ROURKELA: Player of the Match Vincent Vanasch saved three goals in the penalty shootouts on Friday as Belgium beat the Netherlands to advance into their second successive finals at the FIH World Cup hockey here.
Earlier, the match ended 2-2 after the regulation period.
In the other semis, Germany overcame Australia 4-3.
Hosts India and Argentina recorded thumping victories in the first round of classification matches on Thursday.
India simply gave no space to Asian champions Japan while recording a magnificent 8-0 victory.
The goal scorers included Mandeep Singh (33rd, penalty corner), Abhishek (36th, 44th), Vivek Sagar Prasad (40th, penalty corner), skipper Harmanpreet Singh (46th, 59th, both on penalty corner), Manpreet Singh (59th) and Sukhjeet Singh (60th, penalty corner).
India will now play their final game of the World Cup, a 9-12 position contest against South Africa at the same venue on Saturday.
A victory would mean that India would finish either ninth or 10th while a loss would result in 11th or 12th. India’s worst finish at a World Cup came in London 1986 when ended 12th and last. The current format of the quadrennial tournament has 16 teams.
Argentina side bulldozed Chile 8-0 with Nicolas della Torre (ninth, penalty corner), Maico Casella (17th, 34th), Lucas Toscani (19th, penalty corner), Bautista Capurro (23rd), Nicolas Keenan (25th), Martin Ferreiro (51st) and Tomas Domene (56th, penalty corner) among the scorers.
