Slick Dutch hand England another hiding

England, for the second time in the European men's Under-21 Nations Cup in Madrid, shipped goals to the Dutch when they were beaten 7-2 in yesterday's bronze medal game. Spain, who had fought back from a 3-0 deficit at the interval to draw 4-4, beat Germany 4-3 in a penalty stroke shoot-out to take the gold medal for the first time.

England, for the second time in the European men's Under-21 Nations Cup in Madrid, shipped goals to the Dutch when they were beaten 7-2 in yesterday's bronze medal game. Spain, who had fought back from a 3-0 deficit at the interval to draw 4-4, beat Germany 4-3 in a penalty stroke shoot-out to take the gold medal for the first time.

There was some British joy on the final day when Scotland, pointless and bottom of their pool, beat France 2-0 to secure the last European place in next year's World Junior Cup in Tasmania. Scotland's goals came in a three-minute period midway through the first half from Ross McPherson and Kenny Moore.

England, who lost their pool game 6-0 to the Netherlands, were again no match for a smooth-moving side boasting a slick penalty corner drill. Taeke Taekema netted in the sixth minute for the first of his three penalty corner conversions and a minute later Rob Derikx put them further ahead before Danny Haydon received the ball off the goalkeeper's pads at a 20th-minute penalty corner to open England's account.

Taekema restored the two-goal margin, but a penalty corner goal from Richard Mantell three minutes after the interval gave England hope.

The dream was over when Ronald Brouwer collected a couple of field goals, while Lars Stalling got another and Taekema completed his hat-trick.

England's chances were not helped by the temporary suspension of Mantell, the second in successive games, just at a time when a fightback might have been possible.

EUROPEAN UNDER-21 NATIONS CUP A Division (Madrid). Final: Spain 4 Germany 4, Spain won 4-3 aps. 3/4th: Netherlands 7 England 2. 5/6th: Scotland 2 France 0. 7/8th: Ireland 5 Italy 2.