Preview: India will be playing for pride when they take on arch-rivals Pakistan in a Hockey World League Semi-Final classification match on Saturday. Roelant Oltmans’ men suffered an upset at the hands of Malaysia, losing 2-3 on Thursday, which ended dreams of a podium finish. [caption id=“attachment_3741741” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Akashdeep Singh celebrates scoring India’s fifth goal during the Hockey World League Semi Final pool match against Pakistan. Getty[/caption] Razie Rahim’s double and Tengku Tajuddin not only assured Malaysia a semi-final berth but also a place in the Hockey Men’s World Cup, which will take place in Bhubaneshwar in 2018. India, tipped as favourites before the quarter-final, will now play Pakistan again to finish in the top six. Pakistan lost the last encounter to India 1-7 and have more than pride to play for with a 2018 World Cup spot at stake. Though India have their spot at the World Cup assured by courtesy of being the hosts, they should be worried with their performances in the last two games. After a comfortable start to the tournament with three straight wins against Scotland (4-1), Canada (3-0) and Pakistan (7-1), they suffered two defeats against Argentina (1-3) in the final pool clash and Malaysia in the quarter-final (2-3). In Saturday’s semi-finals, Malaysia will face Olympic champions and World No 1 Argentina while World No 7 England take on World No 4 Netherlands for a place in the final.
Hockey World League Semi-Final 2017, highlights: Netherlands defeat England 2-0 to set up final against Argentina
FP Sports
• June 24, 2017, 22:17:23 IST
Catch all the live scores and updates of the Hockey World League Semi-Final in London.
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June 24, 2017, 22:15:04 (IST)
Don’t forget to join us for the India-Canada clash and the Argentina-Netherlands final tomorrow.
Until then, have a good night and goodbye.
June 24, 2017, 22:14:31 (IST)
Final scoreline
June 24, 2017, 22:09:00 (IST)
And that’s it from the Lee Valley Hockey Centre. We will back again tomorrow for the final day of the Hockey World League.
June 24, 2017, 22:08:12 (IST)
Netherlands now meet Olympic champions Argentina in the final tomorrow.
For the 3rd/4th, England will play Malaysia.
India take on Canada for the 5th/6th
June 24, 2017, 22:06:50 (IST)
And Netherlands have beaten England 2-0 to enter the final of the Hockey World League. Superb win for the Dutch. Took their chances and scored.
June 24, 2017, 22:05:46 (IST)
England get a green card. Seconds left in the match.
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June 24, 2017, 22:04:48 (IST)
Netherlands is holding on. England trying to find at least a consolation goal.
June 24, 2017, 22:03:18 (IST)
Minutes are ticking away. Match closing in on England. Netherlands defending well. Lovely ball but Mark’s shot is deflected away. England attacking in these last minutes.
June 24, 2017, 22:00:03 (IST)
England have taken off their goalkeeper and have an extra man in the field. It’s still six minutes to go.
June 24, 2017, 21:57:38 (IST)
England keeping Mark Gleghhorne up trying to find space and get the goals. Minutes ticking away. Netherlands still lead 2-0.
June 24, 2017, 21:55:18 (IST)
England now has ten minutes to find two goals. Tough for them as the Netherlands are bringing back players to hold them off. Mirco Pruijser is still up for the Netherlands, looking for the goals.
June 24, 2017, 21:53:45 (IST)
What a goal by the Netherlands! Bjorn Kellerman smashes the ball past Pinner. Lovely move by the Dutch. They lead 2-0.
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June 24, 2017, 21:50:23 (IST)
England has the 4th quarter to find the equaliser. After brilliant saves, England’s Pinner will be disappointed at being beaten from a top of the circle shot. Though it was deflected in. The Netherlands lead 1-0.
June 24, 2017, 21:48:14 (IST)
And the deadlock is broken. Netherland’s Mirco Pruijser deflects in a shot from the top of the striking circle. Netherlands lead 1-0. And that is the end of the 3rd quarter.
June 24, 2017, 21:45:19 (IST)
England do see the ball inside the Netherlands goal. But the shot is from outside the striking circle. On the counter, Pinner again saves from a one-to-one situation.
