WE’VE NO FEAR
Ireland’s Tice expects glory in semi-finals
IRELAND will be without fear as they continue a World Cup fairytale against Spain in today’s semi-final.
Ireland’s youngest player, 20-year-old Elena Tice stressed: ‘We try to go into every game without fear.
‘We are the underdog every time but we want to push on, become a top 10 team and expect to win,’ added Tice.
A penalty shoot-out success against India at London’s Lee Valley Hockey Centre saw Ireland reach the last four of the competition for the first time in the country’s history.
Ireland started the tournament as the secondlowest ranked country at 16th, while Spain were five places higher in 11th spot.
Spanish head coach, Adrian Lock is promising Ireland the fight of their lives, however, saying: ‘We have got better in our mindset and training and that’s what pays off in the big games.’
‘We are a step closer and we’re in with a shout.’
“I’m so happy and excited to still be in it”
THREE years ago, Megan Frazer was reeling from her lowest day in hockey after missing a crucial shoot-out effort to send Ireland to the Rio Olympics.
Two days ago, Frazer could only watch the joyous crowd reaction as Ireland defeated India in another nerve-jangling shoot-out to earn the right to face Spain today for a place in tomorrow’s Women’s World Cup final.
For one of Ireland’s greatest players, you might think that Frazer was shirking away from a key duty. Yet the 27-year-old, who plays for German club Mannheimer, had her reasons.
‘I hadn’t even practised one in two years. I was tempted to put my hand up so I didn’t know if it would be a regret, knowing the girls had practised them,’ said Frazer..
After 20 months out following three knee surgeries, Frazer was included in coach Graham Shaw’s World Cup squad back in June.
She didn’t feature in warm-up games against Japan, Chile and Italy. But Frazer’s return at the back end of those matches left coach Shaw in no doubt that she could play a part in London. After a tentative early tournament, Frazer was a midfield colossus against India — evading Indian sticks, robbing Indian possession and putting in crunching tackles.
Most notably, she had plenty of ball retention and Ireland now seem to have a welcome extra weapon ahead of any Spanish threats and the London heat.
‘It’s not the knee now; it’s my confidence [that’s coming back]. To come into the World Cup without any training, I am having to build it as I go along, using every game as a training session to get that touch back,’ she said.
‘From our results over the last few years and then with my injury and rehab, it is a dream come true to reach the final. Good things come to those who work hard and keep going.’
Confidence was further etched when Ali Meeke netted only her second goal in 110 international matches in the dramatic quarterfinal shoot-out win.
‘Four years ago, I was in the stand watching the girls play,’ she recalled. ‘’I had a couple of knockbacks along the way but this is the highlight of everything.’
Ireland’s record against Spain is daunting, the two nations have played 26 times since 2013, with only nine Irish victories.
The surprise semi-final will also be a clash of a bygone era; Ireland’s group of doctors, lawyers, teachers and engineers coming up against a Spanish collective featuring physios, industrial engineers and architects.
There also seems to be a bond between the two nations.
‘We’ve played them lots in the last few years. I’m so happy for them and happy to play them, they’ve got great coaches and I’m excited to still be in it,’ said Ireland coach Shaw.
But 20-year-old Man with a plan: Ireland coach Graham Shaw Elena Tice, Ireland’s youngest player, is ready to put any niceties aside today. ‘We try to go into every game without fear,’ she said. ‘We are the underdog every time but we want to push on, become a top-10 team and expect to win.’ The winner will play the might of Holland or Australia in the showpiece final, with Ireland hoping to conquer higher-ranked opponents for the fourth time. But world No 11 Spain will be no pushovers, according to Adrian Lock, their English coach. ‘We’ve grown together as a team since 2013. I always thought it was in the offing to get this far ‘We have got better in our mindset and training and that’s what pays off in the big games. We are a step closer and we’re in with a shout.’ Women’s World Cup Hockey semi-finaL: Ireland v Spain, London, start 2pm. TV: LIVE on RTÉ2 from 1.45pm.