Newly crowned European Team Champion is France. In the final of the men’s event at the European Team Championships 2025 in Zadar, the Olympic bronze medallists overcame Romania 3–0 to capture their first European team title in 27 years. After finishing third in Malmö 2023, France went two steps higher on the podium to reclaim continental glory. In a dazzling display of power and precision, Alexis LEBRUN, Félix LEBRUN, and Simon GAUZY defeated Iulian CHIRITA, Eduard IONESCU, and Ovidiu IONESCU in straight matches. Félix LEBRUN summarised the triumph simply: “It was just a perfect match! We enjoyed every moment of this championship, and to win the gold is the perfect ending.” His brother Alexis LEBRUN added: “It’s crazy, European Champion! It’s unbelievable. We have such a great team, and it’s an incredible feeling to share this together. I’m just so happy to be part of this amazing team. We are European Champions, it’s just amazing!” When asked about their toughest opponents, Alexis didn’t hesitate: “Germany, I think. They have a very strong team, and it was a tough match, but we managed it well. I think we played a great tournament overall, everything went perfectly.” The team’s most experienced member, Simon GAUZY, reflected on the historic moment: “After so many years, to be European champions again in a team event feels amazing. I’m just really, really happy right now. Of course, Romania did a great job reaching the final, but definitely, Germany was the toughest team to beat. Still, we played a perfect tournament from beginning to end, we can only be proud.” France’s golden triumph in Zadar marks their fourth European team title, following previous victories in 1984, 1994, and 1998. They have also finished as runners-up twice (1986, 1996) and collected six bronze medals (2002, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023). For the first time in history, Romania’s men’s team advanced to the final, surpassing their previous best of three bronze medals (2005, 2007, 2009). Their remarkable run, highlighted by victories over Sweden and Slovenia, showcased the rise of a new generation led by Iulian CHIRITA, Eduard IONESCU, and Ovidiu IONESCU. Germany and Slovenia Share Bronze Germany secured the bronze medal after their narrow semi-final loss to eventual champions France. The team of Benedikt DUDA, Patrick FRANZISKA, Dang QIU, André BERTELSMEIER, and Ricardo WALTHER finished one step lower than their silver result in Malmö 2023. It is only the third time this century that Germany has not reached the final (previously in 2000 and 2005). Since their first European team title in 2007, Germany have been a dominant force, reaching 12 consecutive finals, an unmatched record in the competition’s history. Over the decades, Germany have earned: 9 gold medals – 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2021; 7 silver medals – 1980, 1990, 2002, 2003, 2014, 2015, 2023; 3 bronze medals – 1962, 1992, 1994. Slovenia joined Germany on the third step of the podium, celebrating their second-ever team medal, after their historic bronze in 2017. Their line-up featured Darko JORGIC, Deni KOZUL, Brin VOVK PETROVSKI, Peter HRIBAR, and Bojan TOKIC, marking another milestone in Slovenian table tennis history. Final – Men’s Team Event France – Romania 3–0

The German women’s team are European champions for the tenth time overall and for the third time in a row since 2021. At the European Team Championships in Zadar, Croatia, Sabine WINTER, Annett KAUFMANN, Nina MITTELHAM, Yuan WAN and Mia GRIESEL defeated their long-time rivals Romania 3–0, successfully defending the title they won two years ago, once again without losing a single individual match throughout the tournament. Bronze medalists were Portugal and the Netherlands. In the opening match, 19-year-old Annett KAUFMANN started with explosive energy, taking the first game 11–4 against Romania’s No. 1 Bernadette SZÖCS. That came as a surprise, as KAUFMANN had never won even a single game in their two previous international encounters, most recently losing 0–4 at last year’s European Championships in Linz. “I didn’t go into the match confident because of our head-to-head record,” KAUFMANN admitted. “But I told myself: I’ve got nothing to lose. Suddenly I was up 9–3 in the first game, and that’s when I felt the confidence, I told myself, this match is mine.” SZÖCS fought back to level the score and took the second game 12–10. KAUFMANN responded brilliantly, going up 8–1 in the third and regaining the lead 11–8. SZÖCS equalised once more, but the young German completely dominated the decider, racing to 5–0 at the change of ends and sealing the win 11–5, a massive first point for Germany. Next up, Sabine WINTER once again displayed her growing confidence and composure. Against 2015 European champion Elizabeta SAMARA, she