Spain joined Australia [Images] in the semi-finals of the 11th FIH men's hockey World Cup after scoring a hard-fought but unimpressive 4-2 victory over Japan [Images] in their concluding Pool A match in Monchengladbach, Germany [Images], on Wednesday.

Playing in searing mid-afternoon heat, Spain struggled to find their rhythm and fluency and had a few close shaves before coming through with goals by Santiago Freixa (44th, 57th, 66^th minute) and Pol Amat (22nd).

Kenichi Katayama (15th, 48^th minute) scored for Japan.

The victory took Spain to 11 points, two more than Australia, who had ensured qualification on Tuesday.

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Japan finished at the bottom of the pool with three points from a lone win against Argentina.

Japan were distinctly unlucky to lose, for they had their chances and repeatedly troubled the Spanish defence with nippy moves, quite a few of which led to penalty-corners. But the absence of a specialist drag-flicker weighed them down and they were unable to convert any.

At the other end, Spain played well in patches and it was left to their hard-working forwards to do most of the work, with Amat and Freixta teaming up for a deadly combination.

However, for much of the time, Spain seemed to be playing at half-pace and, at times, tempers ran on short fuse, especially when in the second-half the Japanese were first awarded a goal which was referred to the video umpire after a strong protest from the Spanish bench, with coach Maurits Hendricks running on the pitch.

Katayama's goal was subsequently upheld even as Hendricks was escorted off the pitch.

The tournament takes a day's break on Thursday before the classification matches on the weekend.

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