak said it was hard to believe amidst the explosion of orange celebrations in the stadium, emphasising a team effort:

"Some people say just don't peak too early this season, but ya, I do what I can, train hard with the team and it was a nice team performance today. You save some and you lose some sometimes."

Substituted just before the goal, Blaak and the rest of the squad on the bench could hardly watch the penalty corner in the dying seconds:

"I watched from beneath a towel, this time it was not on purpose that I was on the bench but we had confidence that Jip Janssen was going to score and it gave us the fight, we were seriously fired-up in the shootout."

The final was a repeat of the Rio 2016 bronze medal match which Germany won as both teams now turn their attentions to Tokyo 2020 in just a few weeks time.

Argentina are defending Olympic champions after they claimed their first ever men's hockey gold medals in Rio five years ago.

The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and GB will be among those aiming to stop the South Americans from defending their title this time around.

Olympic Channel

The Netherlands beat Germany in shootout to regain Men's EuroHockey Championship title

By Liam Morgan


The Netherlands beat Germany to secure their sixth EuroHockey Championship title ©Getty Images

The Netherlands have regained the men's EuroHockey Championship title after beating Germany in a shootout in the final in Amstelveen.

Jip Janssen's goal seconds from the end of regulation time drew the hosts level at 2-2 after a dramatic game at Wagener Stadium.

The Dutch then emerged comfortable 4-1 winners from the shootout to earn their sixth EuroHockey Championship crown.

The Netherlands, who last won the continental title on home soil in 2017, twice fell behind before recovering in front of a partisan 3,000-strong crowd.

Christopher Rühr scored a penalty stroke to give Germany, chasing their first EuroHockey Championship gold medal since 2013, the lead after 21 minutes.

Robbert Kemperman equalised for the Dutch early in the second half before Constantin Staib looked to have won it for Germany with four minutes to go.

Janssen sent the crowd into raptures when he arrowed a penalty corner into the net to ensure the title would be decided in a shootout.


A tense final finished 2-2 after regulation time ©Getty Images

The Netherlands goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak proved the hero as he stopped two German efforts before Jorrit Croon converted the winning stroke.

Reigning world and European champions Belgium ended a disappointing tournament on a high by defeating England 3-2 in the bronze medal match.

Belgium took the lead through Tom Boon's penalty stroke before Sam Ward levelled for England.

Thomas Briels restored Belgium's advantage and Boon added his second of the match to give his side a two-goal cushion.

Ward matched Boon by scoring again to make it 3-2 but it proved to be a consolation as Belgium held on.

The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, England and Spain have qualified for the 2023 Men's World Cup in India after finishing in the top five at the event.

The hosts and Germany are due to contest the women's final tomorrow.

Inside the Games

Dutch pip Germany in dramatic Euro Hockey Final

S2H Team



The Netherlands gave Germany a taste of their own medicine before winning their sixth EuroHockey Championship men’s title in front of their own rapturous fans at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen on Saturday.

Jip Janssen equalized from a penalty corner with only nine seconds remaining to level the scores 2-2 and take the final into a shootout where goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak, tactically withdrawn in the final minutes, put in yet another excellent performance.

The Dutch won the shootout 4-1 to deny their arch-rivals a ninth title and the first in eight years.

In the pool match, The Netherlands led 2-0 with two minutes to go but Germany made an astounding comeback to score twice and draw the match. Blaak watched from over the sidelines in that encounter too, but from the sin bin after serving a green card suspension.

Christopher Ruhr shot Germany ahead from a penalty stroke with 21 minutes gone but the hosts restored parity through Robert Kemperman early in the second half.

Germany regained the lead with three minutes remaining with a spectacular goal by Constantin Staib who fooled Blaak with a back-handed jab between his legs.

Then came the last frenetic minute that saw a referral by the Dutch for a penalty stroke turned down and a penalty corner awarded instead.

Janssen provided the magical touch with a drag flick to find the net off Alex Stadler’s pads and give the hosts an even chance for the title.

