Mad young dogs and Englishmen out in the mid-day sun could do no favours for Ireland in the European Under-21 Nations Cup (A Division) in Madrid yesterday writes Dermot Ashmore. England slumped to a 6-0 trouncing by Holland, who duly gained their accustomed berth in the semi-finals, after there had been a mild threat of the Irish side getting there instead on goal difference if the Dutch were to lose.
While Ireland completed their pool B programme with a 3-1 victory over France, the Charlie Henderson-inspired 3-3 draw with Holland turned out to be in vain and, in retrospect, the lethargic 2-1 defeat by England in the opening game was costly.
There is still a junior world cup place to be won as well as staying in the top strata in Europe by finishing fifth here.
Scotland should be beaten comfortably in the first crossover match tomorrow, but then France (again) or Italy will not be conquered easily on Saturday unless the Irish side shows its true capabilities.
Ireland (v France): C Henderson; A Chambers, K Burns, P Smith; S Butler (Capt); M Harte, M Black, C Brady; J Quigley, J Sherriff, D Hobbs. Substitutes: D Eakins, C Bailey.
Swimming: Banned Chinese swimming star Wu Yanyan said she would sue the China Swimming Association (CSA) over her four-year ban for doping and hinted she could expose doping practices among Chinese swimmers, press reports said yesterday.
"This is a totally unfair punishment, tomorrow I'm going to find a lawyer and will go to court to sue the China Swimming Association," Wu was quoted by the Jianghui Morning Post as saying.
Wu, world record holder in the women's 200 metres individual medley, was officially banned by the CSA late on Monday after testing positive for an anabolic steroid at China's Olympic trials in May.
Wu has denied using any banned substances.
In the interview, the 22-year old swimmer suggested she might blow the whistle on alleged organised doping amongst Chinese national swimmers. "I have proof. . . I have a lot of materials, I have just started, bigger things will come," she said.
Tennis: US captain John McEnroe has still to make a final decision on whether to make a comeback against Spain in this weekend's Davis Cup semi-final.
In the injury-enforced absence of Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, McEnroe sprang a surprise by naming himself as part of a four-man teeam for the tie in Santander.
