Irish can beat Pool A rivals, says Clarke

IRELAND’S men’s hockey coach John Clarke watched France beat Russia on Monday and despite his own side’s 6-4 loss to Spain, he is quietly confident of being able to beat both Pool A rivals, with the Russians being first up on the agenda at Montjuich this afternoon.

Clarke is not given to making unnecessary or unrealistic predictions, but speaking it is obvious he fancies Ireland's chances.

The French were not particularly impressive in their 3-0 win over the Russians and it did not escape Clarke's attention that the losers missed a hatful of goal chances and generally gave the French a far more difficult game than the scoreline suggests.