By Emily Benammar Published: 12:58PM GMT twenty-four Feb 2010
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Silver lining: England accomplished a 21-year prize wait for by winning the European Championships in Germany last Aug Photo: REUTERS 
Eyes on the prize: Jason Lee is assured his patrol can come behind award winners Photo: ENGLAND HOCKEY England squad:
Goalkeepers: Nick Brothers, James Fair Defenders: Richard Mantell, Richard Smith, Ben Hawes, Alastair Wilson, Adam Dixon Midfielders: Rob Moore, Iain Mackay, Richard Alexander, Ashley Jackson, Glenn Kirkham Forwards: Jonty Clarke, Alastair Brogdon, Nick Catlin, Simon Mantell, James Tindall, Barry Middleton (capt)
Hockey World Cup squads England to margin fresh counterclaim opposite Germany England hockey in predicament as men lapse from vehement contest in Malaysia Loughborough tyro Richard Smith set for England berth opposite Australia Bowdon Hightown better Slough to win hockeys National Indoor Championship Dwain Chambers in line for Great Britain stopWith his patrol now ranked sixth in the world, manager Lee is assured that notwithstanding their difficult pull in Pool B, they have what it takes to reach at slightest the last 4 in India.
Having valid themselves able of violence the most appropriate hockey sides in Europe last summer finale a 21-year precious metal drought, all eyes will be on England"s opening tie opposite Australia whom Lee has identified as the contest favourites.
"We are really able of reaching the semi-finals," he pronounced prior to the patrol flew out to a pre-tournament stay in Doha. "We are the European champions.
"We were regularly outsiders in vital tournaments [but] the win in European Championship has since certainty and we can do well at the World Cup.
"Australia are favourites to win and England havent knocked about them for some-more than twenty years. But they have been well known to throw it afar when it comes to the big games. Maybe we can have certain they do. And I contend this as a pessimist; there are others out there who hold we can means an dissapoint and we can."
Essential to England"s debate is stream FIH Young Player of the Year, Ashley Jackson who partners patrol captain Barry Middleton upfront to emanate a lethal attack.
Middleton shares Lee"s expectations of a semi-final berth.
"The target is to reach the semi-finals," he said. "We fool around aggressive hockey. The Aussies are difficult to beat, but they can be beaten."
Matt Daly was a late withdrawal from the patrol carrying ripped his injure leg tendon five days prior to the tournament"s start. His deficiency non-stop the approach for Surbiton group partner James Tindall and Reading"s Simon Mantell, who were competing for the last place in Lee"s patrol after recuperating from feet injuries.
England have been comparatively successful at the 9 World Cups in that they have participated. Their most appropriate outcome was in 1986 when they accomplished second on home ground. They have come ninth once, seventh twice and sixth 4 times. Beating Pakistan in the fifth place play-ff in 2006 was their most appropriate outcome to date.
England fixtures: all times GMT
Sunday twenty-eight Feb 2010 - Australia - 13:05Tuesday 2 Mar 2010 - South Africa - 11:05Thursday 4 Mar 2010 - Pakistan - 13:05Saturday 6 Mar 2010 - India - 15:05Monday 8 Mar 2010 - Spain - 11:05Thursday eleven Mar 2010 - Possible sequence compare or almost finalFriday twelve Mar 2010 - Possible sequence matchSaturday thirteen Mar 2010 - Possible Bronze or Gold award matchYou can watch all of England"s games live here on telegraph.co.uk , with highlights. To watch all the matches from the Hockey World Cup and full highlights, go to the central website - follow this couple .
