2018 Woman's World Cup (London)

First and foremost best of luck to the team today. They make you proud!

I am not a hockey person at all as my lack of knowledge will testify soon enough. Football is my sport. I do have thoughts I would like to share especially with those who know more about it than me.

I am intrigued by the hockey as there are similarities between the two codes. Watching Holland play England was quite interesting as the pressure from Holland was quite intense. They reminded me of Man City in that regard.

The shootout was not a direct shot and I was wondering why? Would it not be more exciting instead of the possibility of a score being questioned or a shot being questioned like Ireland's last penalty against India?

If the pitch was widened or lengthened would that not increase skill levels all round because lack of speed, dribbling skills and passing shots, just as examples, would have to be improved on as players would be more exposed to these skills? For example, I noticed the winger (?) in hockey gets few chances to skin a defender so with a wider and longer pitch this is much more possible. Would it not also give the opportunity for a central midfielder (?) to impose him or herself on a game ?

I have never seen a football coach or manager cry during an interview as the English manager did after the loss to Holland. That's something that you won't see in football.

Looking at the profile of the players is a bit like rugby and completely different from football. The present hockey team is strongly middle class. Is it the same by and large, as other international hockey teams? Do India, Holland, England etc have solicitors, students and doctors in its panel as much as Ireland.

Finally, that penalty goal by I don't know which Irish player was an absolute peach. It was cheeky and impudent. What a temperament to do that under that pressure. A bit of a Pirlo.

In any event. Here's hoping it rains on Spain's parade.

Look full of confidence.

That was a great quarter from then, it was all Ireland. A long way to go yet, let's hope they can get the result they want

Spain came back into a bit more that quarter but Ireland still look the better side overall.

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Not sure what the general conversion rate from penalty corners is but I’d guess they might have expected to score 1 out of the 3, or hoped to anyway. Otherwise all fairly positive so far I would think.

I was reading that Ireland failed to produce a single penalty corner against India so you can already see this is a huge step up in performance

Bit of a storm to be weathered here perhaps.

ShamoBuc wrote: »

Sloppy play leads to the goal, preventable!

Not just the goal itself, overall Irish play for the previous few minutes was loose and scrappy

Both teams going for it, looks like neither want a shoot out

One good sign is this is a much improved Irish quarter on Q3

washman3 wrote: »

where can I watch this.??

RTE2 and www.rte.ie/live

Nerve wracking!

This sport has a weird way of taking penalties.:eek: It's a wonder anyone ever scores if the goalie is any way competent...

A packie Bonnar moment for the Irish women's hockey team.

Amazing. One of the great Irish sporting achievements, delighted for them.