This was pure EuroHockey entertainment – wild, niggly and last-minute drama – and once again it was left to Wales to provide the passion and the drama.

The Welsh somehow rallied 24 hours after losing to Germany 8-1 to overturn the odds and thwart long-time rivals France 3-2 in a frantic, attritional EuroHockey Pool encounter on Saturday night. It was the first Welsh victory in these stages since one of their last forays in Europe’s top flight 22 years ago.