England leak goals and miss medals

The youngest team in India will certainly remember the final stages of the longest hockey World Cup yet staged after England were thrashed 8-1 by Australia here last night.

After losing 6-0 in the semi-finals to Belgium, the eventual world champions, coach Danny Kerry said his team had been “dismantled” for a second time yesterday following Australia’s romp to a bronze medal.

Tom Craig’s hat-trick from open play and two late Jeremy Hayward penalty corner goals underlined Australia’s class after losing their challenge for an unprecedented hat-trick of titles.

And for England? Leaking 14 goals in their final two matches was not the subcontinental gloss they had forecast after beating New Zealand and Argentina, the Olympic champions, on their way to a third successive semi-final defeat.

Yet England’s tournament showed promise for the future. Next month, the launch of the FIH Pro League, a global tournament featuring the top nine sides playing each other home and away, will mean England revert to Great Britain ahead of Olympic qualification.

Over the past three weeks, several England players have given Kerry cause for hope. Last night, he hailed East Grinstead’s Liam Ansell as “one of the best forwards around” after an “outstanding” tournament.

England were let down by their corner routines. None of 11 taken in their past three matches was converted.

It was no coincidence that Holland and Belgium, who have two of the best leagues in the world, played out the final. Belgium prevailed 3-2 in a shoot-out to win their first global title.