England seal spots in 2025 European Team Championships semis

England booked their place in the men's and women's semi-finals on day two of the 2025 European Team Championships with victories over Czechia and Germany respectively in Wroclaw, Poland.

England's men will take on Germany in the last four on Friday at midday UK time after Mohamed ElShorbagy, Jonah Bryant and Tom Walsh claimed victory in contrasting style against the Czechs. The women coasted past Germany 3-0 and will meet France at 10.30am on Friday to duel for a place in the final.

ElShorbagy Snr won his opening two games on tie-breaks but Czech opponent Martin Svec clawed his way back into the match by capitalising on the all-glass court conditions with some effective touch shots to the front. However, England's former world no.1 did enough to claim the fifth 11-5 and get the job done.

On the traditional court next door, Bryant's assured performances on his senior debut continued as he saw off Jakub Solnicky 11-5 11-9 7-11 13-11.

Walsh brought the victory home with a straight games win over Czech junior Martin Stepan. Curtis Malik was two games into his match with veteran Daniel Mekbib when it was abandoned as a dead rubber.

Walsh received a last-minute call-up from coach Stuart Crawford following the late withdrawal of Declan James due to injury. The world no.62 was in Miami where he'd just been out for dinner to celebrate his 26th birthday. Four hours later he was on a flight to Wroclaw via Frankfurt!

He reflected on his win:

"It might have looked a routine win but nothing is routine at this level of sport. On paper I'm higher ranked than the Czech no.1 and I'm playing at no.4, but they've got nothing to lose and they bring it to you.

"It was a 'business' performance. When you watch Mohamed up against it, you know you've got to go out there and get a result for the team. It's a different kind of pressure, but one I responded to well."

The women's passage into Friday's semi-final against France was a little smoother, with Grace Gear, Georgina Kennedy and Sarah Jane Perry (who earned her 98th cap) all sailing to straight-games triumphs.

Gear, who is making her first senior appearance after a late call-up as a replacement for Katie Malliff, said:

"This week I've learned how well we all help and support each other as a team. My team-mates make it a really enjoyable event.

"We're on the glass court tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it. We'll give it our best and see what happens."

Earlier, England's men won their second pool match 3-1 despite a sterling performance by opponents Ireland.

Irish no.1 Sam Buckley recovered from losing the first game 20-18 and then a rapid second to beat Marwan ElShorbagy 20-18 11-3 4-11 9-11 7-11. The new England no.1 — who leapt above elder brother Mohamed for the first time in his career in the latest PSA world rankings — was undoubtedly fatigued after flying straight to Poland from Washington DC where he won last week's Squash on Fire Open.

Elsewhere Bryant and Walsh won in straight games and Malik recovered from two games down to end Michael Creaven's spirited resistance and seal a 3-1 win.

The women finished their pool campaign in the morning with a 3-0 victory over Spain which was notable for Gear's debut. The 26-year-old from Hertfordshire beat teenager Ona Blasco 11-7 11-9 11-3, with Kennedy and Hutton sealing the victory with minimal fuss.

If England's men beat Germany on Friday they will face the winner of the other semi-final between France and Switzerland, who beat Scotland and Wales 3-0 respectively. Should England's women beat France they will face either Scotland or defending champions Belgium.