Our photos of today’s action between England
and Belgium.
Photo 1. Matt Daly being congratulated for the first England goal.
Photo 2. Barry Middleton on the attack closely attended by Maxime Luyokx.
Photo 3. England celebrate the equaliser. Photos courtesy of Peter Luck.
Germany won the opening game on Day 2 of the Qatar Airways EuroHockey Nations Men’s Championship in Manchester at a canter beating the Czech Republic 5-0. The game would have been a complete annihilation of the Czechs but for a brilliant display by their 25 year old goalkeeper Filip Neusser who plays his hockey in the German League for the Gladbacher club. Two goals each from Ben Wess and Carlos Nevado and a goal from Christopher Zeller sealed the win in a fast and physical encounter. German captain Timo Wess said after the game: “It was a typical first match in a tournament, we are satisfied with three points and five goals. We can still improve on some areas and have not yet reached our peak.”
England scraped a precarious 2-2 draw in their opening match which had a feast of goalmouth action at both ends in the second half. Although the penalty corner count of 5-1 in England’s favour would suggest that they were comfortably in control, Belgium - and especially Charles Vandeweghe - were always dangerous on the break. Matt Daly fired England ahead in the 26th minute from their third penalty corner after Richard Mantell had shots which were comfortably saved by Cedric Degreve at the first two. Within five minutes a lack of concentration allowed Belgium to equalise through John-John Dohmen. James Tindall was on the ground with a foot injury but umpire Juan Manuel Requena from Spain allowed play to proceed and the England defence failed to deal with Gregory Gussacoff’s cross which fell to Dohmen. An exquisite exhibition of stick work in the crowded England circle preceded Charles Vandeweghe’s strike to put Belgium ahead ten minutes into the second half. From this point the action flew thick and fast. Jerome Truyens had the ball in the England goal only to see the Spanish umpire indicating a penalty corner. At the other end Simon Mantell had a good effort saved and Jonty Clarke shot wide with the goal invitingly open. A seventy yard run by Dohmen ended with the Belgium shooting wide. When he was suspended a few minutes later England were unable to take advantage but with three minutes remaining Daly’s free hit from deep in the left hand corner was turned in by Barry Middleton for the equaliser. “There’s still all to play for” said Jason Lee, England’s coach. England play the Czech Republic on Monday and Germany in what may be the Pool decider on Wednesday.
Ireland's men created the first major upset of the Championship when they drew 1-1 with Spain the defending European Champions in an entertaining third game of the day. The Spanish never recovered their composure following a second minute goal for the Irish scored by Loughborough Students Mark Gleghorne. It was not until 41 minutes later that Xavier Ribas equalised at a penalty corner. Spain's Dutch coach Maurits Hendriks said after the game: "We had a poor 1st half with very little penetration and although we played better after the interval we failed to take full advantage of seven penalty corners.
Further results and table will appear on this blog later today.
