Hockey World Cup 2018: England vs China - 5 talking points

#2 England were unimaginative up front

England lacked ideas in the striking circle

An early one-goal deficit against a team like China should hardly have troubled a side of England's calibre. Yet, Kerry's boys huffed and puffed their way to the striking circle and seemed to lack ideas once they got there.

"England forgot to keep playing after they (China) took the lead," said Aikman

Twenty-two circle entries against a side who certainly cannot boast of a formidable reputation should have produced a couple of more goals, at the very least, but England was clearly confused as to what to with the ball once in the attacking circle.

Fortune too was not on England's side, as they missed a couple of close chances but even so, would have been expected to prevail with ease.

The English need to get their confidence back as similar indecisiveness against the World Champions next week could well be catastrophic.