Ireland automatically reached the final four after the Pool A leaders heading into today, Egypt, were beaten 3-2 by Scotland.

The Irish then thrashed Singapore 11-0 in the late game, leaving them, Scotland and Egypt all on six points, but Ireland had a hugely superior goal difference.

The Scots claimed a thrilling victory in a back and forth encounter.

Egypt took the lead on 23 minutes through Amr Ibrahim, only for Cameron Golden to equalise three minutes later.

Shortly after Walid Metwalli was given a yellow card, Scotland took the lead through Duncan Riddell.

Ibrahim pulled Egypt level with his second but on the hour mark, Kenny Bain scored the winner.

This opened the door for Ireland to top Pool A if they could beat whipping boys Singapore by four goals or more.

Shane O'Donoghue opened the scoring in the first minute and went on to bag a hat-trick.

Conor Harte and Stephen Cole both scored twice and Matthew Nelson, Benjamin Walker, Luke Madeley and Lee Cole each scored one.

Ireland were three up in the first 10 minutes and were into double figures by the start of the final period.

In Pool B, France got the win they needed by beating Chile 3-0, despite South Korea throwing down the gauntlet to the hosts earlier by crushing Ukraine 8-2.

Victor Charlet, Etienne Tynevez and Pieter van Straaten scored the goals for France, while Chile head into the crossovers for a potential semi-final spot.

South Korea had earlier put pressure on France with a hefty win in their opening game to wipe out the hosts' goal difference advantage.

Jang Jong-hyun and Jeon Byung-jin both scored twice while Yang Ji-hun, Hong Eun-seong, Kim Jung-hoo and Lee Jung-jin also got on the scoresheet.

The crossovers – effectively quarter-finals – take place on Thursday (June 20), with South Korea taking on Egypt for the right to face Ireland, and Scotland locking horns with Chile with France lying in wait.

The two finalists in Le Touquet progress to the next stage of Olympic qualifying.

Ukraine and Singapore – who both conceded 19 goals in their three group fixtures – will meet in the seventh-place match on Friday (June 21).