As was the case with the Irish women's team in Cologne, it will be a torrid challenge for Ireland's men's hockey squad to achieve a reasonable ranking in the European Nations Cup in Padova, Italy. It will be virtually essential to win this morning's opening Pool A match against France to retain hope of emulating the fifth-place finish achieved in the 1995 championship in Dublin. Points can hardly be expected to be taken from the world and Olympic champions, Holland, tomorrow, while a first win in 50 years against England at senior level is the daunting assignment on Saturday. Possibly, though, if the French can be defeated, there will be sufficient momentum next week to push Russia or Poland down the table as well. Although Ireland beat France 32 and 4-0 in tune-up games in Abbeville last month, coach John Clarke is wary of taking too much heed of those results, especially as the French were missing several leading figures. Clarke will be depending on the six survivors from the 1995 squad - Ivan Bateman, Alan Dowd, Alistair Dunne, Robbie Taylor, David McAnulty and Julian Stevenson - to use their maturity to maximum effect.
At least heat will not be a handicap with a 9.30 a.m. start this morning, but midday matches later in the tournament may take their toll on Irish stamina. The only immediate concern is that the number two goalkeeper, Nigel Henderson, strained his back in a practice game against Spain on Monday, so it is hoped no misfortune befalls Bateman before his deputy recovers.
Ireland (squad) - I Bateman (Cork Harlequins), N Henderson (Pembroke Wanderers); J Black (Harlequins), P Brown (Instonians), S Butler (Glenanne), N Buttimer (Cork C of I), A Dowd (Lisnagarvey) capt, A Dunne (Cork C of I), G Goulet (Avoca), C Hanna (Cork C of I), C Jackson (Annadale), E Lutton (Newry Olympic), D McAnulty (Banbridge), M Raphael (Lisnagarvey), I Steen (Newry Olympic), J Ste- venson (Lisnagarvey), R Taylor (Lisnagarvey); L Tumilty (Banbridge); coach: J Clarke; assistant coach: S Filgas; manager: D Larmour.
Pool A: England, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Russia; Pool B: Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Wales.
Ireland's Programme (local times): Today: v France, 9.30; tomorrow: v Netherlands, 2.30; Saturday: v England, 12.0; next Monday: v Russia, 12.0; Tuesday: v Poland, 12.0.
1995 Championship (Dublin) - 1, Germany; 2, Netherlands; 3, England; 4, Belgium; 5, Ireland; 6, Poland; 7, Wales; 8, Spain; 9, Belarus; 10, Scotland; 11, Switzerland; 12, France. Irish placings in previous years: 1991 (Paris) 7th; Moscow (1987) 6th; Amsterdam (1983) 10th; Hannover (1978) 8th; Madrid (1974) 11th; Brussels (1970) 9th.
