Spain displayed an imaginative attack with goals from Eduard Tabau in the 8th minute, Pol Amat in the 11th and Xavier Ribe in the 41st.

It was the third time in a month Australia had lost to the European champions.

"We didn't want the ball. We learned from Australia how to play without the ball," said Spain forward Santiago Freixa. "We had few chances, but we scored on those chances."

Troy Elder, on a 47th minute penalty corner, picked up a consolation goal for Australia. Twice the team hit posts.

"I think with an ounce of luck those posts may have been in and we may have won," Australian coach Barry Dancer said. "One loss is not going to lose a World Cup," he added.

Tabau hit into a crowd, collected the deflected ball and slapped it in at the right post. Amat redirected a free hit from the left into the middle of the net and Ribe scored on a penalty corner.

Pakistan beat Japan 2-0 leaving Spain, Pakistan and New Zealand all with three points in Group A.

In Group B, England rallied to beat India 3-2 while the Netherlands beat South Africa 2-0.

The win by England - seventh in 2002 in its worst performance at the World Cup in two decades - leaves India with little chance of making the semifinals after a 3-2 loss to Germany on Wednesday.