Olympic silver medallists Spain were strongly placed to qualify for the men's World Cup semi-finals after a 3-0 win over Malaysia yesterday. Spain have not reached the semi-finals since they were beaten by Pakistan in the first final in 1971.
They will join Germany and the Netherlands in the last four on Saturday if they draw with Poland today, since the other teams in contention from group B, Australia and Pakistan, meet in their final pool match.
Australia defeated England 3-0 and Pakistan beat Poland 3-1 in other games.
Australia and Spain have 10 points and Pakistan nine going into the final group matches.
Spain's third win was almost a stroll, Malaysia being unable to penetrate their tight defence. Juan Escarre gave them the lead from a 13th minute penalty, with Jordi Casas (24 minutes) and Javier Arnau (66 minutes) adding the other goals.
Pakistan were relieved to achieve their eighth successive victory over the Poles. Poland's captain Slawomir Lukaszewski missed a great chance for his side to level at 2-2 by wasting a 63rd minute penalty. The impressive Pakistan goalkeeper, Ahmed Alam, deflected his shot onto a post.
Near the end, Poland were reduced to nine men through suspensions and Pakistan took advantage, Kamran Ashraf scoring his second and Pakistan's third goal.
Islahuddin, the Pakistan manager, said: "I was a worried man. If the Polish penalty had gone in no one could have predicted the result. We might have been out of the tournament".
Two more corner strikes by Jay Stacy helped Australia to their victory over England and kept him in a clear lead at the the top of the men's World Cup scorers' list with nine goals.
But England can seal their place in the next World Cup if they avoid defeat against Malaysia today.
England coach Barry Dancer said: "We had our opportunities but we didn't take them. The Malaysia game is now do or die."
Meanwhile, England women's last remaining hope of qualifying for the top six in the competition was crushed following a 2-1 loss to New Zealand.
The fourth straight defeat for captain Kirsty Bowden's side means England will now battle it out for the ninth to 12th places.
England were 2-0 down at the break, with the opener coming from Moira Senior in the 21st minute, with the lead doubled five minutes later when Mandy Smith's shot was turned over the line by Bowden.
New Zealand dominated after the interval and several outstanding saves from Carolyn Reid prevented the Kiwis from adding to their tally before a Lucilla Wright penalty corner reduced the arrears.
World Cup (in Utrecht, Holland)
Women - Pool B: England 1 New Zealand 2, South Korea 4 India 2. Pool A: Australia 5 South Africa 2, Germany 1 Scotland 0, USA 4 China 0, Australia 5 South Africa 2, Scotland 0 Germany 1.
Men - Pool B: Pakistan 3 Poland 1, Australia 3 England 0, Spain 3 Malaysia 0. Standings (after four games): 1 Australia 10 pts, 2 Spain 10, 3 Pakistan 3, 4 England 3, 5 Poland 1, 6 Malaysia 1.
