The New Zealand men's hockey team has finished fourth at the World League Semi-Final in Rotterdam after losing 4-1 to hosts the Netherlands in the bronze medal playoff.
Phil Burrows netted a goal early and the score was level at halftime, but the Black Sticks were outmuscled in the second half with the Dutch capitalising on a high percentage of possession.
The result means the Black Sticks Men will need to wait until the conclusion of the other World League Semi-Final being played in Malaysia next week to find out whether they will progress to the World League Final in India in January.
The top three sides from each World League Semi-Final progress to the World League Final along with the hosts (India), and the final spot goes to the fourth placed team with the highest FIH World Ranking.
New Zealand can qualify for next year's World Cup by winning the Oceania Cup, while world ranking could also get them there.
Belgium beat Australia in a shootout in the final of the Rotterdam tournament.
The Black Sticks women also finished 4th in Rotterdam.