took the first two games before the Romanian mounted a comeback, reducing the gap and leading 7–4 in the fourth. Then WINTER switched gears, winning seven points in a row to close the match 3–1. The closing match brought a sense of déjà vu from Malmö 2023, as Nina MITTELHAM faced Andreea DRAGOMAN, the same opponent she had edged out in a five-set thriller last time. Once again, the duel was tight. MITTELHAM, who rejoined the team in the knockout rounds after recovering from illness, took the first two games 14–12 and 11–8, dropped the third, and then finished strong to secure the championship 3–1. “When it really matters, when the opponents are stronger, that’s when I start to play better,” said MITTELHAM, visibly relieved after the match. “I’m glad the other two gave me a 2–0 lead; that made it a bit easier. I hadn’t played many matches since my injury break, so every match helps me get back into rhythm. I even joked before the tournament that we should keep our 3–0 streak going, and now we really did it all the way to the title!” She also praised her teammates: “Annett played unbelievably well, she had never beaten Szöcs before. And Sabine was rock solid against Samara, just as I imagined she would be.” On their way to a tenth European title, Germany did not lose a single team or individual match. Their unbeaten run stretches back to 2021, encompassing 17 consecutive team victories, including twelve consecutive straight 3–0 wins. Sabine WINTER: “I’m just super grateful for this experience and for being able to fight with this team. When you win the European Championships, it’s an incredible feeling. “When we were leading 2–0 in matches, I started to believe strongly. I had a lot of confidence in Nina, she always manages tough matches so well. After that, we could be calmer, not relaxed, but confident.” Dominant Record in Europe Germany remains one of the most successful nations in the history of the European Team Championships, boasting ten titles, 1962, 1968, 1996, 1998, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2023, and 2025. They have finished as runners-up five times (1982, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2017) and taken bronze twice (1986, 2007). With this tenth title, Germany moves ahead of Hungary on the all-time winners’ list, the Hungarians claimed nine golds between the 1960s and 2007. Romania has claimed the title five times (1992, 2002, 2005, 2017, 2019), finished runners-up seven times (1958, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2021, 2023), and taken eight bronze medals (1960, 1964, 1978, 1980, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2008). Remarkably, since 2011, Romania reached the final in every edition of the Championships except 2014. Portugal and the Netherlands Share Bronze Portugal confirmed their consistency at the European Team Championships by finishing third once again, matching their results from 2021 and 2023, after claiming silver in 2019. The team of Jieni SHAO, Fu YU, Julia LEAL, and Matilde PINTO reached the semi-finals, where their campaign was halted by defending champions Germany. The Netherlands made a triumphant return to the medal rostrum, winning bronze for the first time since 2017. With the experienced duo Britt EERLAND and Jie LI back in the lineup, they led Shuohan MEN and Tanja HELLE to another podium finish. The Netherlands boast a proud record at the European Championships, with four consecutive gold medals (2008–2011), one silver (1992), and two bronzes (1988, 2017). Final – Women’s Team Romania – Germany 0–3 Bernadette SZÖCS – Annett KAUFMANN 2–3 (4–11, 11–9, 8–11, 11–6, 5–11) Elizabeta SAMARA – Sabine WINTER 1–3 (5–11, 8–11, 11–8, 7–11) Andreea DRAGOMAN – Nina MITTELHAM 1–3 (12–14, 8–11, 11–8, 5–11)

In the final of the European Team Championships 2025 in Zadar, France will meet Romania. For the first time in history, the Romanian men’s team have advanced to the final, surpassing their previous best result of three bronze medals. On their way to the ultimate stage, Romania defeated defending European champions Sweden and then Slovenia in an impressive and emotional semi-final performance. Slovenia’s top star Darko JORGIC suffered his first defeat of the tournament at the hands of Iulian CHIRITA in a thrilling five-game opening match. That victory set the tone for the tie, which eventually ended in straight matches in favour of Romania. Iulian CHIRITA: “We still can’t really believe that we’re in the final, it’s the first time ever for the Romanian men, so it’s an amazing feeling. It was a really tough match. Darko is one of the best in Europe, maybe number one or two, and he’s a really strong player. But I know him quite well, I’ve already played him twice this year, so I managed to play very well throughout the match, and I’m really happy that I didn’t lose