Women's Hockey World Cup 2018: England will put on Sunday best for showdown, Ireland captain Katie Mullan fears

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Rod Gilmour27 July 2018

How England would love the freedom, energy and victories possessed by pool rivals’ Ireland.

The tournament underdogs, buoyed by fervent support, made history yesterday as they guaranteed a top-eight finish and winning the group with one match remaining.

That game is against England on Sunday evening, when the hosts will be desperate for their first win to ensure a play-off match before the last eight.

Part-timers Ireland have the luxury of a first quarter-final berth already stored, coming 16 years after their last World Cup appearance. Ireland captain Katie Mullan said: “Our belief is deep-rooted. We have been through some lows but we are an experienced group when it comes to international hockey.”

Mullan, a biomedical engineer, has led a group who are not supported financially. And just to highlight how far they have come, their most experienced player, Shirley McCay, is playing her first major tournament, given they have never qualified for the Olympics.

McCay retires after the World Cup to become a full-time hockey coach, and after defeating India 1-0 she sought out her future boss in the crowd to ask for time off before starting her new job.

Conversely, England players have been centrally funded since 2009, so it is no surprise that Mullan calls Sunday’s clash a “brilliant occasion”.

Should the unthinkable happen — England could also bow out if they lose while USA and India produce a scoring draw — nobody would begrudge Ireland their moment in the sun, a sell-out partisan crowd apart. “It’s fine margins for us and nothing in this tournament surprises me but I have no doubt that England will come out and apply themselves,” added Mullan. “Playing England in their home tournament, that’s why we play the sport.”

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England coach Danny Kerry says his 10 World Cup debutantes are learning with each game. “People learn most when the need for change is greatest,” said the Olympic-winning coach. “And it’s at its greatest when it really matters. When you go to a World Cup, if you don’t take your opportunity or give the ball away and the opposition score you learn. When you’re in training and the coach says ‘that’s not acceptable, that’s not good enough’, it doesn’t mean as much. The lessons our players are learning are invaluable.”

In attack, Sophie Bray has yet to show off her ability to cut defences apart but is confident of kick-starting England’s campaign. “We are well in it and we’ll be confident come Sunday,” she said.

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