World champions Germany [ Images ] retained the men's European Nations Cup after a nailbiting 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory over hosts Spain on Saturday.

The victory also secured them a place in next year's Olympics [ Images ].

Earlier on Saturday, The Netherlands won the women's tournament for the fifth time in six attempts with a comprehensive 5-0 defeat of Spain in the final.

The victory ensured that the Dutch gained an automatic place for the 2004 Olympic Games [ Images ] in Athens and will not have to go through next year's qualifying tournament in New Zealand [ Images ].

In the men's final, it was Spain who took the lead with a well-taken field goal from Santi Freixa in the 19th minute, but Germany levelled the game 14 minutes later when skipper Florian Kunz scored from a penalty-corner.

With the scores remaining level right through to the end of extra-time it was the World champions who held their nerve to claim their narrow victory.

England [ Images ] took third place in the men's tournament when they beat the Netherlands 6-5 in a penalty shoot-out after the match had ended in a 1-1 draw at the end of extra-time.

The Netherlands' captain Mijntje Donners led by example in the women's final, beginning the rout with an early goal from a fierce close-range shot after just four minutes.

The tournament's leading scorer extended her side's lead from a penalty corner midway through the first half to take her tally to 13 goals in seven games.

Kim Lammers added another to give the Dutch a comfortable 3-0 lead by the break and the favourites wrapped up victory early in the second half thanks to a penalty-corner from Ageeth Boomgaardt and a field goal from Miek van Geenhuizen.

The Dutch women won every match on the way to the final and conceded just three goals in the tournament.

Germany beat England 3-1, with a hat-trick from Fanny Rinne, to win the bronze medal.