Germany flicked out of medals by Giles

Great Britain 2 Germany 1

Great Britain's men last night celebrated as if they had won the gold medal after defeating the European champions Germany, one of the favourites to win the tournament.

It lifted them off the bottom of their group into fourth place and even gives them a chance of holding on to their world ranking and the lottery grants that go with it.

What they did not at once realise was that they had denied Germany a semi-final place and resurrected the Dutch, who thought their chance of retaining the title had gone after a 2-0 defeat by Pakistan.

This tournament has seen a welcome change in the men's and women's pecking order. Pakistan's men will play Korea in one semi-final, assuring Asia of a finalist for the first time since Pakistan won gold in 1984. Australia will have to get past the Dutch to make the final as their women did.

Britain had been given a life-line when Canada and Malaysia, the teams immediately above them in their group, drew 1-1. If either had won Britain would be playing for 9-12th places tomorrow. They had not beaten Germany in a major event since the famous 1988 Olympic final and had lost to them 6-1 in Hamburg a few weeks earlier.

The coach Barry Dancer explained how it happened: "Last time we played very well against them for 20 minutes and then had a downturn. I told them we had to eliminate that downturn and nullify their strengths for a full 70 minutes."

A point was all Germany needed and two minutes into the second half they scored. Britain's goalkeeper Simon Mason blocked a shot by Christian Mayerhofer only to see the ball deflect into goal off Tom Bertram. Britain responded by forcing a corner. From Craig Parnham's flick the ball struck the German runner-out's stick and flew over the keeper into goal.

The Germans could have closed down the game but did not. Three times Mason in the British goal denied them at corners, twice with the help of his woodwork.

Then Britain hit a purple patch. The indefatigable Danny Hall might have won the match just before Calum Giles was introduced in the hope Britain won a corner. They did and Giles produced one of his best flick shots to win the match.

Britain's first 5-8th place match will be tomorrow against India.