England gave it their all but it just wasn't quite enough. The 3-4 score shows how close it was and there was some great hockey played by both sides. At the end of the match some players could barely walk, such was the effort they had put in. However they should hold their heads up high having finished higher than ever before on foreign soil, their only other top finish being runners-up at Willesden in 1986.
Before the start of the match Richard Alexander and James Tindall were presented with their 100th caps.
England started well and won the first penalty corner of the match after just five minutes, but Ashley Jackson's shot was charged down and the Dutch cleared. Richard Alexander picked up the ball in the twenty five but Guus Vogels (captain for the day in his last international appearance for The Netherlands) was out quickly to smother the shot.
A mistake on the right gave the Dutch the ball and several England defenders were unable to clear, ending up with Rogier Hofman put the ball in the net. However, a video referral went England's way and the goal was disallowed. England continued to push forward and earned three penalty corners in quick succession. However, without Jackson on the pitch and neither Mantells here, they were unable to convert, although Geert-Jan Derikx was forced to make two goal line saves.
When England failed to stop a Robert van der Horst run, the ball was crossed in for Teun de Nooijer to deflect into the net for the lead. But less than a minute later England were level. A great run and shot by Rob Moore was saved by Vogels but deflected into the path of Alastair Brogdon, who blasted it into the net.
Another surge by the England forwards was stopped by a foot and after another referral England had another penalty corner. This time Jackson was on the pitch and stepped up to drag flick the ball past Vogels for a 2-1 lead.
Dan Fox made a great diving save to take the ball away from the Dutch in the circle as they were about to shoot. A moment later it was his shot in the other circle which ultimately brought about another penalty corner and another drag flick by Jackson to make it 3-1.
At the start of the second half the Dutch put pressure on the England circle but the defence stood firm with great tackles from Ali Wilson, Adam Dixon and Ben Hawes. The Netherlands nearly pulled one back when the ball was given away but de Nooijer's run and shot was high over the net. However, when the Dutch won their first penalty corner of the game, up stepped Taeke Taekema with a low shot to beat James Fair and bring it back to 3-2. There was more Dutch pressure and this time Klass Vermeulen's shot was deflected off Rob Moore's stick to put the Dutch level.
There was lots of pressure on the Dutch circle, but to no effect. A great run and cross by Alexander was just missed by a diving Middleton. Play was end to end again, but it was the Dutch who took the lead, with just four minutes to go, when the defence failed to clear once more and Rogier Hofman broke English hearts. There was still time for the Dutch to win another penalty corner but Taekema's shot was put wide.
Ben Hawes was named 'Man of Steel' at the end of the match for his sterling performance, not quite enough though to put England on the podium this time.
In the final Germany took on Australia for the third successive World Cup. There had been some noise in the crowd for the bronze medal match, but the crowd turned up in the thousands to see this game, with more watching this match than had been at the last two Indian games - a testament to the quality of the two sides.
Australia went all out at the beginning of the match and after just six minutes Eddie Ockenden scrambled the ball past keeper Tim Jessulat to give the Australians the lead. The pace of the game was as expected from two very skillful sides, with the ball going from end to end. The Germans earned a penalty corner but saw a Martin Haner (recently of East Grinstead) shot go wide. Australia had their own corner but Luke Doerner's shot was well saved by the keeper.
The second half saw both sides still keeping up the pace but with the German supporters cheering their team on for all their worth. But it was Australia that won the first penalty corner of the half. Fortunately for the Germans, Doerner's shot was cleared by their captain Maximilian Muller. And when the Germans won a penalty corner after twelve minutes, up stepped Moritz Furste to put the game level with a powerful flick. The crowd erupted.
Furste had another chance to take Germany into the lead but his flick was deflected away. Australia then had their own chance to retake the lead and this time Doerner's shot beat the German keeper to make it 2-1. Both sides had further opportunities to score through penalty corners but were unable to take them. Finally the hooter went for the end of the game and Australia were crowned World champions for only the second time in their history, coach Ric Charlesworth having played in their only other success in 1986.
Final places: 1. Australia, 2. Germany, 3. Netherlands, 4. England.
Man of Steel of the Final – Martin Haner, Germany
Hero Honda Player of the Final – Luke Doerner, Australia
Fair Play Trophy – New Zealand
Best Goalkeeper – Guus Vogels, The Netherlands
Man of Steel for the Tournament – Maximilian Muller
Top Scorer – Luke Doerner & Taeke Taekema
Hero Honda Player of the Tournament – Guus Vogels
