Harry Martin hopes his European Championships aren’t over

The 21-year-old former Ipswich School pupil once again was only able to manage a few minutes of action yesterday before the hamstring injury he sustained in the final warm-up match before the tournament flared up again.

The Three Lions had gone into their final group match in Belgium needing a draw with Ireland to secure qualification to the knock-out stages.

Bobby Crutchley’s side raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to Tom Carson’s brace, but then had to endure a nervy finish to the match after Shane O’Donoghue converted two controversially awarded penalty strokes.

George Pinner – who, like Martin, hails from Ipswich – stood strong in goal during a frantic final five minutes, with a second-placed finish in Group B setting them up for a semi-final encounter with the host nation tomorrow (7.30pm GMT).

Winger Martin – one of world hockey’s most talented young players – suffered a small tear to his hamstring just before the tournament started.

He sat out the 5-2 win over Poland and could manage just a few minutes in the 2-1 loss to the Netherlands, the same happening in yesterday’s draw with Ireland.

“It’s really frustrating,” said Martin. “I’ve tried to get back out there twice now and it’s just been too painful.

“It’s looking like I’ll have to sit out the semi-final, but I’m hopeful I’ll be able to play some part on Sunday.”

Whether England are playing in the final or a third/fourth place play-off by then will be determined by how well they cope in tomorrow’s big semi-final against the host nation.

“It should be a 10,000 sell-out and the place will be rocking,” said Pinner. “We went into this tournament with the goal of reaching the semi-finals, so we’re going into this match with the pressure off.

“It was a nervy finish against Ireland, but we held on and that shows how we have developed as a young side over the last few months.

“Belgium are a good team, but we’ve watched videos and believe we can definitely cause them problems.”