Following the completion of Day 4, the Semi Final line-up for the FIH Indoor World Cup in Poznan is now known.
In the women's tournament, The Netherlands will face Belarus for a place in the Final, with Germany and Ukraine doing battle in the second Semi Final. The men's Semi Finals will see reigning world champions Germany take on Russia, with host nation Poland facing a mouth-watering contest against European Champions Austria.
The Semi Finals will take place on Saturday in front of what is expected to be a capacity crowd at the Poznan International Fair, where a vast number of Poland fans will hope to cheer their team to a win which would secure a third successive Indoor World Cup Final.
The host nation did not have it all their own way on Day 4, with the women's team falling to a 3-0 defeat against Germany which meant that they would not feature in the Semi Finals. The men's team also lost, falling to The Netherlands 3-2 in a dazzling and feisty encounter. However, the result was just enough for Poland to squeeze into the Semi Finals thanks to a marginally superior goal difference. Had The Netherlands won by two clear goals they would have replaced their Polish opponents in the Semi Finals.
Poland's Semi Final opponents are Austria, who managed to overcome England in one of the best games of the day. Michael KORPER scored twice in a 3-2 win over the Englishmen, who came incredibly close to equalizing in the dying moments of the game. Austria ended up topping Pool B, with Russia taking the second Semi Final spot thanks to a draw with Czech Republic. The result was devastating for the Czechs, who knew that a victory could have seen them into the Semi Finals.
Russia's Semi Final opponents Germany confirmed their place in the Semi Finals with a staggering 14-1 win over Canada. Their complete dominance suggests that the Russians will need to be at the top of their game if they are to stop the double World Champions.
The Netherlands women comfortably took top spot in Pool A thanks to a typically dominant and assured display, crushing Austria 7-0 to take their remarkable goal difference tally to +29 at the end of the Pool phase. Karin den OUDEN and Belle van MEER scored two goals each as the reigning world champions outclassed their opponents to set up their Semi Final meeting with Belarus, who drew with Australia in the evening game.
Earlier in the day, Ukraine produced a superb performance to crush Czech Republic 6-1. Yana VORUSHYLO netted two goals in the rout that effectively sealed their place in the tournament Semi Finals and a meeting with the mighty Germany.
For complete information about all of Friday's action at the tournament, please visit www.poznan2011.sportcentric.com .
