France face Malaysia, Netherlands up against Germany in semis

France will face Malaysia, while The Netherlands will lock horns against defending champions Germany in the semifinals of the Hero Junior Men's Hockey World Cup at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, here tomorrow.
Jean-Laurent Kierffer scored a brace as France stunned European champions Belgium 5-4 in a nail-biting quarterfinal match, while Malaysia beat Korea 2-1 in another last-eight match to register their place in the semifinals of the mega-event after a hiatus of 28 years.
Earlier in the day, The Netherlands eked out a hard-fought 3-2 win over New Zealand to progress to the last-four stage, and holders Germany edged past Australia 4-3 in the final quarterfinal.

In the quarterfinal between France and Belgium, the Frenchmen scored through Victor Charlet (15th minute), Hugo Genestet (40th), Kierffer (48th, 65th) and Theophile Ponthieu (58th) to register a hard-earned victory.
Belgium's first goal was an own goal in 29th minute, while Maxime Plennevaux (37th, 47th) and Dorian Thiery (42nd) were the other goal-getters.
It was exciting clash between Belgium, widely expected to do well in this Junior World Cup, and a French team that had only lost to them on an overtime golden goal in semi-finals of the European Cup.

Belgium earned a penalty-corner via a video-referral in the second minute, only to shot wide.

Pieter Van Straaten had the first chance for France with a high backhand shot that was deflected by Arnaud Flamand in the Belgian goal. France wasted their first penalty-corner but Charlet was bang on target in the 15th minute to give the lead to Les Bleus.
Belgium immediately turned on the heat and equalised in the 29th minute through an own goal as both the teams went into the breather locked at 1-1.
After the crossover, it rained goals as both France and Belgium were in no mood to give an inch to each other.
Plennevaux gave Belgium the lead in the 37th minute, but Genestet brought France back on par three minutes later with a well-executed penalty-corner conversion.