Blaak , who called his action “stupid” in the pool match, returned to excel under the bar in the tiebreaker.

Defending champions Belgium, beaten in the shootout by the hosts on Friday, got the better of England 3-2 to take third place.

The Dutch and German women meet in the women’s final on Sunday.

Final Standings

Netherlands
2. Germany
3. Belgium
4. England
5. Spain
6. France
7. Wales
8. Russia

Player of the Tournament
Pau Quemada (Spain)

Goalkeeper of the Tournament
Pirmin Blaak (The Netherlands )

Top scorers
Tom Boon (BEL), Sam Ward (ENG) – 6

Stick2Hockey.com

Netherlands men lift title to break Germany hearts and resolve

By Rod Gilmour


Holland won their fifth Euro title PIC: KNHB

The Hockey Paper's Editor. First covered international hockey at the 2010 Commonwealth Games - no better than a full house watching India play England - and has reported for the Daily Telegraph and other major newspapers ever since. Co-founded THP in 2016.

Holland had no time, quite literally, for Germany’s steely resolve for a second match at this enthralling EuroHockey Championships as, amid a febrile atmosphere generated by the maximum 3,000 Oranje support to end a golden battle royale, Max Caldas’ side turned the fortunes and broke their continental rivals’ rollercoaster tournament in quite dramatic style to win a third European Cup in four editions.

A moment of dazzling skill through his legs from Constantin Staib had, for all the world, looked set to hand Germany their first title in eight years. Yet this EuroHockey has conjured some wondrous moments over the last 10 days and when the hosts were given one last-gasp penalty corner with nine seconds left, the final chapter of the men’s event had yet to be etched.

After first being turned down a penalty stroke request, Jip Janssen stepped up to send a calf high flick off Alex Stadler’s pads and into the net on the hooter to spark euphoric scenes at the Wagener Stadium.

The late leveller – 2-2 after 60 minutes – galvanised the Dutch as Pirmin Blaak then held firm for the second shoot-out in a row to see off two German attempts before Thijs van Dam raised the roof in Amsterdam to seal a 4-1 shoot-out win.

Blaak was exceptional in the Dutch goal, while Christopher Ruhr stood out once again as he ran the German lines during a frenetic and expressive final of unerring quality.

This final will be remembered for the last five minutes and the shoot-out which followed, so for the record Ruhr had given Germany the lead via a penalty stroke in the 21st minute following a blistering first quarter before Robert Kemperman levelled for the hosts.


Germany and Netherlands in action PIC: EHF/Worldsportpics

The Germans had pressed Holland for circle entries all game and after more midfield marshalling from Ruhr, the Dutch defence was tested to the hilt as Staib found himself with back to goal inside the D. Running towards the baseline away from Blaak’s net, in a split second he had put Germany three minutes from the title with a backstick jab between his legs and beyond Blaak.

The Dutch stopper was then hauled off a minute later but Staib’s creative magic had seemingly left Germany in Euro heaven.

But, with nine seconds left, the Dutch won a corner with Germany unable to review. Jeroen Hertzberger called a review for a possible stroke but when the corner stood, Janssen stepped up with aplomb.

After watching the action through his towel, Blaak, who had called himself ‘super stupid’ after a moment of madness in the Pool stages, came back and turned the Wagener golden for the Dutch. Simply brilliant.

Final Standings

1. Netherlands
2. Germany
3. Belgium
4. England
5. Spain
6. France
7. Wales
8. Russia

Player of the Tournament
Pau Quemada (ESP)

Goalkeeper of the Tournament
Pirmin Blaak (NED)

Top scorers
Tom Boon (BEL), Sam Ward (ENG) – 6

SIGN UP for The Hockey Paper’s returning newsletter: Promotions, exclusives and our best coverage

The Hockey Paper

England’s Men Denied Bronze; Women Defeat Scotland



England’s men were denied a bronze medal with defeat to Belgium as the women’s team defeated Scotland in their final match of the EuroHockey Championships.

