Hockey: England stunned by Kunz

England were brought back down to earth in the Rabobank Champions Trophy yesterday when they lost 2-0 to Germany. There was much disappointment after their opening game on Saturday when they overcame a 3-1 deficit to beat South Korea, the Olympic silver medallists, 4-3.

England were brought back down to earth in the Rabobank Champions Trophy yesterday when they lost 2-0 to Germany. There was much disappointment after their opening game on Saturday when they overcame a 3-1 deficit to beat South Korea, the Olympic silver medallists, 4-3.

The Germans, who had beaten Australia 2-1 in their opener, pressured England into mistakes by their speed and directness, while England repeatedly gave the ball away. Their chances were limited to a couple of penalty corners, neither of which produced a shot, and a couple of wayward half-chances.

The Germans scored in the seventh minute when their captain Florian Kunz converted a second penalty corner with a vicious drag shot. After England had defended three more corners Kunz stunned his fifth corner to pass Nick Taylor with a deceptive shot.