Champions Trophy, Rotterdam:

Spain outplayed Germany 3-0 and Australia defeated Netherlands 3-2 meaning both winners qualified for the Champions Trophy final here on Sunday.

Australia had a chance to make the final if either Spain or Australia lost as Argentina shares 10 points with Spain and Australia but has a poorer goal difference and therefore plays Netherlands for third place.

Argentina’s best result in their three previous Champions Trophy appearances was fifth place in 1987 and 2003.

Spain started impressively, scoring 12 seconds after the start as Santiago Freixa passed to defender Ramon Alegre running through on the right who drove to the left post where Pol Amat crashed a backstick deflection into the net.

“Spain coach Maurits Hendriks admitted to being surprised by the goal. It was not a set move we practice but one worked out by the players so it surprised me when I saw it,” Hendriks said. “We have the creativity in the team to make this type of move.”

Spain maintained a high tempo to run Germany around as Sebastian Biederlack was under suspension for the match and Germany played with one less player.

David Alegre scored a field goal and Santiago Freixa converted Spain’s third penalty corner, getting a deflection into goal off the stick of Germany’s runner to seal the match.

Hendriks praised his team’s effort. “It was an all-round solid performance from the first moment,” Hendriks said. Germany coach Markus Weise was dejected following the loss.

“I’m disappointed and we lack energy right now,” Weise said. Netherlands 3-2 loss to Australia was crafted by Jamie Dwyer and Eddie Ockenden, assisted by the pressure of expectations of the capacity crowd expecting nothing less than a Netherlands win.

Netherlands were unwilling to take risks to win. Netherlands Roderick Weusthof drilled Netherlands second penalty corner into Australia goalkeeper Stephen Lambert and the rebound fell to Geert-Jan Derikx at the left post to make an easy push into goal behind Lambert.

For 10 minutes from the middle of the first half Australia camped in Netherlands defensive quarter, pressuring for the equaliser which finally came when Grant Schubert punished a defensive error by Robert van der Horst and drove into the top of goal from the left with 11 seconds to play before the break.

Australia continued to pressure Netherlands in the second half, gaining several shots on goal.

Jamie Dwyer picked up a rebound off the pads of Guus Vogels in Netherlands goal to slap a volley into the back of the net, followed by Netherlands objections that Dwyer’s stick was over his shoulder.

Midway through the second half Netherlands broke out of Australia’s high press. Netherlands captain Jeroen Delmee passed over 40 metres to Jeroen Hertzberger who deflected high into goal to bring the Rotterdam crowd to its feet.

Eddie Ockenden capped a tireless day in attack and defence on the left by punishing another Netherlands defence error near the circle, run possession into the circle and pushed hard to the right post for Travis Brooks to score the decider and silence the crowd with seven minutes to play. AFP