It was a phenomenal effort from England’s men when they met Belgium in the bronze medal match, and though Sam Ward recorded a brilliant brace, it wasn’t to be enough as they fell to a 3-2 defeat in what had been a close encounter throughout.

In the final match with involvement from the Home Nations, England’s women earned a battling 3-1 victory over Scotland to secure World Cup qualification.


England's men put in a gutsy display but were ultimately defeated by Belgium in the EuroHockey Championships bronze medal match. Credit: World Sport Pics

Having received the blow of a narrow semi-final defeat to Germany in their previous match, England’s men were looking to leave the competition with silverware when they met Belgium in the bronze medal match.

However, after falling behind to Tom Boon’s opening quarter penalty stroke, the team found themselves chasing the game in the second-half, despite matching Belgium for large parts of the first 30 minutes.

Sam Ward ensured that pressure wouldn’t go without reward as he rifled the ball into the top corner from a well-executed penalty corner routine to level the scores just two minutes into the second-half.

The equilibrium didn’t last long as both sides enjoyed a flurry of chances, but it was Belgium who were first to profit as Thomas Briels got a wicked late deflection on the ball to take it past Ollie Payne in goal.

Belgium made England pay for failing to convert more of their litany of chances as Boon bagged his second of the game, this one coming from a penalty corner as the team added to their lead.

Ward bit back just a minute later with another successful drag flick as he found the top corner with pin-point precision to bring the scores back to 3-2 and tee up a nail-biting finish.

Despite the English pressure in the dying minutes, Belgium clung on to ensure they would be victorious and take home the bronze medal.


Lily Owsley's brace & another from Izzy Petter earned England a 3-1 victory over Scotland. Credit: World Sport Pics

Later in the day, England’s women met Scotland in the final match with involvement from the Home Nations as the former sought World Cup qualification whilst the latter aimed to finish the tournament with a win.

England got off to the perfect start as Izzy Petter displayed excellent close stick control to work her way into a central position in the circle from which she delivered a clinical finish to open the scoring with less than five minutes on the clock.

Scotland found a way back into the game, McKenzie Bell’s brilliant effort in the final minute of the first-half levelling things up. It wasn’t level for long as Lily Owsley pounced on a loose ball following a penalty corner to ensure England would have the lead going into the break.

Elizabeth Wilson picked up her first international cap as Scotland put up a resilient performance and kept the scores close throughout.

However, when Owsley bagged her second of the match with another smart finish, the goal ended Scottish hopes of a comeback as England secured a 3-1 victory as the competition came to a close for both teams.

The result means that England finish top of Pool C and confirm World Cup qualification.


Scotland put in a battling performance and kept it close throughout. Credit: World Sport Pics

Great Britain Hockey media release

England's Women Secure World Cup Spot With Victory Over Scotland



England’s women sealed their place at the 2022 Women’s Hockey World Cup by beating Scotland to finish top of Pool C at the 2021 EuroHockey Championships.

Lily Owsley scored twice and Izzy Petter also struck for Mark Hager’s side as they closed out the tournament with a second win in a row.

McKenzie Bell had given England a scare by equalising shortly before half-time as Scotland showed plenty of promise but ultimately England’s experience shone through.

There was also reason to celebrate for Laura Unsworth too as she made her 150th international appearance for England.


Izzy Petter gave England the perfect start, scoring in the third minute. Credit: World Sport Pics

England began where they left off against Ireland, racing into a lead in just the third minute as Petter scored her first goal of the tournament after great skill along the left baseline from Lily Owsley.

Catherine Ledesma then forced Amy Gibson into a save in the fifth minute before Scotland grew into the game, winning corners either side of half-time but seeing both blocked by firstly Petter and then Unsworth.

Fiona Crackles produced another mazy run before cutting the ball back into a dangerous area only for Nicki Cochrane kicked clear before Scotland equalised with a delightful goal, Bell deflecting Amy Costello’s brilliant pass beyond Maddie Hinch.