to him again. In the second match, Edy started to play really well, and that gave us a lot of confidence. And then Ovi, I’m really happy that he managed to win the last match against TOKIC. He’s such an interesting guy, always bringing great energy to the team. Honestly, I still don’t have words for the fact that we’re in the final. It’s unbelievable. But we’re already looking forward to giving our best and playing a really good match in the final.” On securing the opening point for Romania, CHIRITA added: “It was really important, because after beating their number one player, the whole team could relax more. We spoke with the coaches before the match about the lineup, and they told me, ‘You’re going to play against Darko,’ so I prepared specifically for that. Once you beat the top player from the other team, everything changes, the team feels more confident. Everyone played really well, and I’m very proud of them.” Looking ahead to the final, he continued: “It’s going to be really tough against France, they’re all top players. But we know Félix and Alexis quite well; we’ve played them many times. They’re very strong and very confident. Still, we have nothing to lose. We’ll fight for every point, every set, and every match. We’re ready for tomorrow, and for whatever comes after.” Ovidiu IONESCU:“Unbelievable feeling, I still can’t believe we’re in the final of the European Championships. The team event is just amazing. Congratulations to everyone who helped and supported us; we played an incredible match. Iulian beating JORGIC, a top-10 player, gave us huge confidence. The 3–0 score doesn’t show how tough it really was, it was much closer. It was an unbelievable performance from the whole team. Julian’s win and then Eddie’s victory against KOZUL helped a lot. When I played the third match, I can’t say I was relaxed, but I was definitely more confident that we could finish the job and win it in the end. We beat Sweden, and I believe that if you’re in the final, you have to believe you can win it. France are maybe the strongest team at the moment, but sport has shown many times that surprises can happen. We’ll give everything tomorrow. Before this, we had three bronze medals, and now this is the first silver in our history. We had a great generation before us, and now, with these young players, maybe it’s not the last medal in the team event. For now, we just want to enjoy the moment and prepare for tomorrow.” Slovenia – Romania 0–3

The top seeds in the Women’s Event at the European Team Championships in Zadar, Romania, lived up to their status and booked their place in the final, where they will face reigning champions Germany. In the semi-final, Romania overcame a determined Netherlands team in a commanding 3–0 victory. Since 2011, Romania have reached the final in every edition of the Championships except in 2014, underlining their enduring dominance in European women’s table tennis. Bernadette SZÖCS: “We expected the draw to look like this, so we were ready for these matchups. I knew my match against LI would be very important, because I’ve played her many times and only managed to beat her once before. This time, I felt really confident and knew that winning the first match could give our team a big boost. It looks like an easy 3–0 on paper, but it really wasn’t, especially my match. I’m very proud of my teammates; we all did a great job today. In the last game, I tried to be more patient because she wasn’t missing as much anymore. I had to keep finding solutions and change tactics during the rallies. It wasn’t easy at all, but I stayed calm and focused and found the right way to beat her. We’ve played many finals against Germany before, sometimes we won, sometimes we lost, but last time we lost, so we definitely want revenge this time. Everyone in the team is playing really well, and I believe we can bring the gold home.” Elizabeta SAMARA: “We all knew this was going to be a tough match because they are such good adversaries. We’re happy that we made it 3–0, each of us did our job, and the bench was amazing. The coaches, the teammates, the supporters, we were like a real team, like Romania used to be, like a family, we could say. I’m the oldest one on the team, but we are all very good, and in this team we can always rotate players, it doesn’t matter who plays when, everyone can deliver. Let’s say me against EERLAND, our last meeting was last year in Rajasthan, and I lost. The previous one, I also lost. I think I only beat her once during the pandemic in Doha. So I’m very happy that I could win this match now, in the semi-finals. I think experience helped me deal with the pressure. Mentally, I was strong in the key moments. I’m happy about the victory, and I just try to give my teammates confidence, we all want to keep our team spirit high.” Andreea DRAGOMAN: “We’re really happy to be in the finals. We knew from the beginning it was going to be tough, but Berni’s first match gave us a lot of energy and confidence. It was a very important win, and I’m really glad she managed to pull it off and give the team such a strong start. As for my own match, I felt confident because we were already 2–0 up, so I just tried to stay focused on my game instead of thinking about finishing the tie. I’m really happy that I managed to stay calm and control myself to win 3–0.” Romania – Netherlands 3–0

