Netherlands take crown

The Dutch have lost in the finals of the last two World Cup and this thoroughly deserved win gave them their first win World Champions title since 1990.

They were also given further reason to celebrate after the match when captain Minke Booij was named as World Player of the Year.

Marc Lammers - the Dutch coach - was certainly happy with the performance his team gave.

"After losing the last two finals we brought in some new young players and they have performed wonderfully well in this tournament," Lammers said.

"We have improved and now have no weaknesses."

There were few scoring opportunites in a first half that was characterised by unforced errors and nerves from both sides.

But the Hockeyroos were lucky to reach half-time with the scores still level as more controversy struck when Netherlands had a goal disallowed.

The ball was fired into the circle by Eefke Mulder and Sylvia Karres claimed the deflection that might have put the Dutch ahead.

On closer scrutiny, however, it was clear that the ball had in fact come off Angie Skirving's stick and so the long corner was given instead of the goal.

The second half began in the same manner with errors still flowing thick and fast.

But Maartje Paumen broke the deadlock just after 40 minutes when she converted from a penalty corner.

The Australian's responded immediately and while Netherlands still looked to be the more comfortable of the teams, the increased pressure from the Hockeyroos eventually forced the error.

Australia were awarded the penalty stroke when a shot in the circle hit a Dutch player in the waist on the goal line. Rebecca Sanders calmly fired the ball into the back of the net sending Lisanne de Roever to the right and the ball to the left.

Karres put Netherlands in the lead again but she scored her sixth goal of the tournament - making her the top goal scorer in Madrid - with a reverse stick shot that left keeper Rachel Imison stranded.

Paumen put the trophy beyond doubt three minutes time when she fired home after a penalty stroke had been awarded. Karres had seemed free to get the third goal but her shot - deemed to be on target - came off an Australian defender and the penalty stroke was given.

With the clock ticking down, Australia seemed to accept that it was not going to be their day and as the hooter sounded the end of the match the Dutch celebrations began.

"It's fantastic, amazing, I don't think it will sink in until tomorrow," Paumen said.

"I think the key to our victory was that we were a real team and did everything we could to help each other."