The response from England was immediate though as they won a corner moments after the restart, with Owsley finding a neat finish after the initial effort was blocked to give her team the lead at half-time.

Gibson was back in action in the second half to block corners from Giselle Ansley and Anna Toman while also closing down Ledesma when the young forward found herself in space in the circle.

Owsley was then on hand to turn home her second goal of the game three minutes before the end of the third quarter, turning the into the goal after playing a one-two with Ellie Rayer.

England had two further chances to score in the final quarter but couldn’t find another, with a diving Rayer just missing a cross from Jo Hunter before Esme Burge’s shot was saved by Cochrane.


Laura Unsworth made her 150th international appearance for England. Credit: World Sport Pics

Unsworth – who was named Player Of The Match – said after the game: “I think we always knew it was going to be a tight affair. They certainly came out fighting. We knew it wasn’t going to be free-flowing hockey and they tested us at times.

“I think we’ve had ups and downs at this tournament but if we go away and look at it we’ve had three wins, one draw and a loss. We’re disappointed in reflection on the Germany game – we didn’t come out fighting and ultimately that result probably cost us getting into the semi-finals.

“But we’ve taken a lot of good learnings and now we’ve got another really big tournament coming up with GB so we’re really excited about the summer ahead.

England 3 (2)

Petter (3’, FG); Owsley (30’, PC; 42’, FG)

Scotland 1 (1)

Bell (29’, FG)

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 (GK)

England Hockey Board Media release

Scotland lose close match to England at EuroHockey Championships



Scotland women lost 3-1 to England in their last match of the EuroHockey Championships in Amsterdam. McKenzie Bell was Scotland’s scorer, with an excellent goal, but it was England who took the victory in a close match.

The match gave a debut to 21 year old Ellie Wilson who replaced Laura Swanson in Scotland’s line up.

The contest got off to a quick start and Isabel Petter scored an early goal for England after some good work down the left. The ball found its way to Petter who forced it home at the second attempt.

Despite the early strike it was a very even opening quarter with the contest evenly matched all over the pitch.

Scotland’s first real opportunity came through a penalty corner in the second quarter, won after some lovely stick work by McKenzie Bell. Robyn Collins struck the penalty corner but it was charged down and blocked.

Then Scotland got a deserved equaliser, and a lovely goal it was too. Amy Costello fired the ball at pace into the D and McKenzie Bell sent a lovely deflection into the net for 1-1.

The score wasn’t even for long when England retook the lead. Lily Owsley scored a rebound at a penalty corner to make it 2-1.

Scotland continued to look threatening in the second half as the Tartan Hearts went looking for a second equaliser. It would be England, however, who would find the net next when Owsley scored her second from close range

Scotland still battled hard and took off Nikki Cochrane to play with eleven outfield players for the last few minutes. There would be no further goals and the Scots lost their final match despite a good performance.

Head Coach Jen Wilson said, “It was an incredible performance, we’ve talked about getting stronger and stronger with each game we play and we showed that today. We pushed England all the way. We had great performances all over the pitch, and it was pleasing to see Ellie Wilson come in at such a late stage and play outstanding on her debut.

“We’ve finished above our ranking, which shows we’re on the right track, and I’m super proud of the players. With the resource and time we’ve had together it shouldn’t be a level playing field, but we made it a level playing field. The players know there’s moment where we can be better, but the more we play against the top teams the more we’ll progress.”

Scottish Hockey Union media release

O’Flanagan double sees Ireland finish Euros on a high


Ireland celebrate Anna O'Flanagan's 1-0 goal. WORLDSPORTPICS COPYRIGHT FRANK UIJLENBROEK

Anna O’Flanagan’s double earned Ireland a Ireland a closing win to secure sixth place at the women’s EuroHockey Championships in Amsterdam, ending a rollercoaster week on a high.

