England march into 2025 European Team Championships finals

England strode into the men's and women's finals at the 2025 European Team Squash Championships as Germany and France were seen off on day three in Wroclaw, Poland.

For the 15th time in the last 16 years, England will face France in the men's final after defeating unexpected semi-finalists Germany 2-1, with the final match not required after they had already guaranteed the win from the opening three matches.

In the first rubber, England’s Marwan ElShorbagy took care of business against world no.100 Yannick Omlor in rapid fashion 11-9, 11-9, 11-6.

His brother Mohamed then faced fellow 34-year-old Raphael Kandra, and although each game was close, the former world no.1 went down 11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10 in 43 minutes.

The match was level going into the third rubber, but Curtis Malik's 11-3, 11-6, 11-5 win over Jan Wipperfurth gave the 44-time champions an unassailable 7-3 lead in games, rendering the fourth rubber void.

France booked their place in the final by beating third seeds Switzerland 3-0 in the second semi-final, courtesy of wins for Gregoire Marche, Victor Crouin and Baptiste Masotti.

Malik said afterwards: "I'm obviously really happy to make another final with Team England. We hadn't faced Germany in a semi for a few years so it was a little bit unexpected with how they would line up.

"I'm pleased to get through and play well for the team which should give us a good platform to build on for tomorrow. Playing France is never easy and we are all ready for a big battle again."

England reached the women's final for the 45th year out of 46 in this tournament's history after contrasting victories for Jasmine Hutton and Georgina Kennedy in the semi-final against France.

Hutton faced the legendary Camille Serme, a six-time winner of the European Individual title and ex-world no.2, who returned to the pro game last year after having a baby in 2022. Serme used all her pedigree and know-how to forge into a 2/1 lead on the glass court, but Hutton's energy reserves proved greater, taking the opening rubber 11-7, 12-14, 8-11, 11-6, 11-3.

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kennedy finished the job with a more routine 11-7, 11-2, 11-6 victory over Melissa Alves.

For the third year in succession, England will face Belgium in the final. Sisters Tinne Gilis and Nele Gilis-Coll were both victorious in straight games, against Ellie Jones and Georgia Adderley respectively, to carry the defending champions to a 2-0 win over Scotland in the earlier semi-final.

Kennedy reflected: "I will be playing Tinne first in the final which I'm quite happy about. Tinne is such a good friend of mine, she's my go-to room-mate on tour, and we coach each other at every event.

"We haven't played a competitive match for two years, so I'm really excited to play her. It's going to be a really close one I'm sure.

"Belgium won the title for the first time last year, but I don't think it changes the mentality at all. They will to want win it just as much this year, even though they made history last year. We're both going to want it as much as each other, It's going to be a really competitive match."

The women's final against Belguim gets under way from 10am BST with the men's match against France scheduled for 1pm BST. Watch live on SQUASHTV and follow our Instagram and Facebook for updates.