ENGLAND’S chances of winning a medal as hosts of the European Championships in Manchester next month certainly received a boost with two wins against world third-ranked Spain at the tournament venue of Belle Vue last week. But coach Jason Lee cautions against over-optimism. “These were just friendly games, with each side using a large number of substitutes and constantly changing their formations. “Even though we won both games, we can, and must, play a lot better if we are to finish in the top three in Europe and so qualify Great Britain direct to the Beijing Olympics. A much more accurate gauge of our chances will come when we play Spain again in a full international at the Hamburg Masters this Thursday (August 2), followed by games against our world top-ranked hosts Germany on Saturday and our first opponents in Manchester, Belgium, on Sunday. But we still won’t know just how successful our preparations have been until we meet Belgium again in our first European pool game. Although friendlies, with no caps awarded, England - ranked tenth in the world - and Spain fielded their full pre-European squads for the two encounters. Both games were played in a highly competitive spirit, almost too much so at times, with each side eventually playing a man short for five minutes following yellow card suspensions in Saturday’s second half. England’s squad for the Hamburg Masters - announced on Monday - involves two changes from the 18 who competed at the Champions Challenge in Antwerp in late June. Alastair Wilson (Beeston) and Matt Taylor (Cannock) replace Nick Brothers (Reading, goalkeeper) and Ben Hawes (Amsterdam). This means coach Lee will be taking only one goalkeeper and leaving behind one of his joint captains, Hawes.
