Five-star Netherlands send warning to England
Women's Hockey World Cup, Argentina
Dates: 29 August - 11 September Semi-final coverage: England v Netherlands LIVE on BBC Sport website and Red Button from 2025 BST on 9 September
England will face the Netherlands in the semi-finals of the women's hockey World Cup on Thursday after the Dutch topped their Pool by beating Japan 5-2.
Danny Kerry's England side reached the last four for the first time in 20 years but face stiff competition in the world and Olympic champions.
Argentina will take on Germany in Thursday's other semi-final.
"It's brilliant to be part of the big games at the end of the tournament," said England defender Helen Richardson.
"But we did set our sights on it so we're not overly shocked.
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"They're the number one team in the world and they're there for a reason. They've been the best team for a good few years now and they've got some very strong players.
"Throughout the whole team it's hard to find weaknesses but we've always had close games against them and I think our game has moved on quite a lot over the last 10 months. Hopefully we'll be putting up a better fight tomorrow and even coming out with the win."
The Netherlands finished Pool A with 15 points, scoring 25 goals and conceding only eight, while England lost only once in finishing second in Pool B behind hosts Argentina.
Australia now go on to a fifth-place decider against South Korea.
England, who finished fourth in 1990, won the bronze medal at the Champions Trophy in Nottingham in July and Richardson is optimistic for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October and 2012 Olympics.
"The sport is definitely on the rise and, with London 2012 approaching, it can only be good news," she stated.
David Faulkner, England's performance director, has said that he is confident that they can pull off a victory and reach the final.
"There will be nerves, but this group have had a good summer," Faulkner told BBC Radio 5 live. "We experienced a fantastic game against Argentina and hopefully we can take that forward.
"I think it will be very close. We are playing an experienced team and a team very dangerous from penalty corners.
"A year ago I would have said we were just happy to be in the top four but I think that it will be a close game."
Argentina end England's unbeaten run
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