At the European Team Championships in Zadar, France took one step higher on the medal podium than in Malmö 2023 and will play in Sunday’s final for their first European team title since 1998. The Olympic bronze medallists overcame Malmö runners-up Germany in a breathtaking semi-final that kept fans of both nations on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The tie began with a repeat of the European Individual Championships final, but this time with the opposite outcome: Benedikt DUDA defeated Alexis LEBRUN in straight games. The European vice-champion and world No. 5 avenged his previous loss to the world No. 3, playing with confidence and precision throughout. However, Germany could not build on that momentum. In the second match, Félix LEBRUN, who had lost to DUDA in a controversial quarterfinal at the same event, took his revenge, holding his nerve under immense pressure to overcome Patrick FRANZISKA in five sets and level the score at 1–1. From there, the French team’s confidence grew. Simon GAUZY produced a stunning performance to beat European champion Dang QIU, giving France the lead before Félix returned to the table to face DUDA once more, this time in a spectacular decider. Coach Nathanaël MOLIN: “The first match is always very important, it often sets the tone for the entire tie. Of course, we knew that the German team is extremely strong and has so much experience in this kind of competition. You can say that for the past twenty or twenty-five years, they have dominated Europe as a team. We knew it was going to be a very tough match. If you look at the rankings, 5, 12, 18 in the world for us, against 8, 13, 14 for them, it shows how close the levels are. Nothing came easy today. It was a hard, intense match. At 2–2, everything was still open. DUDA was incredible, for the past year, he’s truly been one of the best in the world.” He broke down the key moments: “In the first match, DUDA was outstanding against Alexis. There’s nothing I can say to Alexy; his opponent was simply too strong. Then Félix played a really solid match against FRANZISKA, very close to his top level. Maybe at one or two key moments he could have managed things differently, but overall his performance and attitude were excellent. And Simon… what can I say? He played a perfect match, not ‘perfect’ in the sense of no mistakes, but perfect from a coach’s point of view. Tactically, physically, technically, everything was on point. From start to finish, he had full control. For me, that was a textbook performance.” The coach praised the final duel between DUDA and Félix: “The last match was probably the most spectacular of the entire semi-final, full of ups and downs and amazing rallies. DUDA came back several times, leading by five or six points, and then Félix responded again and turned it around. It was world-class table tennis, mentally and tactically. Players like Félix have something special: the ability to deliver at the right moment. Not always, of course, no one can do that every time, but most of the time, he’s there when it really matters. I think both players, Duda and Félix, gave their absolute maximum. There was no real loser today; both were at their peak. That’s what makes a match like this so special.” Alexis LEBRUN: “I don’t think I played badly, but Duda was really, really strong today. He played very aggressively from the start, and that surprised me a bit. In the second game, I played well, but he won it 11–9 with three beautiful points at the end, that one was hard to lose because I felt I was at my top level. After that, it was difficult to come back because he was more relaxed being 2–0 up. I’m a little disappointed because if I had taken that second game, maybe he would have started to doubt a little and it could have been 50–50. But he played really well today.” Simon GAUZY: “I felt amazing, that was by far my best match of the tournament. I’m really happy with how I performed under pressure at 1–1. This is why I practice, to play these kinds of matches against great players on big stages. I’m proud that I could bring one point for the team playing that way today.” Germany Head Coach Jörg ROSSKOPF:“It was a very good match with high-level rallies, a real contest on equal terms, exactly as both we and the French expected. We