World Cup Qualifiers
Ireland 2 (John Jermyn 2) Czech Republic 2 (Martin Babicky 2)
Ireland’s World Cup qualifiction hopes were left teetering on the brink as they blew a two-goal lead to draw with the Czech Republic 2-2 in Quilmes and, following Argentina's 2-2 draw with Belgium, will have to win by three goals on Saturday over the hosts to reach the final play-off.
In truth, it was a desperately disappointing result as Ireland led to 2-0 in a first half, John Jermyn scoring a penalty stroke and a penalty corner in 12th and 22nd minutes respectively, but a second penalty stroke was saved by the excellent Fillip Neusser (pictured, right) who denied a 3-0 lead.
Ireland responded positively, earning a corner while a couple of further efforts slipped wide. A single-goal lead is always a nervous one, though, and the Czechs crucially took the one chance that came their way with four minutes to go.
Vadmuska again made the circle penetration with Babicky again the man on target with a scramble at the back post to make it 2-2.
Ondrej Vudmaska was sin-binned for the final three minutes but Ireland were able to capitalise, leaving the Czechs to celebrate their first result of any kind against the Irish in five attempts - a remarkable turnaround from the 10-0 win the last time the side's met in 2007's Europeans.
Belgium's late comeback, though, means there is still a sliver of hope of making the final. Had the Argentines won, Ireland would have been left to rely on tournament bottom-feeders USA beating Belgium for any chance of progression to exist. But they scored twice in the last 13 minutes to reel in a 2-0 deficit and now Ireland can qualify on goal difference with a three-goal win.
Ireland: David Harte, John Jackson, Ronan Gormley (capt), Mikey Watt, Stephen Butler, John Jermyn, Eugene Magee, Peter Caruth, Geoff McCabe, Conor Harte, Tim Lewis
Subs: Graham Shaw, Mitch Darling, Alan Sothern, David Ames, Paul Gleghorne
Results: Ireland 2 (John Jermyn 2) Czech Republic 2 (Martin Babicky 2); Chile 2 USA 1; Belgium 2 Argentina 2
Standings: 1. Belgium 10pts (+15) 2. Argentina 10pts (+10) 3. Ireland 7pts (+5) 4. Czech Republic 4pts (-8) 5. Chile 3pts (-9) 6. USA 0pts (-13)
* Video courtesy of TazVideoSport. Photo courtesy of World Hockey.
35 comments:
Unacceptable, totally unacceptable.
u guys are always very quick to criticise!yes its not a great result but u have no right criticising these guys for giving 110% day in day out.each one works so hard to just get to these tournaments.try being in their shoes before u start being hard on them.
Lets give the Argie a beating lads!
Poor result but only what is expected from an average side.They will only ever compete in the Euro B division and friendly tournaments.It is time for a serious look at the structures of I H A and instead of sending senior teams all over the world on training exercises etc we plough this money into to grassroots hockey.
Poor result but only what is expected from an average side.They will only ever compete in the Euro B division and friendly tournaments.It is time for a serious look at the structures of I H A and instead of sending senior teams all over the world on training exercises etc we plough this money into to grassroots hockey.
In fairness, this is a side they beat 10-0 in 2006
effort levels mustn't be good enough if YET AGAIN the national team goes off and loses matches that they 1) should definitely win and 2) need a win to progress. this has happened before in pretty much most tournaments, the 10.03pm comment is spot on
Looking at the goals conceded v Belgium, serious question marks must be asked of all the defence. Unfortunately, we have not adequately replaced Lewers, Smyth, Brown and Black. The present defenders are only average, and against good teams are shown up, as they were v Belgium.
a 3-0 win sees qualification for the final,its never over til the fat lady sings
10.50 absolutely agree. We are going backwards instead of forwards. International hockey is about results. We are ploughing everything we have into the national programme and the results, BOTH men and women are poor. As for beating the Argies, so what, it means nothing now. Absolutely furious that once again we don't even fall at the last hurdle. Czech Rep, a team we inihilated 3 years ago. Serious questions need asked. BTW this crap about not getting behind them, it's hard when we see all that money taking away from grassroots etc and wasted again, ur sympathy sort of dries up.
Its a pity there is never any positive support from the irish hockey community! How are the team ever meant to win anything if there is only ever negative comments coming from everyone? This is pathetic and you should really look at yourself and ask yourself is this negative feedback doing anything for the team? Everyone speaking badly about the team should shut up and get behind the team, its a pity that there is no support for this young and emerging side. Good luck on saturday and i believe we can beat argentina and get the goal difference needed.
If ireland beat argentina by 3 goals they are through to the final! this is ridiculous, shut up with the negative comments, i have a feeling i know who is leaving this negativity aswel... always the same people...
Why not beat Argentina Six -Nil
too be sure too be sure
BE POSITIVE
come on Ireland .. you CAN do it lads! Good luck!
All people living on this island that follow Irish hockey would dearly love to see our sport develop and for our national team to appear in the Olympics. When the mens team went to Argentina, I am sure we ALL wished them well and wanted them to come back with qualification.
This is probably one of the most talented mens squad we have had in years.
NOW - do NOT read the next paragraph and see this simply as being another negative comment.
We are ploughing money WE DO NOT HAVE into the wrong areas of our sport. Whilst I appreciate we are attempting to be semi-professional in our approach, where on earth do we get off having a management team of 9 (YES, that's right NINE) people? That figure might need correction because these things change, but that is what the IHA state their management team is.
WASTING money that could and should be better used elsewhere. Our Senior teams are our flagship -no doubt at all - but we need to be REALISTIC about our expectations. Yes, we can aspire to play in the Olympics, but we need a serious cash investment in our game, and then WE NEED TO SPEND THE MONEY WISELY.