Ultimately, the main targets of World Cup qualification and a first European semi-final proved out of reach with “goals scored” denying both those outcomes in the group stages.

In that context, O’Flanagan – Ireland’s record goalscorer with 83 to her name now – reflected on a mixed bag of two wins, a draw and two losses.

“This European competition, the margins are so small,” she said after the win over Italy. “You are one goal away from a semi-final and then you are playing the Olympic champions for fifth; it’s crazy.

“It’s an amazing tournament to play in but also an extremely difficult one, the most difficult you will play in. We did some good things, some not so good so it is a big learning curve.

“A few things didn’t go our way for sure. Tournament hockey is a rollercoaster and we certainly had more downs than ups.

“We need to look at the fine details, improve on some small things and if we do that we can do some damage.”

O’Flanagan struck in the second and third quarters to set up the win before Ards woman Zara Malseed netted her first international goal in just her second full cap, giving an upbeat finish to a bruising tournament.

Megan Frazer and Naomi Carroll were both rested for this one, joining Chloe Watkins in the stands with Muckross’s Sarah McAuley coming into the side for her first formal cap.

And Róisín Upton departed in the third quarter with a head injury to leave Ireland working off a shortened rotation.

With Italy adopting a catenaccio system, the first quarter was a maze of patience as the Green Army attempted to unlock a packed defence. Other than O’Flanagan’s pot-shot, it passed by relatively serenely but the tempo ratcheted up a notch in the second quarter.

Ireland ran up a quartet of penalty corners while Malseed showed her key strengths, shooting on sight early from half-chances to test Sofia Monserrat’s padding.

And the goal arrived in the 27th minute when Upton drove forward from the back. Her cross popped up dangerously off a defensive stick but O’Flanagan did not stick around to wait for a whistle, clubbing the ball baseball style into the goal.

It enticed Italy out of their shell to some extent in the third quarter, winning their first penalty corner but Ayeisha McFerran was up to the task, knocking away her Kampong club mate Chiara Tiddi’s attempted drag-flick.

The extra breathing room came in the 42nd minute when Sarah Hawkshaw used her pace to out-strip her marker on the right baseline and she laid on the perfect pass for O’Flanagan to sweep in her second of the day.

Malseed extended the lead with an expert tip-in, guiding in her first international goal from Katie Mullan’s intercept and cross. They duly closed out the tie comfortably with McFerran never looking unduly troubled.

“We’ve been disappointed so far so it was really important for us as a team to play well but also to win and score some nice goals,” O’Flanagan concluded. “So nice to finish on a high; it’s always been a big summer for us and it nice to get a bit of confidence going forward.”

Women’s EuroHockey Championships, Pool C
Ireland 3 (A O’Flanagan 2, Z Malseed) Italy 0

Ireland: A McFerran, Z Malseed, R Upton, N Evans, K Mullan, S McCay, L Tice, H McLoughlin, L Holden, S Hawkshaw, A O’Flanagan
Subs: M Carey, N Daly, H Matthews, D Duke, S McAuley, L Murphy

Italy: S Montserrat, T Dalla Vittoria, I Sarnari, A Oviedo, A Moroni, S Maldonado, P De Biase, C Tiddi, S Puglisi, S Laurito, L Oviedo
Subs: E Munitis, A Ayala, F Carta, E di Mauro, C Aguirre, L Fernandez, L Caruso

Umpires: I Makar (CRO), A Bogolyubova (RUS)

Irish Hockey Association media release

Irish hockey team finish Euros with big win over Italy

Anna O’Flanagan scored twice as Ireland finished a tough week on a high.


Nikki Evans celebrates an Ireland goal. Image: Frank Uijlenbroek

IRELAND FINISHED THEIR EuroHockey Championship campaign with a flourish as Anna O’Flanagan’s double underpinned a strong 3-0 victory over Italy.

The record goalscorer struck in the second and third quarters to set up the win before Ards woman Zara Malseed netted her first international goal in just her second full cap, giving an upbeat finish to a bruising tournament.