had our chances to turn it in our favour, but France played consistently well with all three players. ‘Benne’ (Benedikt DUDA) delivered an outstanding performance against Alexis at the start. ‘Franz’ (Patrick FRANZISKA) had only small opportunities against Félix, and Gauzy has been in incredible form for the past year and a half, producing excellent results. So it was clear that the French were slight favourites in every match. Of course, we had hoped to take a 2–1 lead, because it always becomes harder once you fall behind. Still, this European Championship has shown us that we can successfully put into practice what we’ve been training and planning. That’s what matters as we look ahead to the next few years and toward the Olympic Games.” Benedikt DUDA: “Congratulations to France, they were the better team today. Félix LEBRUN is an outstanding player right now, and he played two excellent matches. You can only congratulate the French and wish them good luck for the final, they’ve truly earned it. They beat us, but we also had our chances. We’ll learn from this and come back stronger in two years.” Germany – France 1-3

In the final of the Women’s Event at the European Team Championships in Zadar, reigning champions Germany will face the winner of the clash between top seeds Romania and No. 18 seed Netherlands. Germany’s unbeaten streak continues. The team, last defeated in 2019, has once again reached the final as they chase their 10th European title. In the semi-final, Portugal, bronze medallists at the previous two editions, could not stop the dominant German side. It marked Germany’s 11th consecutive 3–0 victory in the competition. The new leader of the team, Sabine WINTER, was pushed to the limit by Fu YU in the opening match, eventually winning 3–2. Annett KAUFMANN and Nina MITTELHAM each secured 3–1 wins against Jieni SHAO and Matilde PINTO, respectively, to complete another commanding performance. Sabine WINTER: “I had some trouble with Fu Yu’s serves today, but then I became much more variable in my game. I always tried to stay close and find solutions. Mentally, it was also a good performance from me to come back and win two clear games after being 1–2 down. Taking a 1–0 lead is always good for the team, but even if I had lost, I’m convinced we still would have won the match. For tomorrow, I just wish for a victory, I don’t really mind who we play. The two teams are very different, but both are very strong. We’ll give everything and fight for every point.” Annett KAUFMANN, the only non-Asian Under-19 World Champion, who also reached the semi-finals with the German team during her Olympic debut in Paris, summed up the team’s mindset: “It feels amazing to be undefeated. I didn’t even realise at first how long this streak has been, but it shows that no matter which lineup we play, whether it’s with Yuan WAN and Nina MITTELHAM, or with Sabine and me, we can all perform at the top level. We’ve proved many times that we’re all capable of playing world-class table tennis. It’s great to know that we’re not just relying on one player, we’re a complete, balanced team. That’s our biggest strength.” KAUFMANN continued: “I think Sabine’s match was the most important today. She did really, really great after being 2–1 down, and that was a key moment for us. We didn’t underestimate Portugal, we knew they were strong. They showed yesterday against Ukraine that they can come back and win important matches. So we fought for every ball and we’re just very happy that we all managed to win our matches. I think the key was changing the rhythm and staying calm at the right moments.I was also a bit more satisfied with my own game today. You don’t face left-handers that often. I do train against them, but in a match it’s still something different, it’s a bit like playing against yourself. I was a little impatient today, and she plays in a slightly uncomfortable way for me. But with the right tactics, calmness, and rotation, I managed to win the match.” Nina MITTELHAM: “It was an uncomfortable match. She played well and gave me awkward balls. I was a bit sluggish today, so I’m glad we’re not playing at 10 a.m. tomorrow. I had to win this match, and I did. These kinds of matches have never been easy for me, and in the past, I’ve lost quite a few of them. But by now, I know how to fight through.” Tamara BOROS gave Coach’s View: “The 3–0 result sounds like an easy win, but it really wasn’t. There were tight situations in every match. Sabine’s win against Fu YU in the first match was very important, starting with a 0–1 deficit would have been tough for Annett, even though she’s mentally very strong. Nina wasn’t very stable today, but playing against Pinto is never easy. She plays without rhythm and hits very strange balls. Today it was enough. Tomorrow, we all want to take that final step.” Semi-Final Germany – Portugal 3–0

