In the day's other match, Pakistan defeated Germany's development team 5-2.

The result was never in doubt as Pakistan quickly went into a 3-0 lead and Germany's two goals after half time were replied with two more from Pakistan.

Pakistan's first three goals followed the same pattern with possession starting in midfield then worked to the backline on the right and centred for a forward to score from in front.

The result kept alive Pakistan's chances of making the final ahead of Australia.

Pakistan were too quick in Germany's circle for Germany's inexperienced defenders, Eike Duckwitz and Jan-Marco Montag, leaving Christian Schulte to chance to save the goals when Pakistan moved the ball quickly through the circle.

First Kashif Jawad (6th minute) then Rehan Butt (15th minute), then Jawad again (26th minute) scored from in front after the hard work by the final passer.

Three goals ahead and Pakistan slowed down, secure with its lead.

The second half started as the first, with a goal from in front after a back-pass from the right, but this time it was Germany's Benedikt Sperling scoring from a pass by Benjamin Kopp (43rd minute).

Five minutes later Kopp found a new way to the net with a strong individual run into the circle, firing a shot high into goal to take the score to 3-2 to Pakistan.

Pakistan's second goalkeeper, Salman Akbar was replaced with the more experienced Ahmad Alam two minutes later.

Pakistan and Germany had other chances in front of goal with Pakistan getting three shots on Schulte who saved each chance.

In the last six minutes Pakistan came alive again after Benedikt Sperling received a short yellow card suspension. Sohail Abbas converted a penalty-corner (64th minute) and Salim Khalid finished a brilliant fast break by Pakistan after Germany's failed third penalty corner which caught Germany's youngsters too committed to offence and Pakistan with 5 on 3 in attack (67th minute).

"We took it easy after 3-0," acknowledged Pakistan's manager, Abdul Rashid.

"We are satisfied with the three points but are looking forward to tomorrow's match against India which is a war of nerves," he said.

"It is impossible to predict the result of the match against India as each country wants to win this match more than any other in the Champions Trophy and the players play for national pride," Rashid added.

Bernhard Peters, Germany's coach, believes his young charges have learned from their four defeats.

"They have learned experience about speed on the ball and tactical things which will be invaluable for them in the future," Peter said.

NETHERLANDS-ARGENTINANetherlands soaked up early pressure from Argentina, preventing the South Americans getting a shot on goal as Argentina camped in Netherlands half for the first five minutes.

The shot finally came from Matias Paredes after quick passes through the circle found Paredes unmarked to drive in from six metres in front (7th minute) and Netherlands defenders heads went down.

Netherlands scored a spectacular goal through Ronald Brouwer when Taeke Taekema's free hit at the top of Netherlands defensive circle found Ronald Brouwer racing to collect the ball on the opposite side of the pitch to run into the circle unchallenged and drive a hard, high shot past Pablo Moreira in goal (16th minute).

Midway through the first half, Netherlands applied the pressure to Argentina, earned a penalty-corner and Taeke Taekema flicked high to the left of Moreira (20th minute).

Jorge Lombi replied with his own blistering penalty-corner flick to the left of Guus Vogels anchored in the middle of the goal (28th minute).

Matthijs Brouwer matched his cousins goal, converting a sharp chance in front of goal after earlier missing a similar chance (31st minute) and Jorge Lomi converted Argentina's second penalty corner with a flick along the carpet into the left pocket of goal to the right of Vogels (33rd minute).

Netherlands skipped away to a 5-2 lead 10 minutes into the second half when Karel Klaver weaved through four defenders in the circle to push into goal to Moreira's left (45th minute) and Ronald Brouwer deflected in Taeke Taekema's second low penalty corner flick along the carpet to the right post (47th minute).

Argentina fell back in defence taking all their players behind the ball while Carlos Retegui served a long yellow card suspension and Netherlands scored with an opportunist goal to Rob Reckers who pounced on a bouncing ball in the circle and hammered a shot into goal (60th minute) for Netherlands to lead 6-3 at the final hooter.

"We played the best hockey of the tournament in the second half today," said Netherlands coach Joost Bellaart.

"We wanted to tire Argentina after their hard match yesterday and it worked in the second half, even though we allowed Argentina back into the match with two penalty corners."

Argentina's coach, Jorge Ruiz said: "The result happened in the second half after we had a yellow card suspension and it was impossible to go ahead with a player suspended.

"Defender Ezequiel Paulon was injured in the 19th minute and will not play again in the tournament."