By Neil Goulding (2010 FIL World Championships Press Officer, 07813 859986)

ENGLAND battled bravely against the United States, but the hosts were convincingly beat 17-5 in the last Blue Division match of the day.

The result might have been expected, but you had to feel for the hosts who, not long before the match, were informed that they were unlikely to be able to reach the semi-finals after Japan sprung the upset of this year’s tournament by beating Australia.

England can still get through to the semis if they beat Canada, the defending champions, tonight, or Germany surprise Australia. But with the top four positions decided by head-to-head meetings it now looks like both Australia and Japan will progress.

That would mean England could only finish as high a fifth, a bitter blow having pushed Australia close and claimed fine wins over Japan and Germany.

“We found out just before the match, but unfortunately those are the rules,” reflected a visibly upset Greg Caplin, the England manager.

“It’s essential if you play in a competition you know what rules you’re playing for, but it is what it is and you have to take your hats off to Japan.

“They played brilliantly to bounce back from their defeat to us and then go out there and beat Australia.

“We’ve got every admiration for the Japanese. They gave everything against us and were devastated to lose, but they’ve bounced back and beaten a team they’ve never beaten before.”

Nicky Watson opened the scoring for England in only the second minute, while Todd Baxter, Adi Bennett, Lewis Radcliff and Watson again, completed the scoring for the hosts.

For the United States, star player Paul Rabil dazzled by scoring four goals in a row as the eight-time winners moved into a 7-1 lead.

Brendan Mundorf netted a hat-trick, Ryan Powell, Edward Crotty and Michael Leveille all scored twice, with Kyle Sweeney, Ryan Boyle, Maxwell Seibald and Drew Westervelt on target as the 2006 finalists guaranteed their participation in the semis.

“Anything can still happen,” added Caplin. “We saw the results in the football World Cup, hopefully Germany can beat Australia. Who would have thought Japan would beat Australia?”