Broadcasting will start at 15.00 of a match which had previously been scheduled to start at 19.45.

The Dutch men, who finished one point ahead of Argentina in their group, will meet an English team had to beat Belgium in their final qualifier to take over second place in their group, and did so thanks to a penalty stroke converted four minutes from time to earn them a 3-2 victory.

Home fans in The Hague have also been delighted to see that the Netherlands women have also topped their group and will play tomorrow 19.45 against the runners-up of the second qualifying group, Argentina, whom they beat 2-1 in the London 2012 final.

Louis Van Gaal, coach of the Dutch football side at the World Cup finals in Brazil, works with his players ahead of their opening match against holders Spain on Friday evening
©AFP/Getty Images

The first of the women's semi-finals tomorrow, at 16.00, will be between Australia and the surprise group winners of the second group, the United States, who began the tournament ranked tenth but have won all their matches so far.

Argentina's opponents in the second of the men's semis on Friday at18.00 will be Australia, who finished top of their group with five wins out of five.

The remaining teams in each of the groups will be engaged in play-offs for final standings, with Germany and Belgium contesting fifth place in the men's event, and New Zealand and China competing for fifth place in the women's event.

While England's men have lived up to their number four world ranking in thrilling fashion, their female counterparts, who were third in the rankings, have had a miserable time of it in finishing bottom of their group, and will play off with Belgium to contest the last two placings.

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