HOCKEY:IRELAND crashed 3-0 to world number nine side Belgium in Quilmes, Argentina, last night, which represented a severe blow to their hopes of taking the last place left in the 2010 World Cup.

Jerome Truyens capitalised on a defensive mishap to open the scoring in the fourth minute and Jerome Dekeyser made it 2-0 with barely 10 minutes gone.

Benjamin van Hove shot past David Harte to kill the game off. Ireland must now win their last two group games, against the Czech Republic tomorrow and Argentina (Saturday) to have any hope of progressing.