One to watch: Captain Barry Middleton is England's current leader in goals and caps.
Pakistan
World ranking: 9.
Best finish: winners (1978, 1980, 1994).
Pakistan have hosted 11 of the 32 Champions Trophy tournaments and are the only Asian winners of the event. The Green Shirts were controversially invited to this year's tournament originally to be hosted by India even though they were ranked outside the world's top eight (at New Zealand's expense). Finished second at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, and scored a morale-boosting 1-1 draw in a warm-up match with Germany.
One to watch: Sohail Abbas - the penalty corner specialist is the highest scorer in international hockey history.
Spain
World ranking: 4.
Best finish: winners (2004).
Spain have been consistent performers on the world scene and picked up silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, their third second-place finish at the Games. They finished fifth in the last two editions of the Champions Trophy, and last year beat New Zealand in the playoff for fifth and sixth in Monchengladbach.
One to watch: Ramon Alegre - the veteran defender debuted for Spain in 2000 and has amassed 213 caps, 38 more than his younger brother David.
Group B
Germany
World ranking: 2.
Best finish: Nine-time winners (three as West Germany).
Germany have consistently been one of the world's best sides and are reigning Olympic and European champions. They last won the Champions Trophy in 2007 in Kuala Lumpur and finished fourth in 2010. Germany finished second in last year's World Cup, losing to Australia in the final.
One to watch: Tobias Hauke won IHF Young Player of the Year last year and has already racked up 158 caps by the age of 24.
Korea
World ranking: 6.
Best finish: 2nd (1999)
Korea will be competing at their eighth Champions Trophy. Relatively inexperienced on the international scene, they claimed the silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Their form has been mixed in 2011, with a fifth-place finish at Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Tournament in May followed up with a tournament win in the London Cup 4-Nations in July. The Koreans received a wild card to participate in this year's expanded event.
One to watch: Striker Hyo Sik You is Korea's most-capped player at the tournament with 193 appearances.
Netherlands
World ranking: 3.
Best finish: 8-time winners.
One of world hockey's superpowers, the Netherlands finished third in last year's edition of the Champions Trophy, beating Germany 4-1 third-place playoff. The Dutch also claimed the bronze medal at last year's World Cup and finished fourth at the Beijing Olympics.
One to watch: Taeke Taekema is the competition's all-time highest scorer with 46 goals.
New Zealand
World ranking: 7.
Best finish: 4th (1978).
The hosts have competed in five Champions Trophies, winning only twice in 26 games. They finished sixth in last year's tournament, and copped a 9-1 hiding from Australia but also triumphed over the Netherlands. The Black Sticks come into the tournament on the back some positive results this year, winning a five-match series 2-1 over Korea, finishing fourth in the seven-team Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and claiming second in the London Cup 4-Nations. Most promisingly, New Zealand split three games against Australia at the Oceania Cup in October, winning 3-0 to end a 12-year losing streak against the Kookaburras, before drawing 3-3 and losing 6-1.
One to watch: Ryan Archibald - New Zealand's best player, he's returning to the side for the first time since last year's Champions Trophy.
