england

As expected, England coach Bobby Crutchley has named his strongest possible squad for this tournament, with experienced trio Ashley Jackson, Simon Mantell, and Nick Catlin being selected alongside brilliant captain Barry Middleton, a player considered to be among the very best attackers in the game. However, the team will be without defender and penalty corner specialist Richard Smith, who looks likely to miss all of the 2014 calendar due to knee surgery.

Midfield ace Adam Dixon, who has been one of England’s star performers over the past 18 months, has also been selected despite recently suffering ligament damage whilst representing his club side Beeston in the Euro Hockey League. England claimed a fifth place finish in the 2006 Hockey World Cup in Mönchengladbach (GER) and went one better at the 2010 event in New Delhi (IND) by finishing fourth. Their talented, fit and well drilled squad certainly has the potential to get among the medals in The Hague.

Best World Cup results:
The men took silver in 1986 (London) and they have taken part in 11 previous World Cups.

FIH World Ranking:
4th

News:
06-05-2014: Bobby Crutchley, coach of the England men
21-03-2014: Meet Ashley Jackson
18-03-2014: Busy timetable faces England’s hopefuls
17-03-2014: This is: England!
04-07-2013: German and English men qualify

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