Barry Middleton confident ahead of potential meeting with Australia

Barry Middleton has insisted that England should not be intimidated by a potential semi-final against Australia at the Commonwealth Games.

A 2-1 loss to New Zealand in the preliminary stage on Tuesday morning means that England are likely to meet the world champions in the last four, but Middleton believes that the players are up for the challenge.

"It's not the end of the world," the England captain told BBC Sport. "It's not like we are in the final, we still have a few games to play.

"It would be nice to beat the favourites, wouldn't it? People try to avoid the best team but if we have to play them, so be it. We still have to make it to the semi-final and if it is Australia we'll give it all we got."

England face Canada in their final preliminary match on Thursday.