Spain beat Ireland in five-goal thriller at World Cup

Ireland suffered a 3-2 defeat to Spain in a thrilling opening World Cup Pool C game in Wavre. The match saw Ireland fall behind twice, thanks to goals from Laia Vidosa and Sophia Keenan. However, Hannah McLoughlin and Niamh Carey managed to score from penalty corners to level the game. Despite being in the lead at times, Spain secured the win with a superb strike from Xantal Gine in the final five minutes.

Irish captain Sarah Hawkshaw expressed disappointment with Ireland's performance in the second quarter, stating that they were in control early on but struggled in the middle of the game. Ireland now face New Zealand in a crucial must-win match to advance in the tournament. Hawkshaw emphasized that the team must stick to their processes and focus on each game individually, without looking ahead.