Megan Frazer and Naomi Carroll were both rested for this one, joining Chloe Watkins in the stands with Muckross’s Sarah McAuley coming into the side for her first formal cap.

And Róisín Upton departed in the third quarter with a head injury to leave Ireland working off a shortened rotation.

With Italy adopting a catenaccio system, the first quarter was a maze of patience as the Green Army attempted to unlock a packed defence. Other than O’Flanagan’s pot-shot, it passed by relatively serenely but the tempo ratcheted up a notch in the second quarter.


Anna O'Flanagan is congratulated. Source: Frank Uijlenbroek

Ireland ran up a quartet of penalty corners while Malseed showed her key strengths, shooting on sight early from half-chances to test Sofia Monserrat’s padding.

And the goal arrived in the 27th minute when Upton drove forward from the back. Her cross popped up dangerously off a defensive stick but O’Flanagan did not stick around to wait for a whistle, clubbing the ball baseball style into the goal.

It enticed Italy out of their shell to some extent in the third quarter, winning their first penalty corner but Ayeisha McFerran was up to the task, knocking away her Kampong club mate Chiara Tiddi’s attempted drag-flick.

The extra breathing room came in the 42nd minute when Sarah Hawkshaw used her pace to out-strip her marker on the right baseline and she laid on the perfect pass for O’Flanagan to sweep in her second of the day.

Malseed extended the lead with an expert tip-in, guiding in her first international goal from Katie Mullan’s intercept and cross. They duly closed out the tie comfortably to finish sixth overall.

It left the Green Army with two wins, a draw and two defeats from the competition but it was ultimately a frustrating week the key targets of a maiden semi-final and a World Cup ticket proving elusive due to “goals scored” in the group stages.

Ireland 3 (A O’Flanagan 2, Z Malseed)
Italy 0

Ireland: A McFerran, Z Malseed, R Upton, N Evans, K Mullan, S McCay, L Tice, H McLoughlin, L Holden, S Hawkshaw, A O’Flanagan

Subs: M Carey, N Daly, H Matthews, D Duke, S McAuley, L Murphy

Italy: S Montserrat, T Dalla Vittoria, I Sarnari, A Oviedo, A Moroni, S Maldonado, P De Biase, C Tiddi, S Puglisi, S Laurito, L Oviedo

Subs: E Munitis, A Ayala, F Carta, E di Mauro, C Aguirre, L Fernandez, L Caruso

Umpires: I Makar (CRO), A Bogolyubova (RUS)

The 42

Ramandeep Singh: “I believe I have returned to my old form.”



Bengaluru: Indian forward Ramandeep Singh feels that he is back to form after recovering from injuries twice in the past.

“I think 2016 and 2017 for me was really good, I was in good form and was doing really well but the knee injury during Champions Trophy in 2018 was a big setback. It took me about six-seven months to recover and just when I had begun playing, I had an ankle injury. But mid 2019 onwards I have been doing well and I believe I have returned to my old form,” stated Ramandeep.

The strong Olympic prospect is also of the opinion that to gain the right momentum in Tokyo, the beginning is important.

“A lot will depend on how we fair in the first match. A good result against New Zealand will set the right momentum for the rest of the tournament,” he said.

The Indian Men’s Team are grouped in Pool A along with reigning Olympic Champions Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Spain and hosts Japan. At the ongoing National Coaching Camp for the Olympic Core Group, the Coaching Staff is replicating an atmosphere of international competition in SAI, Bengaluru where they are playing internal matches as part of the team selection process.

“We are currently replicating the Olympic Schedule, three teams with different combinations from within the Olympic Core Group has been formed and the Coaching Staff has created an atmosphere that is similar to what it would be like at the Olympics. We wear the Indian kit, we get ready as though we are facing a tough international opponent, we do team activation (pre-match drills) just like we would before an international game and we also line-up for the national anthem before the start of the match,” explained Ramandeep who was part of the Olympic Games Rio 2016.

