The 2-0 victory in Amsterdam followed a 3-2 win in the final pool match last night - England's first in eight years against the side which knocked them out of the Commonwealth Games semi-final 1-0 last October.

England's goals came in the first half from Beckie Herbert, challenging for a place in the London 2012 squad after being left agonisingly on the edge at the Beijing 2008 Games, and from Chloe Rogers in the second.

Keeper Beth Storry was also in inspired form, saving four Australian penalty corner chances in the second half.

Next year's Champions Trophy in Argentina will play a major part in the build-up to the 2012 London Olympics.

"I go away from this tournament feeling OK, knowing that we are in next year's Champions Trophy and knowing that we are competitive with the top teams here," said England's coach, Danny Kerry.

New Zealand beat South Korea 3-2 in the third-place play-off, while China secured seventh place with a 5-3 victory over Germany, who finished eighth.

Argentina face the Netherlands in the final.

England had opened the tournament with a 1-0 defeat by Argentina, but after two goals from Herbert had earned them a 2-2 draw with Korea they could only achieve a goalless draw with the Olympic silver medallists, China, to drop out of medal contention.

To read Beckie Herbert's exclusive interview with insidethegames in the Big Read, please click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]