1 to reach the top four of the Champions Trophy hockey tournament Tuesday, as host New Zealand advanced with a barnstorming comeback against the Netherlands. In the last day of initial pool play, New Zealand trailed 3-0 against the Holland but salvaged a 3-3 draw, to consign Olympic champions Germany to the bottom four of the last major men's hockey tournament before the London Games. Germany could only manage a 3-3 draw against South Korea, not enough to remain in the elite group, while Australia thrashed Pakistan 6-1. Britain slumped to its heaviest defeat in the competition's history, found wanting under an unrelenting inquisition from a Spanish team determined to make amends for a disappointing sixth place in this year's European championship. Coach Jason Lee's side went a goal up through skipper Barry Middleton after 23 minutes but from there it was all one-way traffic as Spain tore apart the British defense. “We were very, very poor ... we physically and technically couldn't cope,” Lee said, lamenting the way his team gifted Spain “two of the softest goals I've ever seen” to begin the rout. Lee was upset not only at the lop-sided scoreline, but also the lack of fighting spirit his team displayed in their meek capitulation. The result means Spain joins Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands in the top four group that will compete for medals at the eight-nation tournament. Britain, South Korea, Pakistan and Germany will join the “best of the rest” to fight over the bottom four places when play resumes following a rest day Wednesday. Beijing gold medalist Germany needed a win against South Korea to ensure a spot in the top four. But complacency set in after it took a 2-0 lead into the break, with the never-say-die Koreans slamming home three second-half goals, requiring a Tobias Matania shot three minutes from full-time to ensure a 3-3 draw. The draw was not enough after Pool B rival New Zealand, spurred on by vocal home support, staged a desperate fight-back from 3-0 down to earn a 3-3 draw with the Netherlands. Pakistan manager manager Khawaja Junaid said his team, making its first Champions Trophy appearance since 2007, was still on a learning curve ahead of the Olympics after the 6-1 defeat to Australia. Captain Jamie Dwyer scored a hat trick, taking his tally of goals for the tournament to six, as World No. 1 topped Pool A. The win was Australia's largest over Pakistan in a world-level event. “It will take time,” he said.
