By Gary Anderson

August 23 - Germany and Belgium will meet for the first time in a European Championship finalGermany remain on course to add European gold to their Olympic crown as they saw off London 2012 finalists the Netherlands, while host nation Belgium overcame England, in the men's semi-finals at the European Championships in Boom.

In a repeat of the 2011 final, reigning champions Germany and the Netherlands produced a thrilling contest which saw the Germans come from behind at half-time to seal their place in a third consecutive European Championship final on a scoreline of 5-3.

Three-time champions the Netherlands went in at the break leading 2-1 following two Mink van der Weerden penalty corners with Tobias Hauke's goal in the 29th minute keeping the Germans in touch.

Not long after the break, a mazy run by Mats Grambusch into the heart of the Dutch defence saw the ball fall to Thilo Stralkowski who drove it to the net and square things up.

Grambusch then turned from provider to finisher as he capitalised on German momentum by twice beating Jaap Stockmann in the Dutch goal with accomplished finishes to put Germany firmly in the box-seat as the second half progressed.

A Billy Bakker goal with five minutes to go seemed set to provide a grandstand finish with just a single goal between the sides but Germany quashed any thoughts of a famous Dutch comeback as Oskar Deecke broke up the pitch and calmly slotted home to seal a 5-3 win for the five-time European champions.

Germanys Mats Grambusch baggeed two goals in his sides semi-final win over the NetherlandsGermany's Mats Grambusch bagged two goals in his side's semi-final win over the Netherlands























































The final on Sunday (August 25) is sure to be a vociferous occasion as Belgium will be looking to take advantage of home support in their their first ever European Championship final after they put in an impressive performance against 2009 champions England.

A diving Thomas Briels skilfully guided a Florent van Aubel ball past George Pinner in the England goal to give the Belgians the lead on 20 minutes.

The game ebbed and flowed for the remainder of the opening period but England could not find the breakthrough and trailed 1-0 at half-time.

The second-half saw the hosts grow in confidence as they had the English pegged back for long periods.

That dominance was eventually rewarded on 44 minutes as Jerome Truyens got the all-important second goal to give his side a two-goal cushion and in truth the game was done and dusted eight minutes later after van Aubel bagged another to put the Belgians three goals to the good and out of sight.

Despite half-chances for the likes of David Condon, Barry Middleton and Tom Carson, the English never looked like getting back into the game and will now face the Dutch in Sunday's bronze medal match.

England goal-keeper George Pinner is dejected after seeing three goals go past him in the semi-final defeat to BelgiumEngland goalkeeper George Pinner is dejected after seeing three goals go past him in the semi-final defeat to Belgium


























"I think it was a reality check for us tonight, Belgium played really well and deserved the victory to take them to the final," said a disappointed England head coach Bobby Crutchley afterwards.

"They scored at key times when it was still tight and they managed to take the game away from us.

"As a team we are some distance away from getting the results that Belgium have had recently, beating the likes of Germany and Australia.

"I'm really proud of the boys to get into the top four, I said before the tournament that was our primary objective and we've achieved that.

"We've played the Netherlands a lot recently and we've just come out on the wrong side of those games, but they have been really close battles.

"It will be great to play them again on Sunday for a medal."

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