A thrilling match saw England beat Belgium to book semi-final date with Netherlands
A penalty in the 66th minute gave England a hard-earned 3-2 victory over their European rivals Belgium in a thrilling match in the Kyocera Stadium. The result means England progress to the semi-finals where an encounter with the home nation, the Netherlands, awaits. For Belgium the result means a fifth/sixth classification match against New Zealand or Germany, depending on tomorrow's results.
In a match that was effectively a quarter-final, fourth-ranked England needed a win, while Belgium, who in the FIH World Rankings are one place below England, simply needed a draw to progress. The Pool B game couldn't have been more evenly-matched from start to finish. The teams went at it hammer and tongs for the entirety of the game, and it came to the final five minutes for a result and a winner to emerge.
England started brightly: Dan Fox throwing a lovely aerial to Barry Middleton, who had a busy opening few minutes causing havoc among the Red Lions defence. Despite the England pressure, first blood went to Belgium as Simon Gougnard sped round the England defence and slipped back to Thomas Briels (13'). Briels made no mistake as he slammed the ball past George Pinner in the England goal.
Belgium nearly doubled their lead through Tanguy Cosyn's first attempt at a penalty drag flick in the match. A devastatingly quick run by Emmanuel Stockbroekx divided the England defence and Stockbroekx found Jerome Truyens. The ensuing penalty corner found Pinner alert to the danger as he pulled off a great save, diving low to knock the ball round the corner.
Nick Catlin had a fantastic game and scored the equaliser just six minutes later, his shot from the top of the circle leaving Vincent Vanash standing. The 'keeper atoned a few minutes later as he denied a sharp shot from Ashley Jackson, then Boon was unlucky not to score as his reverse stick shot just wide of Pinner's far post.
Immediately after half-time, Boon again came close as he tried to steer a bouncing cross past Pinner, but it was Ashley Jackson (39') who got on the end of a pass from the hard-working Catlin. This signalled the start of a period of play that had the England fans on the edge of their seat, as England seemed to sit back and defend their slender lead. This attitude was punished when Tanguy Cosyns (63') stepped up and fired a penalty corner home.
The final minutes were frantic with Belgium and England pouring players forward in an attempt to gain the points, but it was England who got lucky – a penalty corner shot struck Xavier Reckinger on the foot on the line and Iain Lewers showed that he had the coolest head in the stadium as he stepped up to slot the ball home and guide England to the semi-finals.
A delighted Geroge Pinner said: "Out there you saw the real England. Players who are willing to put their bodies on the line. And that is the team that will turn up against the Netherlands. There will be 15,000 people in the stadium and most of them will be supporting the Netherlands, but we want a world cup medal more than anything."
After the match, coach Bobby Crutchley said that previous experience had made the team very wary of Belgium. "They are a top team, and they will be a top team for many years."
Coach Mark Lammers said: "The English were very clever. Their key players played well and our players didn't reach their top level. We had to change our midfield when Felix Denayer left the pitch."
Official Match Report (PDF)
