Paris: Germany claimed a 3-2 win over India in the men's hockey semifinal at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday after Marco Miltkau scored the winner by lifting the ball over veteran goalkeeper P R Sreejesh with six minutes left on the clock.

Germany last reached the final at London 2012 when they claimed gold and will now play the Netherlands, who have not conceded a goal in their two knockout stage matches. The Dutch outclassed Spain 4-0 in the first semifinal.

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India, who are back in the bronze medal match after beating Germany in Tokyo for third place, will need to wait another four years to snap a gold medal drought since 1980.

Hardik Singh reacts after the loss as Indian coach Craig Fulton waves to the fans. Photo: Reuters/Adnan Abidi
Hardik Singh reacts after the loss as Indian coach Craig Fulton waves to the fans. Photo: Reuters/Adnan Abidi

Skipper Harmanpreet Singh opened the scoring on a penalty corner in the seventh minute with a high floating ball going over a diving goalkeeper Jean-Paul Danneberg following several set piece tries in a row.

Two penalties by Jarmanpreet Singh in the second quarter cost India the lead as defender Gonzalo Peillat scored with a rifling strike on a penalty corner in the 18th minute and Christopher Ruehr added on a penalty stroke in the 27th.

The third quarter opened with a beautiful diving save by Danneberg to deny the India skipper an equaliser off of a penalty corner.

Sukhjeet Singh, right, celebrates India's second goal. Photo: Manorama/Manoj Chemancheri
Sukhjeet Singh, right, celebrates India's second goal. Photo: Manorama/Manoj Chemancheri

Sukhjeet Singh scored a few minutes later in the 36th as another Harmanpreet drag-flick bounced off his stick and over the outstretched Danneberg, but Miltkau then secured the win.