He further stated that there is a lot of excitement within the Olympic Core Group as the team selection trials is underway. “Of course, there is a lot of excitement within the group, and this exercise of replicating the Olympic schedule is also a good way to test our bodies with two back-to-back games and then a day’s rest. We are paying attention on recovery when we have back-to-back matches and so on.

Though we missed out on traveling for international matches due to the pandemic, I feel this exercise of playing internal matches is really bringing out the match-mentality to the fore,” he said.

He was also part of the Indian team that played in Europe but unfortunately, he suffered a cut on his hand that forced him out of the tour after the first game against Germany where India won 6-1. “I also ended up missing the Argentina Tour due to this minor injury, I was rested for about 15-20 days. But now I feel I am in good nick.,” he concluded.

Stick2Hockey.com

David Faulkner awarded MBE for services to sport



Congratulations to former Great Britain and England international David Faulkner, who has been awarded an MBE for services to sport.

David has made a huge contribution on and off the pitch across a number of sports, including his first love hockey.

On the pitch he was part of the historic men’s GB team that won Olympic gold in Seoul in 1988, as well as helping England to World Cup silver two years earlier.

He then found a new career helping develop sports as an administrator, taking a key role as England Hockey’s Performance Director from 2005 to 2012, culminating in third and fourth placed finishes for GB’s women and men at the London Olympics.

He has since played a huge part in the growth of women’s football in England with a key role at the Football Association. He is also president of Havant Hockey Club.

Congratulations go to him for a stellar career both on and off the pitch.

Great Britain Hockey media release

A decade without Dar

Ijaz Chaudhry


Pakistan playing against Australia during the 1960 Rome Olympics

A decade has passed since the demise of Munir Dar, a member of Pakistan’s first-ever Olympic gold medal-winning hockey team, of 1960. Widely acknowledged as the finest right full-back to represent Pakistan, Munir left for his heavenly abode on June 1, 2011.

I was in Holland with the Dar Hockey Academy the day he died. As the name suggests, the academy was a brainchild of Munir Dar. The Dar Hockey Academy was about to play the opening match of its 2011 European tour when the sad news arrived. The academy officials wanted to cancel the match but Munir’s son — Taqueer, who was also Dar Hockey Academy’s president — advised from Pakistan to fulfill the commitment. Observing a minute’s silence in the memory of the departed legend before the match, the academy team then went on to play the game wearing black armbands.

Munir Dar lived a remarkable, rather enviable life. Born in 1936 in Amritsar, the young Munir moved to Lahore in 1947. In his new home, he discovered the hockey stick, which started his life-long love affair.

Blessed with a strong, athletic physique, Munir displayed all the attributes of a solid defender at the right full-back position. Moreover, he was a wonderful striker of penalty corners. All this meant he was soon on the radar of the national selectors. The 19-year-old Munir earned a spot in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

At Melbourne, Pakistan won their first Olympic medal in any discipline — silver. Young Munir’s display in the final was memorable, and there was no looking back for him after that.

Munir created a sensation at the 1958 Asian Games held in Tokyo, Japan. He was instrumental in Pakistan’s 8-0 victory against South Korea, who had just made headlines by restricting India, the undisputed king of hockey at that time, to a 2-1 victory against them. Despite being the stronger side, India could only beat Korea by a single goal. In Pakistan’s match, he successfully converted as many as five successive penalty corners — a feat never achieved in international hockey before and only equalled since then.

Munir Dar, who passed away 10 years ago, was not just one of Pakistan’s most legendary hockey players. His legacy to the country’s hockey is still very much alive and his influence extended to many other sports

In the tournament, Munir scored eight goals on penalty corners, but his five against Korea made all the difference. The hockey tournament of the 1958 Asiad was played on a single league basis. The Pakistan-India match ended scoreless and the two sides finished with equal points. But Pakistan won the gold on goal difference, largely due to their big win against the Koreans.

