NEW DELHI, March 11 Two-time defending champion Germany will play Australia in a third straight field hockey World Cup final this weekend.

Germany outplayed England 4-1 and Australia posted a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in the semi-finals on Thursday at Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

The final is on Saturday.

Jan-Marco Montag gave Germany the lead in the sixth minute and Oliver Korn deflected in a cross from the right to make it 2-0 in the 10th.

England halved the deficit through a penalty-corner conversion by Richard Smith in the 18th, but Germany took a 3-1 cushion into halftime thanks to Martin Haner's 31st-minute goal from another penalty-corner.

Linus Butt scored from a penalty-corner in the 60th to cap the scoring.

England was last in the World Cup semis in 1986, but still has a chance to add to its silver medal from that year. It will meet the Netherlands for the bronze medal before the final.

In the second semi, Luke Doerner converted Australia's first penalty-corner to open the scoring in the 27th minute and Glenn Turner's flash strike in open play doubled the lead in the 55th.

The Netherlands finally replied three minutes later with a penalty-stroke conversion by Taeke Taekema, but the equaliser remained elusive despite repeated attacks.

“It was a tough game. We held the ball most of the time, and most importantly scored goals,” Australia coach Ric Charlesworth said.

“Our game was not as solid as I want it to be, but we showed enough quality that took us to the final.”

The Kookaburras will be seeking to add to their 1986 title in their fourth final. They haven't beaten Germany at the World Cup since the 1994 bronze medal game.—AP