England were edged out by Germany in a seven-goal thriller in their EuroHockey Championships pool B clash in Amsterdam – although victory in their next game will still guarantee them a spot in the last four.
The Germans raced into an early 2-0 lead thanks to goals from captain Mats Grambusch and Niklas Wellen.
But England regrouped and hit back with three goals from Mark Gleghorne, Phil Roper and Adam Dixon to put them back in the game.
But hopes of victory were dashed when strikes from German duo Lukas Windfeder and Anton Boeckel put them back in the lead – and this time they did not let it slip.
The result means that England must now beat Ireland on Wednesday to book their spot in the semi-finals.
England were on the back foot early on when Grambusch put Germany into an early lead with a thunderous strike into the top right corner, giving goalkeeper George Pinner no chance.
And while England fought back into the quarter, Germany extended their lead when Wellen found space at the top of the circle with a turn and his shot squeezed into the bottom left corner past Pinner’s outstretched foot.
But instead of letting their heads drop, England were back in the game within a minute into the second quarter. Ian Sloan won the ball in midfield before releasing Henry Weir down the left, his cut back broke to an unmarked Gleghorne who slapped hard and high into the net.
The game sparked into life in the third quarter as England came roaring back. Firstly, Brendan Creed’s early aerial ball travelled the length of the pitch to release Roper, he let the ball bounce into the area before putting past the on rushing German goalkeeper with a first time effort.
Immediately after England were ahead, from a penalty corner Sam Ward fired at the right post where Dixon deflected high into the goal on his 200th international appearance.
But Germany hit back with a number of penalty corners ending the quarter, the drama was increased when they were awarded a penalty stroke which was then overturned after long deliberations from the TV umpire. However from another penalty corner Windfeder levelled for the Germans on the stroke of the final break.
From the restart Germany pulled ahead through Boeckel as he reacted quickest to a rebound and hammered home on the reverse.
England went in search of a fourth goal to pull them level again and in the final minute it looked like they would grab it, but Ward’s reverse stick effort was gloved away by Walter in the German goal to maintain his side’s lead and seal the win.
Sportsbeat 2017