ALISTAIR CRAGG faces one of the most important assignments of his career when defending his European indoor 3,000m title in Birmingham this afternoon (3.40pm).

THE Spaniards tried to put down a marker but Alistair Cragg responded by throwing down the gauntlet in the semi-finals of the 5,000m at the European championships in Gothenburg last night where the Irish experienced a mixture of drama and heartbreak, as well as the promise of medal success.