Germany’s women were the one side to formally advance to the final four of their respective EuroHockey U21 Championship Pool B groups while no men’s side has yet to stamp their ticket to the next phase.
It sets up a huge Wednesday with a full set of eight games on the agenda in which six semi-final spots are still up for grabs.
Today, the Germans defeated England 2-0 to take up their place in the next phase and take up a place in the Junior World Cup into the bargain.
Who will join them in the final four is very much up for grabs on Wednesday following the Irish women’s 2-0 win over Austria.
On the men’s side, it was draws all round as England tied 1-1 with Ireland and the Dutch succumbed to a huge comeback against hosts Spain to make it 3-3.
It means on Wednesday, the full deck of fixtures will be packed with intrigue. For the men, Germany take on Türkiye (09.45 CET) and Belgium face France (10.00 CET – live on EHTV) in Pool A with a wide range of permutations to determine the top two.
Pool B concludes in the evening with the Netherlands against Ireland at 17.45 CET and England against Spain at 18.00 CET (live on EHTV).
The women’s fixtures will see Pool B decided early in the day with the key game between Ireland and England at 12.15 CET (live on EHTV). Germany v Austria is on Pitch 2 at 12.00 CET.
Pool B concludes in the evening with the Netherlands against Ireland at 17.45 CET and England against Spain at 18.00 CET (live on EHTV). The Dutch are in the best position on four points with Ireland and Spain on two and England on one, needing a victory.
Women
Ireland got their first win of Pool B as a goal in each half gave them a 2-0 success against Austria. The Junior Green Army were denied an early lead when Lucy Mackey’s penalty stroke in the first quarter was brilliantly denied by Corina Stedronsky’s diving stick.
But the Irish captain made amends in the 27th minute when she powered home a sweep from the top of the circle from her side’s fourth penalty corner.
Their lead was strengthened in the third quarter with Leah O’Shea providing the fireworks. It came from a quick sideline ball from the left which was worked to Mikayla Power who slipped the ball under her arm.
O’Shea steadied herself and then unleashed a brilliant backhand shot into the top of the net. The win lifts Ireland to three points, ending the day level with England but behind on goal difference.
That is because of Germany’s 2-0 win over the English with two goals in a 90-second spell in the second quarter doing the damage.
The result is enough to send the Germans through to the semis and guarantee them a place at the next Junior World Cup into the bargain.
Germany were denied by the post early on from a corner while Molly Smith brilliantly denied Marie Fischer from another set piece with the ball eventually volleyed off the line.
Sofia Martin’s shot was the pick of England’s openings but the game was ultimately settled in the 18th and 19th minutes. First, Julia Schedl thumped home a corner with a low hit and then Lynn Krings spun and shot in the same move from the right of the circle, picking out the bottom left corner for 2-0.
Germany has the better of the second half with Smith impressing once again; England did have a run of four penalty corners down the closing stretch but they could not make the most of it.
For England, they now need a draw or a win against Ireland to assure they advance and, with it, get the bonus of a Junior World Cup spot.
Men
Ireland and England shared the spoils in the opening men’s game of the evening session with a hard-fought 1-1 draw. There was precious little between the sides throughout; England made the early moves but could only draw a couple of strong saves from Ben Whelan as defences were largely on top in a scoreless first half.
Rory Penrose did give the English the lead in the third quarter, punishing Ireland when they went down to 10 players for a spell. He fired in a penalty corner for the breakthrough.
Ireland replied and their aggression in attack was rewarded with a corner which Adam McKee whipped home in similar fashion to his equaliser against Spain in game one.
Matthew McKee’s interception and run on goal almost put his side in front moments later while England again drew the best from Whelan in the closing phases.
Game two of the evening saw Spain produce a famous comeback for the ages, coming back from 3-0 down at half-time against the Netherlands to draw 3-3.
The Dutch looked to be cruising in the first half Casper van der Veen struck a backhand shot into the right corner of the goal just a couple of minutes into the contest.
After a barrage of corners, Timo Boers cleverly moved to his left and pushed in the second goal into the backboard in the 19th minute. A sharp rebound soon after fell to Danilo Trieling to extend the lead with Spain – in front of a huge home crowd – staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat.
But they rallied perfectly in the second half. Most of the work was done in the third quarter when Pere Amat was credited with scrambling the ball over the line from a baseline pull-back in the 43rd minute.
Amat then got another when he was located all alone in the circle and he pumped home a shot, setting up a big last 15 minutes.
Again, the Spanish side were on top and Bruno Avila made the pressure count from a penalty corner with time running out for a famous draw.
It lifts them to second spot, just ahead of Ireland on goals scored. For the Netherlands, they lead with four points and a draw or better against Ireland will confirm their place in the semis. Spain know a win against England will also see them advance.