Regrettably, I have to say the Belgium result was a disappointment. It wasn't a disgrace, it wasn't a disaster. It was in my opinion, a disappointment. We should be closer to Belgium than 3-0. I expected a high scoring draw.
But I cannot sit here and say that that the Czech result is anything but poor - extremely poor. I am sure the players feel this more than most.
With the amount of money being thrown around at the minute, we are quite frankly in a results business - and there is no hiding from this result - IF indeed it puts a nail in the coffin of our qualification.
Let us all hope the boys beat Argentina by 3 clear goals. Regardless of the result, the IHA need a damn good look at themselves
Whoever thinks a 3 goal win will suffice would need to go to maths class. We need a minimum of 5 clear goals to go through on goals scored after goal difference!
9:11
Before you accuse others of maths difficulties maybe you should look at your own maths ability. Currently Arg are +10, Ire are +5. If Ire win by 3 goals then Ire go to +8 and Arg go to +7. Hope this clarifies it for you 9:11
Mr Maths
well said @ 8:34
I'll even put my name to that one
Just to clear up the sequence for qualifying for the final in the case of a tie on points, from the tournament rules and regulations:
If teams are equal on points at the end of the preliminary rounds, they will be ranked according the following criteria (in order):
Matches won
Goal difference
Goals for
Result between equal teams in preliminary round
Knowing the level of effort put in by this group of players it must be extremely difficult for them to come to the realisation that unless they are not at or cannot get to the level required to qualify for the high profile tournaments. The tournament format used in hockey competitions is what is consistently Ireland's undoing. In my own memory we always seem to falter with one poor result when we have had to play a number of matches in quick succession. The players need to be professional to compete at this level. (Nearly all other teams are in some way)
Should we not accept that until this can happen we have no reason to believe we can attain qualification for the major events like the world Cup and Olympics. Hockey is dying in Ieland and if it's to be resuccitated We must step back, invest in the youth and think about 6 years ahead.
The 5 goals conceded in the last 2 games were field goals and certainly the 3 goals against Belgium were poor defending and errors. The players in defence are not good enough. We have the ability to score 3 goals against Argentina, but I believe a poor defence will let us down. I hope I'm wrong.
I think 8.34 sums it up for all us. We were prepared to turn a blind eye to the misspending of money, the huge management teams etc if we thought we were getting success but we are NOT. To quote Rafa Benitez
More money thrown at this current group over the past 4 years than ever before - FACT
beat Czechs 10-0 three years ago - FACT
Relegated from A division last year - FACT
Didnt really get close in the last Olympic Qualifier - FACT
Failed to get to CC final in June - FACT
A mountain to climb in this one.
Can someone tell me where the succeses have been PLEASE
More money thrown at this current group over the past 4 years than ever before - FACT
beat Czechs 10-0 three years ago - FACT - ( In a match that meant nothing)
Relegated from A division last year - FACT (Promoted this year)
Didnt really get close in the last Olympic Qualifier - FACT ( Missed the final by one goal difference)
Failed to get to CC final in June - FACT ( Got to final and lost on strokes)
Sit down and get your facts right...you clearly dont have a clue so stop commenting...
You've certainly taken the Rafa route with your facts. 2 (at a push) out of 5 isn't bad.
- reached CC final, lost in extra-time
- lost out on goal difference in Olympic qualifier
- A division relegation in 2007, promotion in 2009 (nothing happened in 2008 aka last year)
- as an aside more money may have been spent but the IHA is not immune to cuts and had less of a build-up to this tournament than they would have liked to prepare properly.
I'm disappointed in how its panned out so far this week but some of the buffeting the team is taking so far is over the top. wait til Sunday for a full assessment of the big picture.
Best of luck to the lads over the weekend
12.34
Two out of five "facts" correct? smarten up pal...the lads did get close in NZ,they did reach the CC final in June and they werent relegated last year, they were promoted.Small minded comments from small minded people,which it seems the Irish hockey community is full of appareantly.GET BEHIND THE LADS AND STOPE BEING SO NEGATIVE
Here here 12.34. Those arent facts. How can the 10-0 win over czechs be 3 years ago, yet they got relegated from the same tournament in Manchester one year ago? They were close in NZ and they did make CC final in June so they arent facts at all!!
..note... Arge 1 - Czech 0 - it was bloodly close to a 1-1 result in the closing minutes.
Czechs played their 2nd keeper v Belguim and hence the massive goal tally..
I think you may be underestimating the Czechs and their monster of a keeper...
just a thought...
itd be nice if people could actually get behind a team and stay behind them instead of pounding on them as soon as they slip! come on the boys!
Its all well being positive but u have to be realistic as well! I mean u can't win matches if you can t defend!I have watched all the highlights of each day and not one of the goals we have conceded is down to pure class from the other team!
C'MON IRELAND!!!
Just reading through the comments there and its great to see that there are so many people willing to slate the Irish team from the cover of the blog...its bad form..its a great team, if not the best in a long time to wear the green...best defence in the country..ofcourse you lot are writing them off b4 the fat bird has sung..if you dont want to support them then f*** o**!!! Moss.
Great to see so much debate and support. Just shows people do care how the national team performs.
The goal difference is not insurmountable.
Two good performances would see us through.
Come on Ireland.
Typical comment from you queso, your negativity is a joke, in future wait till the end of a tournament before backing up a comment like that.
Queso the czechs are a good side and are underestimated, for world cup qualifiers and olympic qualifiers, the money put in is justified as these are the main competitions that we thrive to get to. Saying that the money should be put into youth is a joke, obviously most money should be put towards "flagship" teams...
Wouldnt putting money towards your youth help the 'flagship' team in the long run??
f**k the long run. come on ireland 3 goals isnt too bad. always plenty of goals in hockey
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