Day two of the European Team Championships in Nuremberg saw the semi-final places decided, and there was no shortage of upsets and drama.
Before we get too carried away, top seeds defending champions and red-hot favourites England cruised through their pair of matches in each of the men’s and women’s competitions today to top pool A, but both teams now face opponents not predicted by the seedings.
England’s men beat Germany and the Netherlands in convincing fashion, but the Pool A drama was mainly played out yesterday, and hosts Germany just needed a good result against Denmark to clinch a spot in the semi-finals, which they duly got.
It was a similar scenario in Pool B where perennial finalists France wrapped the pool up with two convincing wins, leaving Scotland to consolidate on yesterday’s upset win, which they duly did with a 3-1 win over Finland to set up a semi-final – their first since 1999 – with ‘the auld enemy’.
Men’s semi-final line-up:
England v Scotland
France v Germany
In the women’s event England and France had Pool A sewn up with early morning wins with the English going on to take top spot. All the drama was happening in Pool B where Germany stunned perennial finalists and 2010 champions the Netherlands, then followed it up with another 2-1 win over Switzerland.
That left the Dutch needing to beat the Irish to set up a three-way tie, but it was Ireland who won the crucial match to top the group and send the Dutch crashing out.
Women’s semi-final line-up:
England v Germany
Ireland v France
Results:
Men’s Division 1
Pool A:
1 England 4-0 5 Germany
Nick Matthew bt Raphael Kandra 11/2, 11/5, 11/6
Peter Barker bt Jens Schoor 11/1, 11/5, 11/5
Daryl Selby bt Andre Haschker 11/9, 11/3, 11/7
Tom Richards bt Rudi Rohrmuller 11/3, 11/1, 11/3
1 England 4-0 4 Netherlands
James Willstrop bt Laurens Jan Anjema 11/4, 11/6, 11/7
Nick Matthew bt Bart Ravelli 11/5, 11/6, 11/6
Peter Barker bt Lucas Buit 11/0, 11/5, 11/4
Tom Richards bt Rick Penders 11/1, 11/8, 11/2
Pool B:
3 Italy 3-1 7 Finland
2 France 4-0 6 Scotland
6 Scotland 3-1 7 Finland
2 France 3-1 3 Italy
Women’s Division 1
Pool A:
1 England 3-0 5 Scotland
Laura Massaro bt Frania Gillen-Buchert 11/3, 11/5, 11/5
Alison Waters bt Lisa Aitken 11/3, 11/2, 11/6
Sarah Kippax bt Alex Clark 11/5, 11/4, 11/1
1 England 3-0 4 France
Jenny Duncalf bt Colin Aumard 11/6, 11/8, 11/2
Alison Waters bt Maud Duplomb 11/2, 11/5, 11/2
Sarah Kippax bt bt Laura Pomportes 11/4, 11/4, 11/7
Pool B: