Hockey Men's World Cup 2018: England lose 8-1 to Australia in play-off
- Published
Tom Craig scored a hat-trick for Australia against England on Sunday
England have been beaten heavily again at the Hockey Men's World Cup, losing 8-1 to Australia in the third-place play-off in India.
England were thrashed 6-0 by Belgium in the semi-finals on Saturday, and were 2-0 down after nine minutes on Sunday after Blake Govers and Tom Craig goals.
Craig got two more goals, including one in a spell of three in two minutes, the others by Trent Mitton and Tim Brand.
Barry Middleton scored a consolation goal before Jeremy Hayward's double.
England - who finished fourth at a World Cup for the third time in a row - have not beaten Australia since 2014 and lost 3-0 to them in a group game earlier in the tournament.
In the final, Belgium beat Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out after the game ended goalless in normal time.
Belgium were playing in their first World Cup final and prevailed against a Dutch side who had beaten Australia on penalties in the last four.
England starting XI: Gibson, Ames, Gleghorne, Roper, Dixon, Middleton, Ansell, Condon, Waller, Gall, Sanford
Australia XI: Lovell, Dawson, Ockenden, Whetton, Govers, Zalewski, Swann, Beale, Mitton, Brand, Hayward