Ireland bid to defy odds again

Ireland will be hoping to add another chapter to their remarkable underdog story when they meet hockey powerhouse the Netherlands in today’s Unibet EuroHockey Championships semi-finals in London (1.15pm).

The 14th-ranked Green Machine are fast becoming a bogey side for the world’s top teams, having beaten higher-ranked Pakistan and Malaysia en route to fifth place at World League 3 in June before dumping world number four Belgium out of the Euros on Tuesday.

The convoluted road to Rio for hockey means a first Olympic games since 1908 remains a real possibility, pending the outcomes of two other continental championships. Meanwhile, the 2-2 pool stage draw with Belgium — following a 4-3 win over France and a fighting 2-0 loss to Olympic champions Germany — saw Ireland make the last four of the European championships for the first time.