June 24, 2017, 21:42:45 (IST)
It’s still holding and rotation at the best for England. Technically, England coming into their own in the 3rd quarter. It’s the sharpness in the finish that has let both teams down.
June 24, 2017, 21:40:14 (IST)
Most of the play is still concentrated in the England half. Thierry Brinkman of Netherlands gets a green card. Sporadic attacks from England but they do look dangerous.
June 24, 2017, 21:36:38 (IST)
Third quarter almost has the feel of a Yo-Yo. Back and forth go Netherlands and England. The search for the opening goal is on. And Netherlands get their 3rd PC. Yellow card to England’s Liam Sanford. But the flick is wide.
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June 24, 2017, 21:34:26 (IST)
Lovely defensive play by David Ames and England comes out of a sticky corner.
June 24, 2017, 21:32:45 (IST)
Slow start from both the sides. But gaining pace again as they get into their groove. David Condon had a sight on the Dutch goal but couldn’t control the ball.
June 24, 2017, 21:29:58 (IST)
The 3rd quarter about to start. It’s been two quarters to The Netherlands with some smart counters from England. Who will get the lead in this 2nd Semi-Final?
June 24, 2017, 21:23:03 (IST)
The Netherlands coach Max Caldas would be slightly worried about the finishing. They had the breaks but just couldn’t finish off the moves in the English striking circle. Huge credit to England’s goalkeeper George Pinner who brought off two fine saves of two penalty corners.
June 24, 2017, 21:22:31 (IST)
Scoreline at half-time
June 24, 2017, 21:21:17 (IST)
That’s the half-time break. It’s still goalless but it has been frenetic. Amazing pace by both the sides.
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June 24, 2017, 21:20:23 (IST)
Phil Roper had the chance but the Dutch defence squeezed him out of space.
June 24, 2017, 21:19:15 (IST)
And England almost score. Harry Martin’s mighty reverse hit is saved by the Netherland’s goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak.
June 24, 2017, 21:17:38 (IST)
It’s quite apparent that England is looking for a counter and with men at the back frustrate the Netherlands. Can they last this out against the Netherlands?
June 24, 2017, 21:16:29 (IST)
Amazing how fast the Europeans sides can play sometimes. Breakneck pace here between Netherlands and England. Hard and tough tackling. Man-to-Man marking. Yet the Dutch squeeze through.
June 24, 2017, 21:14:16 (IST)
Mink Weerden flicks high and hard. Brilliant save by England’s Pinner again. And straight away a counter by England. Foiled by the Dutch defence.
June 24, 2017, 21:13:05 (IST)
And the umpire points for a 3rd PC. Can they get the lead now?
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June 24, 2017, 21:12:05 (IST)
Netherlands are virtually camping in the England striking circle. But got to give it to the English defenders, they have held on. But that’s their 2nd PC in the match.
June 24, 2017, 21:10:41 (IST)
Netherlands controlling the 2nd quarter but Glenn Schuurman can’t find the space to flick home. It’s still goalless. Tight match here.
June 24, 2017, 21:09:07 (IST)
Pace a little down now. England keeping their defence tight, pulling back the midfield inwards. Netherlands need a break in the circle to score.
June 24, 2017, 21:08:05 (IST)
Little difficult to understand why forwards are going for the reverse when they have space to hit a shot from their right.
June 24, 2017, 21:07:10 (IST)
And England almost had a counter. Mark Gleghorne had the space and he went for a reverse. Great defending by Netherlands.
June 24, 2017, 21:04:04 (IST)
It’s the 2nd quarter. Something should give now. Netherlands will pressure and get the goal. England will rely on the counter.
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June 24, 2017, 21:03:06 (IST)
That’s the end of the 1st quarter. Fast paced with a few counters for England. But it’s the Netherlands who controlled the pace and flow in that quarter. England have to come up with something.
June 24, 2017, 21:01:22 (IST)
Great defending from England. The flick was flying as the ball hit the stick and went out. Dangerous moments for England as the Dutch are pushing for the lead.
June 24, 2017, 20:59:48 (IST)
And that’s a 2nd consecutive penalty corner for the Netherlands.
June 24, 2017, 20:58:58 (IST)
At this pace, a small defensive error could result in a goal or a penalty corner. It’s still the Netherlands who control and they have the 1st PC of the match.
End of Liveblog