Champions England Cruise Into European Championship Finals

Top seeds and defending champions England cruised into both the men's and women's finals of the European Team Championships after comfortable semi-finals wins today at Frans Otten Stadion in Amsterdam.

The men's squad, led by the new world No3 James Willstrop, defeated surprise opponents Germany - the fifth seeds making their first appearance in the semi-finals for 12 years - and will now face long-time championship rivals France in Sunday's final.

France, seeded three after losing to Netherlands at the same stage last year, avenged their defeat by beating the hosts 4/0.

Much to the delight of the local crowd, Netherlands battled to a 3/0 win over Ireland in the women's semi-finals to claim a place in the final for the sixth year in a row. And, for the sixth year in a row, the second seeds will face favourites England - and will be looking for their maiden win over the period!

England extended their remarkable record of reaching the final each year since the inaugural women's competition in 1978 - also in the Netherlands - by beating France 3/0.

After a significant upset over fourth seeds Wales to claim their surprise appearance in the men's semis, Germany met their match in England. But German number one Simon Rosner, ranked 60 in the world, took the opening game against James Willstrop.

However, the England number one quickly regained the upper hand and beat the former European Junior champion 3-9, 9-1, 9-3, 9-5. Team-mates Adrian Grant, Lee Beachill and Joey Barrington went on to record straight games wins to set up England's eighth final meeting in the past nine years with France.

France, led by Gregory Gaultier - the world number two and highest-ranked player in the event - were looking to make amends for their absence from the final in 2007, and gain revenge over Netherlands.

But, in the opening match of the tie on the three-sided-glass showcourt at the impressive 21-court centre, Dutch number one Laurens Jan Anjema took the opening game, spurred on by the packed partisan crowd.

When the Frenchman fought back to take the next two games, it seemed that the end was nigh for the local hero. But, despite being ranked 15 places lower in the world, Anjema battled back to force the match into a fifth game - and in the decider again saved numerous match-balls from 8-1 down before Gaultier finally established the 4-9, 9-3, 9-3, 7-9, 9-5 victory after 87 minutes which put the French team ahead.

France maintained the pressure on the hosts as Renan Lavigne, Thierry Lincou and Julien Balbo beat Tom Hoevenaars, Dylan Bennett and Lucas Buit, respectively, to record their 4/0 tie win.

"We were really disappointed to lose at the same stage last year," said French national coach Andre Delhoste, whose team has never before won the title. "But the good thing is that we're not favourites tomorrow - and also the draw is to our advantage for the first time, which could be very significant."

The playing order for the final - all matches of which will be played on the centrecourt - will be 2-1-4-3.

"So if our two top players (Gaultier and Lincou, ranked 2 and 5, respectively, in the world) win 3/0 or 3/1, we have a chance - and the pressure will be on England for the first time to fight back," explained Delhoste. "If we do it, it will be a fantastic achievement."

All eyes in the women's semi-final between hosts Netherlands and surprise opponents Ireland were on the top string match featuring former world champion Vanessa Atkinson, the ten-time Dutch champion, and Madeline Perry, the nine times Irish champion.
Atkinson took the first game and led in the second - but Perry fought back to nine-all, poised to level the match. However Atkinson clinched the game and went on to take the match 9-2, 10-9, 9-3 to ensure the team's place in the final.

England were in commanding form in the other semi, as Laura Lengthorn-Massaro and Vicky Botwright secured straight games wins over their French opponents and Alison Waters recovered from a game down against Camille Serme to beat the record three-time European Junior champion 7-9, 9-0, 9-2, 9-4.

