Pakistan hopes of finishing second in Pool A were dashed by a spirited France side as the teams played out a 2-2 draw on day 8 of the Hockey World League Semi-finals in Antwerp, Belgium, on Sunday.

Pakistan had only themselves to blame for not closing out the game, the Greenshirts missing several opportunities in front of goal. Captain Mohammad Imran missed from the spot after Les Bleus gifted their opponents a penalty stroke in the first quarter.

But it was France which lead the match twice thanks to goals by Simon Martin Brisac and Charles Masson.

Pakistan restored the parity through goals from Waqas Sharif and Mohammad Dilber but it was a game which they really should have won.

Pakistan finished the pool phase in third place and will face the team that finished second in Pool B in the cross-over quarter-finals.

“France played well but we were quite sloppy. I think in the whole of the game we had too many chanced that we missed,” said Greenshirts captain Imran after the match.

“We will learn from our mistakes and plan for the quarter-final.”

The Hockey World League Semi-finals, a qualification tournament for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, kick off from July 1.