Ireland's World Cup dream ends with Germany defeat

Ireland's faint hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the Hockey World Cup were ended after a 3-0 defeat to Germany at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen.

Following defeats to the Netherlands and Chile, Sean Dancer’s side knew only a win over the world number four side – nine places ahead of Ireland in the rankings – would give the team in green any chance of progression, but it wasn’t to be.

Nike Lorenz’s strike meant it was 1-0 to Germany at the interval, with Charlotte Stapenhorst and Sonja Zimmermann from a penalty corner rounding off the scoring.

The Germans finish second in Pool A behind the Netherlands, with Ireland bottom of the standings after that ignominious defeat to Chile on Tuesday. They will now play their next fixture on Sunday in a classification match, for the 9–16th place quarter-finals, with the opponent to be confirmed on Friday.

Roisin Upton vows @IreWomenHockey will regroup for the 9–16th place quarter-finals at the Hockey World Cup after the final pool defeat to Germany #RTESport #HWC2022 Recap: https://t.co/8bS6YIpa9o pic.twitter.com/uN9fpeps51

The match began in a lively manner, Katie Mullan’s strong running caused Germany plenty of discomfort and a lovely slip pass through from Deirdre Duke gave her a strong shooting opportunity.

She cracked goalwards but Nathalie Kubalski calmly batted it away.

Germany, meanwhile, were working the ball through their star turn Lorenz who pulled the strings for Elisa Gräve to first a dangerous shot which Ayeisha McFerran blocked.

Lorenz again was the creator for Stapenhorst’s sharp chance, McFerran again getting a crucial pad on it.

And the world number four side took the lead in the 23rd minute from a clever switch to the left where Lorenz was on hand to flick