The Hockeyroos have missed out on their dream of making another World Cup final after their improbable run to the semis was sunk by a late goal in a 1-0 defeat to Argentina.
Australia's hockey women, hoping to make it to the final for the first time in 12 years on Thursday (Friday AEST), were sunk by a fourth-quarter penalty corner from Julieta Jankunas in the 47th minute of their last-four clash in Wavre, Belgium.
There was an element of inevitability about the Argentine victory, as they had begun to really apply the pressure in the latter stages against a Hockeyroos side which had struggled to find the net the whole tournament.
Indeed, the Australians had enjoyed an almost unprecedented run to this stage, being the first side in 40 years to make it to the semis by winning just one match, having also lost one and drawn three at the tournament co-hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium.
The Hockeyroos' resilience, in evidence throughout the competition, served them well as they kept battling into the dying seconds but they were eventually to fall short in their bid to win the World Cup for a third time.
Argentina will now meet the Netherlands in Saturday’s (Sunday AEST) final after the Dutch had earlier beaten their co-hosts Belgium 1-0 in a home tie in Amstelveen to proceed to their eighth successive final.
It will be a repeat of the 2022 final when the Dutch beat Argentina 3-1 in Spain.
The all-conquering Dutch, who are also European and Olympic champions, will be hot favourites to take a fourth successive title and a record-extending 10th overall.
Frederique Matla’s 28th-minute goal from a quick counter-attack saw the Dutch through, but Belgium felt they had equalised five minutes from the end through Famke van Heel.
But the goal was disallowed by VAR after what was ruled an obstruction by a Belgian teammate in the circle, much to their frustration.
