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England and Wales’ draw on the opening day of Group A was hailed as a great result for the Welsh but it leaves both teams needing a big final push after they lost in the second round of games.

With a single Olympic qualifying spot on offer in Antwerp, missing out on the semi-finals would mark the start of a worrying wait for the European teams.

Great Britain, represented here by its individual members England Wales and Scotland, does not even get a guaranteed place in Tokyo next year, despite being the reigning Olympic champions.

England’s defeat to World Champs and hosts Belgium means they need a win against Spain to stand a chance of a semi-final place, one that would be in jeopardy if Wales sprung a win on Belgium, who have already qualified.

The situation in Pool B is similar, with Ireland knowing that they stand a great chance of making the semi-finals if they can cause an upset against Germany. Scotland need to get a big win over the Netherlands and hope that goal difference might allow them to sneak through at the expense of Germany and Ireland.

The bottom two teams from each group will play in Pool C, with the bottom two sides from that pool being relegated to EuroHockey Championships II.

Image source, Â鶹ԼÅÄ Sport

Image source, Â鶹ԼÅÄ Sport

Image source, Getty Images

The EuroHockey Championships take place every two years with men's and women's tournaments which involve the eight best teams from around the continent.

This year’s contest is being held in Antwerp, Belgium and the men's edition includes England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland as they aim not only to win the coveted title but also to secure automatic qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

While the champions will be on their way to Japan, the bottom two teams will suffer relegation to the EuroHockey Championship II, and will be replaced by the top two teams from that tournament for the 2021 edition.

England are the only one of the home nations to have won the men's tournament, doing so in the Netherlands in 2009, but Ireland finished third in 2015, beating England 4-2 in the third-place playoff. Wales and Scotland both earned promotion from EuroHockey II in 2017. Germany are the most successful side in EuroHockey history, with eight men's titles since the competition began in 1970.

The eight teams are divided into two pools of four, who will compete in a round robin before the top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals. The bottom two teams in each group will drop into Pool C, where they will play off to avoid relegation.

Image source, Getty Images

England have named five players who have never been involved in the EuroHockey Championships before, including Surbiton’s 19-year-old Zach Wallace.

The youthful look of the side will be offset by the return of the experienced Ashley Jackson, who hasn’t played in a major tournament for England since the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Danny Kerry’s men will be looking to reach at least the semi-finals of the contest for the sixth consecutive time.

Read more and see the full squad here.

The Â鶹ԼÅÄ will have live coverage of all of the home nations’ matches in both the men’s and women’s competitions, as well as the semi-finals and finals.

All of the matches will be available to watch on the Â鶹ԼÅÄ Sport website and app as well via the Â鶹ԼÅÄ iPlayer, where you can also watch the matches back on catch-up.

Click here for the full schedule for both the men’s and women’s matches – below is the list of England men’s matches you can watch on the Â鶹ԼÅÄ.

Tuesday 20 August

12:20-14:00 – Spain v England, Â鶹ԼÅÄ Sport website and app & Connected TV

Thursday 22 August

16:50-18:30 - 1st Pool A v 2nd Pool B, Â鶹ԼÅÄ Sport website and app & Connected TV

19:20-21:00 - 1st Pool B v 2nd Pool A, Â鶹ԼÅÄ Sport website and app & Connected TV

Saturday 24 August

16:50-18:30 - Men's third-place playoff, Â鶹ԼÅÄ Sport website and app & Connected TV

19:20-21:00 - Men's Final, Â鶹ԼÅÄ Sport website and app & Connected TV

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