RESULTS: European Team Squash Championships, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Men's semi-finals:
[1] ENGLAND bt [5] GERMANY 4-0
James Willstrop bt Simon Rosner 3-9, 9-1, 9-3, 9-5 (48m)
Adrian Grant bt Patrick Gaessler 9-0, 9-2, 9-0 (32m)
Lee Beachill bt Tim Weber 9-0, 9-0, 9-1(20m)
Joey Barrington bt Moritz Dahmen 9-0, 9-3, 9-3 (29m)
[3] FRANCE bt [2] NETHERLANDS 4-0
Gregory Gaultier bt Laurens Jan Anjema 4-9, 9-3, 9-3, 7-9, 9-5 (87m)
Renan Lavigne bt Tom Hoevenaars 9-1, 9-1, 9-4 (40m)
Thierry Lincou bt Dylan Bennett 4-9, 9-0, 9-0 (38m)
Julien Balbo bt Lucas Buit 9-7, 9-1(27m)
5th - 8th place play-offs:
[4] WALES bt [8] SCOTLAND 3-1
Alex Gough bt Alan Clyne 9-3, 5-9, 8-10, 9-1, 9-7
Jethro Binns lost to Chris Small 9-4, 9-5, 7-9, 4-9, 6-9
David Evans bt Stuart Crawford 9-4, 9-2, 9-1
Rob Sutherland bt Jamie MacAulay 9-1, 9-0, 9-3
[10] SWITZERLAND bt [11] SPAIN 3-1
Nicolas Mueller lost to Borja Golan 2-9, 2-9, 0-9
Andre Holderegger bt David Vidal 9-4, 9-1, 6-9, 0-9, 9-7
John Williams bt Alejandro Garbi Caro 9-2, 9-0, 9-5
Marco Datwyler bt Eduardo Gonzalez 3-9, 9-3, 4-9, 10-8, 9-1
9th - 12th place play-offs:
[6] IRELAND bt [7] SWEDEN 3-1
Liam Kenny bt Badr Abdel Aziz 9-1, 9-5, 0-9, 10-8
Arthur Gaskin bt Rasmus Hult 7-9, 7-9, 9-1, 9-2, 10-9
Derek Ryan lost to Christian Drakenberg 7-9, 9-6, 2-9
Niall Rooney bt Carl-Johan Lofvenborg 3-9, 9-5, 9-6, 9-1
[12] FINLAND bt [9] DENMARK 3-1
Olli Tuominen bt Morten W Sorensen 9-4, 9-0, 9-5
Henrik Mustonen bt Kristian Frost Olesen 9-0, 9-5, 9-4
Matias Tuomi bt Kasper Gross Jeppesen 1-9, 9-5, 9-4
Hameed Ahmed lost to Kim Poulsen 3-9, 6-9, 6-9
13th - 16th place play-offs:
[13] ITALY bt [15] HUNGARY 3-1
Jose Facchini lost to Mark Krajcsak 2-9, 9-6, 3-9, 9-4, 8-10
Andrea Torricini bt Daniel Varga 9-6, 9-0, 9-2
Andrea Capella bt David Reiser 9-4, 9-1, 9-3
Mirko Pareccini bt Daniel Cseffalvay 9-1, 9-0
[16] BELGIUM bt [14] AUSTRIA 3-1
Wim van Asten lost to Aqeel Rehman 6-9, 1-9, 0-9
Sam van Brusselen bt Stefan Brauneis 10-8, 10-9, 9-1
Gregory Lecerf bt Jakob Dirnberger 4-9, 9-2, 9-3
Bart Verhoeven bt Klaus Pfeifer 9-1, 9-3, 9-5
17th - 20th place play-offs:
LUXEMBOURG bt [17] ISRAEL 2-2 (Luxembourg win 108-95 on points countback)
Nathan Sneyd bt Nadav Wilensky 9-2, 9-1, 9-3
Stephane Ayache lost to Ari Gitelband 6-9, 0-9, 5-9
Sanjay Raval lost to Nir Arkin 3-9, 9-5, 6-9, 9-1, 5-9
Daniel Hutchines bt Nir Zisman 6-9, 10-9, 9-0, 4-9, 9-2
[18] CZECH REPUBLIC bt [19] SLOVAKIA 4-0
Pavel Sladecek bt Marek Manik 9-0, 9-4, 9-3
Jaroslav Cech bt Tomas Toth 9-0, 9-5, 9-2
Lukas Jelinek bt Peter Kviecinsky 9-4, 9-6, 0-9, 9-2
Ondrej Ertl bt Marek Zvoncek 0-9, 7-9, 9-4, 9-0, 9-0
21st - 24th place play-offs:
PORTUGAL bt [20] UKRAINE 3-1
Andre Lima bt Roman Dolynych 3-9, 10-8, 10-9, 9-5
Matthew Theodoris bt Artem Shandybin 9-3, 9-2, 9-0
Joao Caiano lost to Dmytro Shcherbakov 9-1, 4-9, 3-9, 7-9
Ivo Mendes bt Kostyantyn Rybalchenko 9-6, 9-5
SLOVENIA bt SERBIA 4-0
Klemen Gutman bt Dennis Drenjovski 9-3, 8-9, 9-4, 9-7
Martin Mosnik bt Bratislav Zivadinovic 9-5, 9-0, 9-0
Miha Kavas bt Ivan Djordjevic 10-9, 6-9, 9-5
Rozie Langus bt Vladislav Farkas 9-1, 9-2
25th - 28th place play-offs:
[23] RUSSIA bt [22] GIBRALTAR 3-1
Alexei Severinov bt Anthony Brindle 9-3, 9-7, 9-2
Pavel Sergeev bt Carl Gomez 9-7, 9-6, 9-2
Roman Fetisov bt Stephen Shacaluga 9-1, 4-9, 9-3
Sergey Kostrykin lost to Christian Navas 9-10, 10-8, 3-9
[21] LATVIA bt [24] ISLE OF MAN 4-0
Alexander Pavulans bt David Norman 9-3, 9-7, 4-9, 9-2
Kaspars Purgailis bt Lyndon Cheetham 9-5, 9-1, 9-2
Arnis Tihvinskis bt Kevin Watterson 9-5, 9-0
Gunars Prizevoits bt Richard Corlett 10-8, 10-8

