Hosts Spain clinch remaining berth in World Cup

MADRID, Oct 4 (Reuters) Spain today clinched the remaining berth in the semi-finals of the women's Hockey World Cup in Madrid after a 1-1 draw with England in their final match in Pool A.

The hosts will play Australia on Friday when they bid for a first ever place in a World Cup final, while Netherlands meet defending champions Argentina.

England will have to be content with playing for the minor places together with Germany, United States and Japan.

Australia, who won the World Cup in 1994 and 1998, ensured they finished top of Pool B with an emphatic 3-0 win over a much-fancied Argentina side.

Five times world champions Netherlands emerged as clear winners of Pool A when they wrapped up an impressive campaign that included a 6-1 demolition of China with a 0-0 draw against Olympic champions Germany today.

The Dutch, who last won the title back in 1990, have now reached 11 World Cup semi-finals in 12 tournaments. The only time they have finished out of the top four was in 1994 when they came sixth in Dublin.

Germany's hopes of qualification for the last four evaporated when they lost 1-0 to England yesterday, leaving the way open for Spain and England to fight it out for the remaining semi-final slot.

Spain, needing a draw to assure their place in the final four, took the lead in the 10th minute when Montserrat Cruz drew keeper Beth Storry out of her goal and fired home from a tight angle to score her first goal of the tournament.

England laid siege to the Spain goal in the closing stages and Mel Clewlow equalised from a penalty corner with six minutes to go, but they were unable to beat Spain keeper Maria Jesus Rosa again before the final whistle.

''We suffered far too much and made things difficult for ourselves, but the draw was enough to see us through,'' Cruz told Spanish television.

Spain, whose most notable previous success was when they won the gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992, have never reached the semi-final stage before, their best previous showing being fifth place in 1976 and 1990.

Earlier today, China avoided a whitewash in the pool matches with a 1-0 victory over India, whose best result was a 1-1 draw against England.

Reuters SBA VP0150