England lost for the second time in the Four Nations hockey tournament in Bremen as they fell 3-1 to hosts Germany on Saturday.
Alex Danson gave England a first-half lead before the hsosts hit back with three unanswered goals.
“We were not up to our usual standards technically speaking, which meant we missed passing opportunities and receive opportunities and we missed tackles,” said England Jason Lee. “This meant extra running in the game which caught up with us in the second half.”
Danson’s goal came in the 18th minute. It took Germany to the 51st minute to equalise when Lydia Haase scoring a scrappy goal after a melee in the circle. England had several chances to clear, but couldn’t stop their hosts batting the ball home.
Three minutes later Maike Stockel gave Germany the lead from a penalty corner, which came about after England had been turned over.
Hopes of an equaliser for England were dashed on 63 minutes, when Kristina Hillmann bagged a third goal for Germany. A long pass went virtually the length of the field to pick out the forward, who rounded Maddie Hinch in the England goal before scoring.
England’s next game is on Sunday against Japan at 11am. Germany play Australia at 2.30pm. In Saturday’s other game Australia smashed Japan 6-1.