5th - 12th place play-offs:
[4] WALES bt [6] IRELAND 3-1
Alex Gough bt Liam Kenny 9-3, 9-2, 9-5
Jethro Binns lost to Arthur Gaskin 9-6, 7-9, 9-4, 5-9, 5-9
David Evans bt Derek Ryan 9-8, 9-1
Rob Sutherland bt Steve Richardson 9-5, 9-7, 9-3
[8] SCOTLAND bt [7] SWEDEN 3-1
Alan Clyne bt Badr Abdel Aziz 9-2, 9-7, 9-2
Chris Small bt Rasmus Hult 9-1, 9-0, 9-1
Stuart Crawford bt Christian Drakenberg 9-5, 4-9, 9-0
Jamie MacAulay lost to Anders Thoren 6-9, 9-7, 1-9
[10] SWITZERLAND bt [9] DENMARK 3-1
Nicolas Mueller bt Morten W Sorensen 4-9, 9-4, 9-0, 9-4
Andre Holderegger lost to Kasper Gross Jeppesen 9-7, 2-9, 9-6, 0-9, 4-9
John Williams bt Rasmus Nielsen 9-2, 9-0, 9-2
Marco Datwyler bt Kristian Frost Olesen 10-8, 5-9, 9-2, 9-3
[11] SPAIN bt [12] FINLAND 2-2 (Spain win 9-7 on games countback)
Borja Golan lost to Olli Tuominen 9-6, 9-5, 8-10, 3-9, 0-9
David Vidal bt Erno Teitti 9-3, 9-4, 2-9, 9-6
Alejandro Garbi Caro lost to Henrik Mustonen 6-9, 9-4, 6-9, 0-9
Victor Montserrat bt Heikki Kononen 9-0, 9-3, 9-3
13th - 20th place play-offs:
[13] ITALY bt [17] ISRAEL 4-0
Jose Facchini bt Nadav Wilensky 9-2, 9-8, 9-1
Andrea Torricini bt Ari Gitelband 9-2, 9-0, 9-0
Andrea Capella bt Nir Arkin 9-2, 9-6
Mirko Pareccini bt Nir Zisman 9-5, 9-0
[15] HUNGARY bt LUXEMBOURG 3-1
Mark Krajcsak bt Nathan Sneyd 9-0, 9-2, 9-2
David Reiser bt Daniel Kaiser 9-4, 9-4, 9-1
Marton Szaboky lost to Sanjay Raval 9-10, 9-2, 7-9
Daniel Varga bt Vincent Pauli 9-1, 9-0
[16] BELGIUM bt [18] CZECH REPUBLIC 3-1
Wim van Asten lost to Pavel Sladecek 2-9, 9-10, 0-9
Mats Raemen bt Jaroslav Cech 1-9, 9-7, 9-3, 9-4
Gregory Lecerf bt Lukas Jelinek 0-9, 1-9, 9-4, 9-3, 9-2
Sam van Brusselen bt Ondrej Ertl 9-5, 9-3, 9-7
[14] AUSTRIA bt [19] SLOVAKIA 3-1
Aqeel Rehman bt Marek Manik 9-3, 9-0, 9-0
Stefan Brauneis lost to Tomas Toth 4-9, 7-9, 3-9
Jakob Dirnberger bt Peter Kviecinsky 9-3, 9-6, 9-0
Klaus Pfeifer bt Marek Zvoncek 9-6, 9-0, 9-6
21st - 28th place play-offs:
[20] UKRAINE bt [22] GIBRALTAR 3-1
Roman Dolynych lost to Anthony Brindle 4-9, 8-10, 0-9
Artem Shandybin bt Carl Gomez 9-4, 9-1, 9-5
Dmytro Shcherbakov bt Stephen Shacaluga 9-0, 9-7, 9-0
Kostyantyn Rybalchenko bt Nicholas de Haro 9-0, 9-3
PORTUGAL bt [23] RUSSIA 3-1
Andre Lima lost to Alexei Severinov 9-3, 1-9, 8-10, 8-10
Matthew Theodoris bt Viacheslav Perfiliev 9-3, 9-1, 9-0
Joao Caiano bt Roman Fetisov 9-3, 9-7, 9-4
Ivo Mendes bt Pavel Sergeev 9-3, 9-1, 9-4
SERBIA bt [24] ISLE OF MAN 3-0
Dennis Drenjovski v David Norman 8-10, 9-6, 9-0, 2-9 (unfinished)
Bratislav Zivadinovic bt David Hedley 9-2, 9-1, 9-1
Ivan Djordjevic bt Kevin Watterson 9-2, 9-1, 9-2
Vukasin Petrovic bt Francis Thoday 10-8, 9-7
SLOVENIA bt [21] LATVIA 4-0
Klemen Gutman bt Alexander Pavulans 9-6, 9-5, 9-7
Martin Mosnik bt Gunars Prizevoits 9-2, 9-5, 9-0
Miha Kavas bt Arnis Tihvinskis 9-2, 9-4
Rozie Langus bt Margers Zeitmanis 9-0, 9-1

