MEN'S HOCKEY: If any thing was to be learned from reports last week from the Champions Trophy in the Wagener Stadium, Amsterdam, it was that the top sides in the world are not shy at creating and scoring goals.

Johnny Watterson

In the Irish squad, which left for the European Championships in Spain yesterday, that should generate a mixed reaction. Traditionally Ireland have not been prolific in scoring but defensively the team is widely respected.

In Holland 18 matches were played and 125 goals were scored, or, just under seven a game. Of that total, 42 goals came from penalty corners and 74 from the play, the rest penalty strokes.

While the European Championships, in the absence of the free-running Pakistan and Argentina, will be more conservatively played, Ireland face in their pool matches two sides, Spain and Germany, that have a Champions Trophy scoring ability.

While neither Spain nor Germany competed at the Champions trophy event (Germany did but it was their B team, which will bear little resemblance to the team they take to Barcelona), it will be those two nations in Ireland's group that will be expected to set the pace at the top. Germany, according to world rankings in July, are the number one team in the world and Spain the 11th compared to Ireland's 16th.

That Ireland face the hosts in their opening match is also of some value depending how you look at it. Hit them when they are cold, despite temperatures reported at 40 degrees, or face a team in the opening match in front of a home crowd, which they will desperately want to impress.

Realistically, Ireland will lose their first match. The score line will be the most important issue. The same prediction holds for their third match against the Germans on Thursday, where defence will be everything against a physically more powerful, more technically proficient side.

In that light Ireland will optimistically target third place in the group in the hope of playing a cross-over match for fifth place. That could be critical in the light of the European Hockey Federation's likely decision to run the European Championships every two years from here on with an A and B streaming of teams.

So coach John Clarke's success or failure next week will be his ability to get results against 22nd-ranked Russia in the second match, which is now hugely important, 21st-ranked France in the fourth game and 15th-ranked Belgium in the final pool match.

For that to happen both strikers Justin Sherriff and Gordon Elliott must be fit. Sherriff's thumb was injured last week but appears to have cleared up, while Elliott twisted an ankle prior to travelling.

They are Ireland's top scorers, averaging about a goal every two matches. Paddy Browne, Stephen Butler and goalkeeper and captain Nigel Henderson will also be pivotal in organising the defence under what will be brutally hot conditions but a tournament Ireland should go into with some optimism.

IRELAND: N Henderson (capt.), W Bateman, P Browne, J Black, D Smyth, E Lutton, G Elliott, S Butler, K Burns, M Irwin, M Raphael, C Jackson, J Sherriff, G Shaw, D Hobbs, A Barbour, N Buttimer, J Jermyn. Coach, J Clarke. Manager, S Hiles.Physiotherapist, C Hickman.

IRELAND'S SCHEDULE: Monday 1st, Ireland v Spain. Wednesday 3rd, v Russia. Thursday 4th, v Germany. Saturday 6th, v France. Monday 8th, v Belgium.