European Team Championships Boast Record Entry

A record 27 nations - from Russia to the Isle of Man - will contest the 2007 European Team Championships in Riccione, on the coast of northern Italy, from 2-5 May.

Croatia and Latvia will be making their debut In the Men's championship, while Russia will be competing in the Women's event for the first time.

England are seeded to retain both the men's and women's titles in the annual European Squash Federation (ESF) event. Whilst the favourites have held the men's trophy for the past 14 years in a row, England are unbeaten in the history of the women's championship, since 1978, and are aiming for the 30th successive crown!

England are expected to meet second seeds France in the men's final for the eighth consecutive year. Netherlands, second seeds in the women's event, are predicted to reach their fifth successive final.

"The ESF is delighted to be bringing the European Team Championships to Italy for the first time," said ESF President Chris Stahl. "We are assured of a stylish event to be held at the new National Centre which has only been open for 12 months in one of the main tourist areas on the Adriatic coast.

"I know that players, officials and spectators will enjoy a feast of squash involving some of the top players in the world using the excellent facilities of the Sports Complex and at the nearby Schilling Squash and Gym Club."

Men's qualifying pools (with seedings in brackets) are:
Pool A: [1] ENGLAND, [4] NETHERLANDS, [5] IRELAND, [8] SCOTLAND
Pool B: [2] FRANCE, [3] WALES, [6] GERMANY, [7] SPAIN
Pool C: [9] SWEDEN, [16] CZECH REPUBLIC, [17] ISRAEL, NORWAY, CROATIA
Pool D: [10] DENMARK, [15] AUSTRIA, [18] ITALY, [23] ISLE OF MAN, LATVIA
Pool E: [11] SWITZERLAND, [14] HUNGARY, [19] SLOVAKIA, [22] RUSSIA, GREECE
Pool F: [12] FINLAND, [13] BELGIUM, [20] UKRAINE, [21] GIBRALTAR

Women's qualifying pools:
Pool A: [1] ENGLAND, [4] FRANCE, [5] DENMARK. [8] SPAIN
Pool B: [2] NETHERLANDS, [3] GERMANY, [6] CZECH REPUBLIC, [7] SWITZERLAND
Pool C: [9] WALES, [12] SCOTLAND, [13] BELGIUM, [16] NORWAY, [17] SLOVAKIA
Pool D: [10] IRELAND, [11] ITALY, [14] AUSTRIA, [15] FINLAND, RUSSIA