A fifth minute goal from Cecile Pieper in their Pool B match was enough to frustrate an England outfit that contained nine players who figured in the British squad that won Olympic gold last summer in Rio, where Germany took bronze.

The crucial goal at the Wagener Stadium came when Teresa Martin Pelegrina hit the baseline, checked her run and picked out Pieper, who poked home from close range.

From there, England had a large number of chances to get back on level terms with Alex Danson going close on a number of occasions while Susannah Townsend was also dangerous on the counter.

Charlotte Stapenhorst missed a clear chance to double Germany’s lead before being frustrated by a spectacular left-hand glove save from England’s Rio heroine Maddie Hinch.

“It was a great performance, hard defending as always against England" said the German coach Nike Lorenz.

“It was nice to score early and great to get the win.”

England, who beat Ireland 4-1 in their opening game, now need to defeat Scotland - who drew 0-0 with Ireland earlier today - on Tuesday (August 22) in their final pool game to ensure their progress.

Spain’s women, beaten 4-1 by the home team in the opening match of these Championships on Friday (August 18), earned a 7-1 win over the Czech Republic in their second Pool A match.

Later in the evening a 1-0 win over Belgium thanks to a goal on the half hour by Margot van Geffen saw the Netherlands join Germany in the women's semi-finals.

While England's women experienced an off day, England’s men started their campaign with a dominant 6-0 win over Poland.

Braces from Mark Gleghorne and Sam Ward alongside strikes from Chris Griffiths and David Condon made for a comfortable victory in Amsterdam that took Bobby Crutchley’s side to the top of Pool B ahead of their clash with Germany tomorrow.

Germany, bronze medallists in Rio, were held to a 1-1 draw in their opening match by Ireland, for whom Sean Murray produced a 47^th minute equaliser after Lukas Windfeder had scored in the 17^th.