Women's semi-finals:
[1] ENGLAND bt [7] FRANCE 3-0
Laura Lengthorn-Massaro bt Coline Aumard 9-0, 9-0, 9-4
Vicky Botwright bt Isabelle Stoehr 9-3, 9-7, 9-6
Alison Waters bt Camille Serme 7-9, 9-0, 9-2, 9-4
[2] NETHERLANDS bt [5] IRELAND 3-0
Karen Kronemeyer bt Laura Mylotte 9-0, 9-2, 9-4
Vanessa Atkinson bt Madeline Perry 9-2, 10-9, 9-3
Annelize Naude bt Aisling Blake 2-9, 9-5, 9-5
5th - 8th place play-offs:
[4] GERMANY bt [11] BELGIUM 2-1
Katharina Witt bt Annabel Romedenne 3-9, 10-9, 6-9, 9-3, 9-2
Kathrin Rohrmueller bt Kim Hannes-Teunen 9-2, 9-2 ret.
Simone Korell lost to Charlie de Rycke 2-9, 4-9
[3] DENMARK bt [9] WALES 3-0
Marie-Louise Feddern bt Gemma Davies 9-3, 10-9, 9-4
Line Hansen bt Deon Saffery 10-8, 3-9, 9-0, 9-1
Ellen Petersen bt Stacey Preece 9-2, 9-2
9th - 11th place play-offs:
[6] SWITZERLAND bt [10] ITALY 2-1
Sara Guebey bt Chiara Ferrari 9-6, 5-9, 9-3, 9-7
Olivia Hauser lost to Manuela Manetta 2-9, 9-5, 1-9, 1-9
Gaby Schmohl bt Sonia Pasteris 10-8, 3-9, 7-9, 9-2, 9-7
12th - 15th place play-offs:
[15] SCOTLAND bt [12] CZECH REPUBLIC 2-1
Lisa Aitken bt Veronica Koukalova 9-0, 9-0, 9-2
Frania Gillen-Buchert bt Lucie Fialova 9-7, 7-9, 9-6, 4-9, 9-5
Claire Kidd lost to Olga Ertlova 1-9, 0-9
[13] AUSTRIA bt [14] FINLAND 2-1
Sandra Polak lost to Saara Valtola 9-4, 0-9, 2-9, 0-9
Birgit Coufal bt Elina Kononen 9-3, 9-5, 9-2
Pamela Pancis bt Lotta Vuorela 9-3, 10-8, 6-9, 7-9, 9-7
16th - 19th place play-offs:
[16] RUSSIA bt UKRAINE 3-0
Alina Tuzlukova bt Natalia Spivak 9-0, 9-0, 9-0
Ekatarina Glinchikova bt Nina Taraschkevych 9-0, 9-0, 9-0
Olga Petrukhina bt Anastasia Spivak 10-9, 9-1
SWEDEN bt GREECE 3-0
Josefa Bertilsson bt Nikol Pozidou 9-1, 9-1, 9-0
Anna-Carin Forstadius bt Zeta Tzamalouka 9-2, 9-0, 9-1
Anna Detter bt Eliza Kargioti 9-2, 9-0