Two years later, Munir again figured in Pakistan’s winning gold in the Rome Olympics, ending India’s 32-year hegemony. He remained Pakistan’s first choice until his retirement after the 1966 Asian Games, when he had the honour of captaining the national side.

In three Olympic appearances, he garnered one gold and two silvers. In as many appearances in the Asian Games, Munir’s medal cabinet had two golds and one silver.

Before his exit from the international scene, Munir had already groomed his younger brother, Tanvir Dar, as his successor. Tanvir, also a right full-back, was a member of the 1968 Olympic gold medal-winning team. He also reigned supreme at the inaugural World Cup in 1971, where he was the tournament’s top scorer, with eight goals for the victorious Pakistan side.



The Dar success story continued and Munir’s eldest son Taqueer completed the unique family treble when he figured in the Pakistan team which, in 1984, won the country’s third and, to-date, last Olympic gold medal.

His second son Taseer was a stand-by for those Olympics. It was only dirty politics that Taseer couldn’t don the green shirt, because experts rated his penalty corner strike more powerful and accurate than any of the other Dars. All this had a disheartening impact on the youngest son Tafseer, who had also been showing great promise, to the extent that he decided to say goodbye to hockey and turned his attention to cricket. Tafseer Dar played first-class cricket for quite some time.

Munir also coached Pakistan’s senior and junior national sides in the 1970s and ’80s.

But hockey was only one part of Munir Dar’s multi-faceted personality. He had an eye for horses and owned several race horses. His stable won many races at the Lahore Race Club.

Dar Sahib was also the founding president of the Pakistan Karate Federation and also served in the executive committee of the Pakistan Rugby Federation. A police officer by profession, he was the chairman of the Police Sports Board from 1985 to 1995. His tenure is remembered as the golden decade of police sports. The policemen won laurels not only at the national level but also made Pakistan proud at the Asian and world level.

At the 1990 Asian games, 400-metres hurdler and policeman Ghulam Abbas won the athletics gold for Pakistan after 16 years — no Pakistani has won since. Bodybuilders Yahya Butt and Mansoor Butt, also from the police service, won the Mr Asia title. The Pakistan volleyball team too had a great run from the late 1980s to the mid-’90s, remaining a potent force at the Asian level. Many policemen regularly won selection in the national volleyball line-ups during that period. Dar was also instrumental in raising the Asian-style kabaddi team of the Police. Again, quite a few members of the police squad represented Pakistan’s national squads, which won medals at the Asiads.

Blessed with an excellent memory, Dar was also a reservoir of stories from the sports world. Sports-lovers like me would spend hours in his company and never felt bored as he came out with interesting and informative tales from so many sports disciplines.

Coming back to his discipline of hockey, under Munir Dar’s direct supervision, the Police team won the national championships in 1993 for only the second time; the first was way back in 1960, when Munir himself was a member of the team.

The year 1994 saw Pakistan hockey’s last hurrah on the global stage. The Green Shirts won the World Cup after 12 years and the Champions Trophy after 14 years. The Police team provided five players in the national outfits for the two tournaments, which was more than any other department’s contribution.

Munir Dar was an institution in himself. Bold and vocal, he never hesitated in calling a spade a spade and was much feared by the incompetent and failed sports administrators of the country, who often had to face his wrath.

Hockey remained his first love throughout. He was greatly depressed to witness the continuous decline of Pakistan hockey. On Munir’s suggestion, his son Taqueer established the Dar Hockey Academy, in late 2006, to nurture young talent. Within a few years, the academy became the greatest reservoir of hockey talent in the country, with its boys regularly featured in all the Pakistani national sides, in the senior as well as junior teams.

The 19-year-old Munir Dar had debuted for Pakistan in 1956. Sixty-five years on, his legacy continues in the shape of Pakistan’s finest hockey nursery. Whenever a Dar Academy boy dons the coveted green shirt, Munir must be smiling down at him from up there.

Dawn