Men's Champions Trophy
Venue: Monchengladbach, Germany Dates: 31 July - 8 August
Coverage: Match reports and highlights on the BBC Sport website

England's hopes of making the Champions Trophy final suffered a major blow as they were narrowly beaten 3-2 by world champions Australia.

A 15th-minute goal from Simon Orchard gave Australia the lead, which Matthew Swann doubled two minutes later.

Ashley Jackson gave England hope from a penalty corner, but Luke Doerner restored Australia's two-goal lead.

Jonty Clarke gave England renewed hope but despite further late pressure, the Kookaburras held on for the victory.

England's performance was an improvement from their two games in the tournament, which saw them lose 4-2 to Germany and draw 2-2 with Spain.

However, in losing to reigning champions Australia, England's hopes of making the final now hang by a thread, with the team on only one point with games against the Netherlands and New Zealand to come.

Mathematically they can still make the final but second-placed Germany, who are on six points and lost 3-2 to Spain in Tuesday's late game, would have to lose their remaining two games as well as Britain winning their last two.

In contrast, Australia have now won all three of their games and are in pole position to secure the opportunity to defend the title they won in Melbourne last year, their second in succession.

606: DEBATE I'm very worried indeed that if the team do as well as we know that they can at the Olympics and get everyone excited, the next generation might not be able to sustain the same standard of performance linusandco

Australia were slightly fortunate to take the lead in Tuesday's game, with Orchard's shot looping up off the stick of Glenn Kirkham and into the net.

With the Kookaburras having won 9-1 against New Zealand in their opening game of the tournament and hitting the Netherlands for six in their second match, there must have been fears in the England camp when Swann finished only two minutes after Orchard's opener.

However, England rallied and world young player of the year Jackson pulled a goal back from a penalty corner - his third of the tournament - just before the half-hour mark.

Despite Doerner giving Australia breathing space again from a penalty corner after Ben Hawes was penalised for a foot inside the circle, England continued to press and were rewarded when Clarke fired a low strike home with five minutes remaining.

There was late drama when England made a last-gasp penalty corner referral to the video umpire for what they believed was an Australian defender preventing them taking a quick free hit but it was rejected and Australia were able to see out the match.

The result is revenge for Australia for the 3-2 defeat they suffered at the hands of England in the World Cup in February, their only loss of a tournament they won in Delhi, India.

England assistant coach Bobby Crutchley said afterwards: "We're pleased with how we played although obviously there's some disappointment in not getting something from the game.

"We pushed them hard and caused them some trouble but they're the form team just now, the team to beat."

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