Bittersweet Win For England, Relief For France At European Championships

There was a bittersweet victory for England's men and relief for France's women as both faced Spain on day two of the 2026 ESF European Team Division 1 & 2 Championships in Amsterdam.

Seeking a sixth title in a row and 46th overall, England's men defeated Spain 4/0 to set up a Friday afternoon semi-final against Germany - and the experience was a painful one for world No.25 Iker Pajares.

The Spanish No.1 was 12-10, 11-6 up and playing fluently against World no.9 Marwan ElShorbagy when he came to a shuddering halt lunging off the T in the third game.

It was immediately clear he couldn't continue and the 30-year-old was taken to hospital with a suspected ruptured Achilles.

Yorkshireman Sam Todd beat Sergio Garcia Pollan in three, so Sam Osborne-Wylde and Patrick Rooney's matches were halted at 2/1 and 2/0 up respectively with the English win already secured.

England will play Germany in the semis for the second year in succession as their trusty warhorses Simon Rosner (aged 38) and Raphael Kandra (35) both won in three against Czechia's 19-year-old Martin Stepan and Viktor Byrtus respectively. Yannick Omlor taking the first game against Jakub Solnicky sealed the deal.

The other semi-final will feature three-time former winners France and last year's bronze medallists Switzerland.

France overcame Wales 4/0, but not without digging pretty deep. Victor Crouin won a heavyweight bout with world No.6 Joel Makin 11-8, 8-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7. Baptiste Masotti was also made to sweat before toppling Emyr Evans in five, and young star Melvil Scianimanico defeated Rhys Evans in three.

Those three wins meant exciting prospect Amir Khaled-Jousselin was not required, but he won 3/0 earlier in France's concluding Pool B match against Spain's Oriol Salva Ripoli.

"I'm really happy to be here with the seniors for the first time. I'm taking everything I can from it," said the 17-year-old. "We know [Mohamed] ElShorbagy and Jonah [Bryant] are not here, but England can always play very well and we will take it match by match. We are ready to give everything on the court and win the gold medal!"

Switzerland beat Scotland 4/0 with wins from Yannick Wilhelmi and Dimitri Steinmann. Nicolas Mueller and David Bernet's matches were curtailed after one game with the result secure.

The most dramatic of the women's quarter-finals was France against Spain, tucked away on court 16 late into the evening.

Spain, who were seeking a first ever appearance in the ETC semi-finals, teed up the tension with national champion Marta Dominguez winning in four against Marie Stephan.

Ana Munos levelled for France with a tight 11-6, 12-10, 8-11, 11-6 win over Sofia Mateos. That left European junior champion Lauren Baltayan against world No.75 Noa Romero in the decider. Romero took the first game, but the Cairo-born 18-year-old hit back 8-11, 11-2, 11-3, 11-3 to the relief of les bleus.

Defending champions England cruised past Switzerland 3/0 with Jasmine Hutton and Torrie Malik straight-games victors.

Malik, who has won her three matches in straight games on her senior debut, said: "It's nice to be in this environment, especially being with a group of girls. I'm used to being surrounded by boys with all my brothers!"

England will next meet Scotland, who ended the dreams of hosts Netherlands with wins by world No.25 Georgia Adderley against Thursday's hero Tessa ter Sluis and 19-year-old Robyn McAlpine over Megan van Drongelen.

Belgium, finalists for the last three years, clinched victory over Wales after No.1 Tinne Gilis' victory over Ellie Breach and Marie van Riet's marathon five-setter against Sarah Clode. It'll be a France v Belgium local derby in the semis.

In Thursday morning's last round of pool matches in the men's Division 2 event, no.1 seeds Ireland racked up a third straight 4-0 victory, this time against Austria, who nonetheless finish in second place in Pool A.

Austria will play Israel in Friday's semi-finals after they swept Pool B without losing a match. Sweden finished second and will take on Ireland in the semis. Both semi-final winners will seal promotion to Division 1 next year.

In the women's event, Hungary won the decider for top spot in Pool A with Portugal, who came into the event as eighth seeds but have had their prospects transformed by Elise Romba's arrival after her switch from France. Top seeds Finland finished third and enter the 5-8 position play-offs to avoid relegation.

Ireland will face Portugal in the semi-finals after topping Pool B. They completed three wins from three by defeating Italy 2-1. Sweden (winners of Division 3 last year) will play Hungary in the other semi. Both finalists will be promoted to Division 1 for 2027.