Argentina in thriller, Australia ease past France

Hockey World Cup 2018: England registered a close 3-2 win over Argentina in the quarter-final while Australia defeated France 3-0 to reach the semis.

England (L) and Australia advanced to the Hockey World Cup 2018 semis in contrasting fashion. (Hockey India Photo)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Australia scored all their goals against France from penalty corners
• Australia await the winners of India vs Netherlands in the semi-final
• Barry Middleton, Will Calnan and Harry Martin scored for England in thrilling win

England upset Argentina 3-2 in a pulsating quarter-finals at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar to enter the semi-final of the Hockey World Cup 2018 while Australia notched up an easy victory against the underdogs of the tournament, France.

While England vs Argentina turned out to be a cracker as expected, France had a tough time containing a rampant Australian side and lost 3-0 to bow out of the tournament after dream run to quarters.

France, ranked 20 in the world, were highly unlikely to even make it to the quarters but they upset Argentina in the pool stage to eventually make it through. However, Australia proved to be way too strong for them.

World No.1 Australia scored all their goals from penalty corners through Jeremy Hayward (4th minute), Blake Govers (19th) and skipper Aran Zalewski (37th) at the Kalinga Stadium.

The Frenchmen played good hockey in bits and pieces but were undone by the Kookaburras' vast experience and skills. Australia will play the winner of Thursday's last quarter-final between India and Netherlands in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Four minutes into the match, Australia earned their first penalty corner when the ball found Francois Goyet's foot and Hayward made no mistake in converting the opportunity to hand his side the early lead.

Australia continued to dominate the proceedings with repeated forays as the French defence found itself in shambles to keep the Kookaburras at bay.

Soon after the start of the second quarter, Jake Whetton earned Australia its second penalty corner and Govers fully obliged by smashing his flick into the back of France's net to take a 2-0 lead.

Just at the stroke of half time, France earned their first penalty corner which they wasted as Australia went into the halfway break with a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Seven minutes into the third quarter, Australia tripled their lead when Zalewski converted Kookaburras' third penalty corner with a variation.

The Australians kept up the pressure on the France defence and secured another penalty corner in the 41st minute but this time they failed to make use of the chance.

The final quarter witnessed a neck-and-neck fight between the two teams as France tried hard to forge a comeback into the match but the Australians defended in numbers to deny any inroads.

The Kookaburras too tried to extend their lead over their less-fancied opponents but failed to create any real scoring opportunities.