Even with two matches still to play at the European Nations' Cup finals, the first today against Belgium, Irish coach Riet Kuper is already planning for the Olympic Qualifier in Milton Keynes next March and has asked the Irish Ladies Hockey Union to fund an intensive build-up, including matches against some of the world's strongest teams. Kuper wants to bring the squad to Barcelona for a 10-day training camp in January, where Britain and Germany will be based at the time, and has also requested funding for a two to three-week trip to a hockey stronghold such as Australia, the US, Argentina or South Africa, probably in February.

"That is the kind of preparation we need and these are the quality of teams we have to play if we are to make progress and if we are to have any hope of doing well at Milton Keynes," Kuper said.

The immediate priority is to finish ninth in Cologne so that Ireland will at least have a chance of securing a place at the 2001 World Cup Qualifier. Victory, then, against Belgium today and the winners of the France v Czech Republic match tomorrow is therefore essential. Meanwhile Germany and Holland have again won through to the final, if narrowly. Yesterday, Germany beat Russia on penalty strokes, after a 1-1 draw, while Holland needed a golden goal in extra time to overcome England.