Great Britain

A 1-0 defeat to Germany at the European Nations Championship in Leipzig ended England's slim semi-final chances and left them facing a nervous play-off match against Poland.

Victory against the Poles on Friday would give England the top-six finish required to progress to next year's World Cup qualifier but defeat would mean relegation from Europe's elite and could have a knock-on effect for the Beijing Olympics.

England needed to beat the hosts, the reigning European and world champions, to make the semis but their best chance did not arrive until seven minutes from time when Cannock's Barry Middleton bobbled his shot wide of an open goal with Rob Moore unable to get a touch at the far post.

That error was compounded when Mattias Witthaus robbed Loughborough Students' Glenn Kirkham on the edge of his circle and chipped Surbiton goalkeeper Jon Ebsworth with two minutes to go.

Earlier in the day Scotland's hopes of reaching the semi-finals for the first time were dashed after a 2-1 defeat to Belgium.

They fell behind to Amaury de Cock's 20th-minute strike and set-piece specialist Jean-Philippe Brule made it 2-0 with a penalty corner in the 46th minute.

Athens Olympian Niall Stott pulled one back from a narrow angle three minutes later but Scotland could not force the equaliser and they now play France on Friday for a spot in the fifth-place play-off.

Germany play Spain and Holland face Belgium in Saturday's semi-finals.

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