Thu 24 May, 2012
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Euros: England carry British hopes  x12
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September 1, 2003 
The Telegraph
> Page Views 7454
By Claire Middleton in Barcelona
The road to Athens starts here, today, in a city with countless Olympic memories. Barcelona were magnificent hosts of the 1992 Games and they are reprising that role by staging the European Nations Cup, in which the winners earn direct passage to next year's Greek extravaganza.
England's men and women are the standard-bearers for Great Britain, for this is another competition where the home countries compete separately. Joining them are the Scots and Irish of both sexes, plus the Welsh women.
The English men, who are trying to arrest a worrying decline, have a habit of coming a cropper against lesser opposition. It will be as nerve-racking when they tackle Poland, Italy, Scotland and Switzerland as when they take on Holland, the Olympic gold medallists in Sydney.
The women, on the other hand, are expected to give holders Holland a run for their money. Seeded second here, England have been on the rise and their fifth place at the World Cup last year was partly secured by a 7-2 thrashing of Germany, who are in their pool. The rematch will be key.
The men have had some encouraging results in the build-up, beating Holland and world champions Germany, but their tournament form has been poor and they narrowly avoided the wooden spoon at the Champions' Challenge in July. They open their campaign against Italy tomorrow.
Wales's women have improved since being walloped in three Tests by England earlier this year, while Sarah Thomas and goalkeeper Michelle Thomas will hope to play well enough to force their way into Great Britain contention.
Today's contests include Ireland's women versus Wales, England's women against Italy and the men's contest between Ireland and Spain.
Details
EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP (Barcelona, Sept 1-13).- Men, Pool A: Germany, Spain, Belgium, Russia, Ireland, France. Pool B: Holland, England, Poland, Scotland, Switzerland, Italy. Women, Pool A: Holland, Spain, Scotland, Russia, Azerbaijan, France. Pool B: England, Germany, Ukraine, Ireland, Italy, Wales.
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Comments on this article
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a scott
09-01-2003 1:23 pm
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claires usual rubbish
yet again another ill informed article by claire
there are a large number of scotts in the training squads for the GB squads and since the final squad has not been cut yet speculation is dangerous.
With a population of 10x scotland one would expect a majorty english squad in the GB. In fact scotland has the best strikers in both men and women, so article should read scots strikers might salvage GB hopes??
Given the fact that one GB player (a scott) is choosing to play for holland since he recons that the GB men are not going to get anywhere, it says alot about the english mainstay.....
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IJF
09-02-2003 3:33 am
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Article
A.Scott,
I think you might have got the wrong end of the stick. I don't think that she is saying that England is the best of the home nation teams, that England have the best players or anything else like that.
What she is highlighting is that BRITAIN'S hopes of getting to Athens rest with England. England are the nominated qualification team for Britain, so if Scotland win in Barcelona it does not help Britain qualify for Athens. The only way GB can achieve qualification for Athens is for England to win.
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An Englishman
09-02-2003 4:33 am
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Scot
I think you have misread the article as your comment certainly has no relevance. Claire is writing about the fact that if England qualify through this competition GB go to the olympics they are therefore standard bearers in that respect she also states that the Irish, scottish and welsh teams will be there - nothing about GB squad make up at all.
Read the article again post an apology and I am sure we can all forgive your ignorance, the heavy chip on your shoulder and the bitterness in your heart!
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another scot
09-02-2003 4:51 am
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a scott
This article is right. Scotland cannot qualify GB for the olympics as one of the home nations is named as the country responsible for qualifying GB for the olympics. This country is England. So if england win the european, which is unlikely then gb will qualify for athens and if scotland win, which is very unlikely then gb will not qualify for the olympics. Therefore like it or not England carry the british hopes.
maybe learning to read and actually having an understanding for hockey would help before you make such unwarranted comments. There have been many instances where complaints are warranted but stupid comments do not help.
ps one of the main problems with the scottish mens team is scoring.
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Stephen
09-02-2003 10:32 am
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Isn't it sad that the hopes of GB lay with England when they could only manage a pathetic 2-2 draw against the Cornetto Italians - what a joke
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Mick
09-02-2003 6:19 pm
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A Scott
Oh dear where have you been, certainly not watching any significant international hockey recently. I can't comment on the mens side of things because I don't watch enough of it, but if you think the scottish women have the best strikers in Britain then you need to get to Barcelona very quickly and watch England's Bennett, King, Grant, Smith & co, these ladies are awesome goalscoring forwards of the highest class. Sure Simpson has scored consitently at the top level over a long and successful career, but Clement, Judge & Bunnce are still learning their trade and please don't tell me Gilmour is international standard...because shes not!
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Another Scott
09-02-2003 9:03 pm
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with more sense than pride
Stephen-how can you joke about England losing to Italy after losing to Poland...I agree that it is a poor performance on England's part, but I suppose it could be argued that Itlay is something of an unknown quality among emerging nations. I know Poland are a decent side, but it just seems ridiculous to snigger at someone who gained a point when we gained nothing.
As for the debate about England carrying British hopes for olympic qualification-I'm glad they are, because the other home nations would struggle to get us there, and the GB side offers a rare opportunity for Scots to compete in a team that's any good.
It's just silly when we try to compare ourselves with England-yes, we have a small player base and several other disadvantages, but it is the sporting body as a whole which is all wrong in Scotland-and the first thing we need to do is to have a look at the sporting structure of our neighbours in order for us to progress. OK, English hockey is not in a fantastic state at the moment, but it's a total joke in Scotland, and it is laughable when we get some braveheart enthusiast trying to tell us we're better than England. We accuse the the English of being arogant but this shows that we are not only equally arogant but bloody ignorant too! Have a little sense and modesty, please!
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Stephen
09-03-2003 2:49 am
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Scot
England didn't lose to Italy, they drew 2-2 but the issue is with so much hype about the England team and our supposed GB qualification resting with them isn't it a pity that they were so complacent and seemed to have taken the field with the self belief that it was a forgone conclusion that they'd win. Look at the Irish side and how well they did against the host nation Spain. I'm not sniggering at anyone, far from it, I want to see England do well as I do the other home countries but surely pride plays a part.
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Laugh out loud
09-05-2003 4:25 am
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A Scott
I hope that comment was not from Ally Scott of Western Hockey Club!
You should know better than to be so thick! Especially with Western players involved in GB selection!
I forgot that the 1st team players at Western don't speak to the rest of your club!
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JOHN
09-07-2003 12:51 am
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SCOTS 2 ENGLAND 1
HOW LOW HAVE WE SUNK IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS.
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scot
09-07-2003 2:27 pm
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BOOOOOOOYAAA!! WAHOOOOO SCOTLAND 2 ENGLAND???
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Scot #1
09-07-2003 4:25 pm
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Scots 2 England 1
No, how much more focused and disciplined have Scotland become in the last 12 months actually. What a difference. Well done boyzzzz!
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