Members of the Ajit Pal Singh-led team talk with each other on phone to recall the occasion as Hockey India, sports ministry remain in deep slumber

India have proposed conducting the event for either men or women in the January 13 to 29, 2023 window.

The regulation time of the intense all-European final ended goalless, forcing the penalty shootout.

This was Australia's fifth bronze medal in the history of the tournament. The last time the Kookaburras had to be satisfied with a third-place finish was way back in 1994 in front of their home crowd in Sydney.

Belgium mauled England 6-0 in a one-sided match, but the Dutch survived a late Australian charge to win 4-3 via a shoot-out.

Australia are second only to four-time champions Pakistan, having won the world title thrice before, which includes back-to-back gold medals in the last two editions of the tournament in 2010 and 2014.

Belgium and the Netherlands registered wins over Germany and India with identical margins in the third and fourth semi-final matches on Thursday.

India took the lead but it lasted only three minutes. Then a superior, smarter and more experienced side took control of the match, taking the lead in the last quarter even as India continue to play the catch-up.

India find themselves in a rare position to go beyond the quarter-final stage in Hockey World Cup for the first time since 1975.

India last played in the semi-final of the World Cup way back in 1975 when they went on to lift their maiden title.