Germany down England to reach Champions Trophy semis

Germany booked a semi-final date with Australia following a hard fought 2-0 win over England in the quarter-finals of the hockey Champions Trophy here Thursday.

The Germans started the game in menacing fashion, winning five penalty corners in the opening ten minutes. But they failed to convert the chances and allowed England to claw their way back into the contest.

England's Tim Whiteman and Nick Catlin impressed with their link-up play. But they were stung a minute before half-time when Germany won their sixth corner and Moritz Furste scored from it.

England came back strong in the closing quarter, forward Adam Dixon's shot on the turn drifting dangerously across the face of goal while striker Ashley Jackson's drag-flick was palmed away by goal-keeper Nicolas Jacobi.

They also had other opportunities to score but all hopes of a late comeback were killed off with three minutes from the final whistle when Christopher Ruhr held his nerve to finish coolly from close range.