FIH World Cup 2010
Dates: 28 Feb-13 March Venue: Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Delhi
Coverage: Live coverage of England's semi-final at 1235 GMT on Thursday, 11 March on the BBC Red Button and at www.telegraph.co.uk

By Sean Chaney

England lost their 100% record at the World Cup after losing 2-0 to Spain, but were already guaranteed a semi-final spot after four straight wins.

Jason Lee's men go through as runners-up after Australia beat Pakistan 2-1 to top Pool B on goal difference.

Pau Quemada deservedly put Spain in front on the stroke of half-time after firing home from a penalty corner.

England could not find an equaliser and Ed Tubau wrapped up the win in Delhi with a late breakaway score.

England are now likely to face either the Netherlands or Olympic champions Germany in the first of Thursday's semi-finals at 1235 GMT, but Korea and New Zealand are still in with a chance of making the knockout stages.

To compete with Spain, who are the Olympic silver medallists, you have to be at the top of your game and we were not England team manager Andy Halliday

"We're capable of beating any of the four sides who could qualify from Pool A," said England team manager Andy Halliday.

"But we will just have to wait and see. Two days rest between now and the semi-final will do us good," he added.

Korea and New Zealand are the other two countries still with a chance of making the last four.

It is the first time England have reached the semi-finals of a World Cup since they hosted the event in 1986.

England lost in the final to Australia that year, before going on to win Olympic gold in South Korea in 1988.

But the European champions will need to improve on Monday's lacklustre display against Spain if they are to make an impact in the rest of the tournament.

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England spurned two penalty corner chances in the first half and failed to really work Spanish goalkeeper Albert Sala.

James Tindall burst through the Spanish defence after 23 minutes but his mazy dribble came to nothing when he pulled his weak shot wide.

Richard Alexander then fizzed a first-half effort across the face of the Spanish goal but England captain Barry Middleton could not connect at the back post.

After the break England's best chance came when Iain Mackay got his stick onto Ben Hawes' effort but the deflection took the ball into the side-netting.

"To be honest, we were disappointing; we lacked energy," said England team manager Andy Halliday.

"To compete with Spain, who are the Olympic silver medallists, you have to be at the top of your game and we were not."

The defeat means England end the group stages with a record of four wins and one defeat.

In the final match in Pool B South Africa and hosts India played out an entertaining 3-3 draw in Delhi.

The draw meant that India finished fourth in the table, ahead of South Africa on goal difference with Pakistan in sixth place.

England: Fair, Dixon, Hawes, Smith, Wilson, Jackson, Kirkham, Middleton (capt), Brogdon, Clarke, Moore.

Substitutes: Alexander, Catlin, Fox, Mackay, Tindall.

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