Hockey European Championships: The Irish men's side may have to face Russia this afternoon in their second match of the European Championships without their captain and first choice goalkeeper Nigel Henderson.
The Pembroke Wanderers player was knocked unconscious in Ireland's opening game against Spain after two minutes and took no further part in the match.
Video analysis subsequently showed that Henderson was struck on the forehead by the knee of Irish defender Errol Lutton as he came across to try and block Eduard Tubau as the Spanish striker charged in to score his team's opening goal.
Henderson is now under 24-hour medical supervision and will only play when cleared by a doctor. Unlike rugby, where there is a mandatory "time-out" following concussion, there are no rules in hockey governing how long a player must remain sidelined before making himself available for selection.
Russia come into the game having lost 3-0 to France in their first pool match and, as with Ireland, the entire complexion of the tournament could be governed by the result of this meeting. But the Russians have a tired look about them with 10 of their squad over 30, and Aydyn Murtuzov listed as being 40.
That aside, there will be a note of desperation about them before they face into a heavy run of games against Germany, Spain and Belgium. Ireland fully intend to meet them with an air of optimism stemming from their second-half performance against Spain.
"The squad are happy enough especially with the second-half performance," said manager Stephen Hiles.
"After the first 90 seconds where we lost the captain and conceded a goal, it was hard. But we won the second half 3-2 and we had more short corners than they had (6-5). We also felt that we played positive hockey."
Coach Riet Kuper and her women's side square up to Italy, who went down by eight goals to England in their opening match. In what was obviously a murderously one-sided game, Italy still earned eight short corners against the in-form side but were unable to convert any, several of their efforts failing due to sharp goalkeeping from Carolyn Reid.
But Kuper has targeted this match as one where three points is a realistic ambition. Italy tend to play a combination of short passing around the back and then look to pick out front runners when space becomes available. In the strike line they are sharp, with the Irish defence expected to face less constant pressure but frequent efforts to create one-on- one situations. If Italy can do that enough Ireland may be in trouble.
But there is confidence in the side and Ireland have strength running through the forwards, midfield and defence. Having been dispossessed too often against Wales through sloppy passing, they are certain to be mindful of holding the ball for longer periods, particularly in the midfield where captain Rachael Kohler holds sway in the central pivotal position.
Ireland are aware, too, that since the first European Championships in Lille in 1984, they have steadily slipped down the rankings. In Lille, Ireland finished fifth before dropping two places in the London championships of 1987 where the team finished seventh, while in Brussels in 1991 they were eighth. Four years later in Holland, Ireland were eighth again before slipping to 10th in Cologne in the 1999 event.
"We know that we have certain qualities as a team and that's what we want to show now," said Kuper. "I know there are quite a few young players there but they have lots of confidence and I think the experience of the World Cup will have them going in this tournament. I think they are ready for it."
