FIH Hockey World Cup action recap

England’s men beat Pakistan 4-1 in their opening World Cup group match

England got their Hockey World Cup campaign off to a winning start with a 4-1 victory over Pakistan at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amsterdam.

England set the tone early, taking the lead in the 12th minute when Stuart Rushmere finished smartly from open play to make it 1-0. Pakistan were reduced to ten men for a spell midway through the first half after Abu Mahmood received a green card in the 20th minute, and England looked to press home their advantage as the half went on.

The second quarter brought further reward for England's control of the game. Sam Ward doubled the lead in the 28th minute with a well-taken field goal, and Samuel Hooper added a third from a penalty corner just three minutes later to send England into the break firmly in command at 3-0.

England continued to dominate proceedings after the restart, and James Albery got in on the act himself, converting a penalty corner in the 47th minute to make it 4-0. Pakistan did find a way back into the contest through Afraz, who pulled a goal back in the 50th minute, but it proved to be no more than a consolation as England saw out the win in comfortable fashion.

Tom Sorsby was named the player of the match.

England’s women beat South Africa 4-0 in their opening World Cup group match

England's women got their Hockey World Cup campaign underway in style, producing a dominant and clinical display to defeat South Africa 4-0 at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amsterdam.

England made a flying start, taking the lead in the 10th minute when Darcy Bourne converted a penalty corner to make it 1-0. They doubled their advantage just four minutes later as Tess Howard showed excellent composure to finish from open play, giving England a commanding 2-0 lead heading into the remainder of the first half.

South Africa were reduced to ten players midway through the second quarter after Ané Janse van Vuuren received a green card in the 28th minute, and England made the most of their numerical advantage. Lizzie Neal added a third from a penalty corner in the 30th minute to send England into half-time firmly in control at 3-0.

England continued to press in the second half, and their dominance was rewarded once more when Sophie Hamilton finished smartly from open play in the 41st minute to make it 4-0. From there, England saw out the remainder of the game comfortably, closing out a commanding win to open their World Cup campaign.

Tess Howard was named the player of the match.

England’s men fight back to beat India 4-2 in their second World Cup group match

England battled back from behind to defeat India 4-2 in an entertaining contest at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen.

England made the perfect start, taking the lead in the 14th minute when Nicholas Bandurak finished well from open play to make it 1-0. India responded strongly, though, levelling the scores in the 17th minute through Harmanpreet Singh's penalty corner, before Dilpreet Singh put India in front for the first time in the 25th minute with a well-taken field goal, sending them into half-time with a 2-1 advantage.

England responded superbly in the third quarter to turn the game on its head. Stuart Rushmere levelled the scores in the 39th minute with a fine finish from open play, before Henry Croft put England in front just four minutes later to make it 3-2. Conor Williamson was shown a green card in the 45th minute as the contest continued to simmer.

England saw out the win in the fourth quarter, with Bandurak getting his second of the match in the 55th minute, converting from a penalty corner to make it 4-2 and seal a hard-fought victory for England.