The Netherlands qualified for the semi-finals of the World Cup in Rosario yesterday (Sunday) when they recorded a win in their crunch game against Germany.
As seems to have happened in many of the pool matches in this tournament, there was a very early goal, with Germany's Maike Stockel opening the scoring in the third minute. Germany held on to their 1-0 lead until four minutes into the second half, when Maatje Paumen scored from a penalty corner. With the match looking as if it was going to finish at 1-1, Kim Lammers found the net in the closing seconds to give the Dutch a 2-1 victory.
Australia increased their chances of getting amongst the medals with a 4-1 win over New Zealand. Yet another early goal, with Krystal Forgesson scoring for New Zealand in the first five minutes, was to be the Blacksticks one and only goal of the match. Goals from Kobie McGurk, Ashleigh Nelson (2) and Shelley Liddelow wrapped it up for the Australians, and they are now on 9 points in Pool A, only separated from a semi-final place by goal difference behind Germany.
India recorded their first win of this World Cup with a goal in each half against Japan. The scorers were Rani Rampal and Jaseet Kaur Handa. India now move up to fourth place, but they and Japan and New Zealand are well adrift at the bottom of Pool A and out of contention for a medal.
As the luck of the draw would have it, Australia and Germany meet each other in their last Pool A match on Tuesday. Australia need a win to overtake Germany and finish in second place. Any other result will mean they finish third.
England play Argentina in their last pool B match this afternoon. Both have already qualified for the semi-finals.
Full pool tables and all England's results can be found at our main web site at www.talkhockeyradio.co.uk.