5th - 11th place play-offs:
[4] GERMANY bt [10] ITALY 2-1
Katharina Witt bt Veronica Favero Camp 9-1, 9-5, 9-1
Kathrin Rohrmueller lost to Manuela Manetta 6-9, 5-9, 2-9
Sina Wall bt Sonia Pasteris 9-7, 9-2, 1-9, 8-10, 9-5
[11] BELGIUM bt [6] SWITZERLAND 3-0
Annabel Romedenne bt Gabriela Hegi 9-7, 10-8, 9-2
Kim Hannes-Teunen bt Olivia Hauser 9-1, 9-7, 3-9, 6-9, 10-9
Charlie de Rycke bt Gaby Schmohl 9-6, 9-2
[9] WALES bt [8] SPAIN 2-1
Stacey Preece lost to Xisela Aranda Nunez 5-9, 9-10, 5-9
Deon Saffery bt Elisabet Sado Garriga 10-8, 9-3, 9-1
Natalie Pritchard bt Stela Carbonell 9-4, 5-9, 10-8, 8-10, 9-4
[3] DENMARK bye
12th - 19th place play-offs:
[12] CZECH REPUBLIC bt UKRAINE 3-0
Veronica Koukalova bt Anastasiya Netrebchuk 9-0, 9-0, 9-0
Lucie Fialova bt Nina Taraschkevych 9-0, 9-0, 9-0
Olga Ertlova bt Anastasia Spivak 9-1, 9-0, 9-0
[15] SCOTLAND bt [16] RUSSIA 3-0
Lisa Aitken bt Olga Petrukhina 9-0, 9-1, 9-0
Frania Gillen-Buchert bt Irina Assal 9-4, 9-5, 9-1
Claire Kidd bt Ekatarina Glinchikova 9-0, 9-5
[14] FINLAND bt SWEDEN 2-1
Saara Valtola bt Lovisa Forstadius 9-0, 9-2, 9-0
Elina Kononen lost to Anna-Carin Forstadius 5-9, 8-10, 3-9
Lotta Vuorela bt Anna Detter 4-9, 9-6, 9-6, 9-5
[13] AUSTRIA bt GREECE 3-0
Theresa Gradnitzer bt Nikol Pozidou 9-2, 9-2, 9-4
Birgit Coufal bt Zeta Tzamalouka 9-0, 9-2, 9-1
Pamela Pancis bt Eliza Kargioti 10-8, 9-1