On the sixth day of play at the European Team Championships in Zadar, the battle for the medals intensified as the semi-final line-up was confirmed. In the men’s event, Germany will face France, while Romania will take on Slovenia in what promises to be two thrilling clashes for a place in the final. Portugal – Slovenia 1–3 In the morning session, Slovenia celebrated a memorable 3–1 victory over Portugal to book their ticket to the semi-finals. World No. 30 Deni KOŽUL gave Slovenia a dream start by defeating world No. 24 João GERALDO, before world No. 4 Darko JORGIĆ extended the lead with a 3–1 win over Tiago APOLÓNIA (No. 35). The veteran duel between the two 42-year-olds, João MONTEIRO and 44-years-old Bojan TOKIĆ, went the full distance, with MONTEIRO narrowly prevailing. However, on his second appearance at the table, JORGIĆ sealed the tie with another commanding performance against GERALDO, sending Slovenia into the last four. Darko JORGIĆ: “We’ve dreamed about this. During our training camp, Bojan told me that we’d play Portugal in the quarter-finals and beat them, and that’s exactly what happened! I’m so proud of the whole team, from the first match to the last. From the group stage, we’ve shown that we’re a real team, that we fight for each other and that we’re ready to give everything for one another.” JORGIĆ continued: “Deni was fantastic in the opening match. Last time at the World Championships he lost 4–0 to Geraldo, but this time we were well prepared tactically. It was a different Deni, not the one from yesterday who was just reacting, but one who came in with the right mindset from the start. He even went for a run at six in the morning today, maybe that helped! I hope he repeats that tomorrow. As for my second match, you simply have to beat APOLONIA. He’s injured, but he still plays his game. The pressure was on me because we were already 1–0 up, and everyone knew that if I won two matches, the tie would be over, and that’s what happened. I feel sorry for Bojan; he had his chances. He was leading 10–8 in the third game, if he had taken that one, who knows how it would have gone. But in the end, maybe it’s even sweeter this way. I played a fantastic match against GERALDO. We always have tough battles, you probably remember our match from the Top 16. He’s a player who returns everything and fights until the very last point. I’m really happy that today I managed to play with a clear head.” Deni KOŽUL:“This is what we practice for. I’m really, really satisfied with my own game, I played against an amazing player in GERALDO. When we have our number one, Darko, who once again proved why he’s among the world’s top 10, it’s much easier for all of us. Even in the third position, Bojan showed that at his age he can still perform at an incredibly high level. He was 1–1 and 10–8 up, just a little unlucky not to convert that game in his favour, but he played great. The bench and the youngsters were so loud and supportive, I really think we all fought for this medal, and we all deserve it.” On his unusual pre-match preparation, KOŽUL added: “Yes, I went running at 6 o’clock in the morning to change my energy. Yesterday, I wasn’t feeling great, I was dizzy, my reactions weren’t sharp. I’m a little superstitious, so I changed everything today, from breakfast to dinner. I even went running with Hribar early in the morning. My legs felt so fast today that I think I’ll do it again tomorrow!” Bojan TOKIĆ: “Darko was amazing against both GERALDO and APOLONIA, both are in fantastic shape this tournament. What the guys are showing is amazing table tennis. In the key moments, Darko stayed really calm, yes, a few lucky points at the end, but that’s part of the game. We’re a compact team, and I think my comeback maybe made each of them a little bit better. I’m not their father, I don’t give them tips, that’s the coach’s role, but we have amazing spirit. We’re great friends despite the age difference; I’m 18 years older than the boys. Maybe I could just sense this medal coming, that’s why I wanted to return. The Association gave me the opportunity, and the coach, Darko, and Deni all asked me to play this event. So here I am, and I think this is an amazing achievement for us after eight years.” On his opponent, João MONTEIRO, TOKIĆ added: “He’s an incredible athlete, when he’s focused, he’s 100% in the game. There were no easy points against him; for every rally, you have to build, to work hard. Every point is earned. I have huge respect for him, he’s a fantastic competitor and an amazing sportsman.” France – Belgium 3–0 Once again, France were in the fast lane. France swept past Belgium 3–0 to secure a place on the medal rostrum at the European Team Championships in Zadar. The French trio of Félix LEBRUN, Alexis LEBRUN, and Simon GAZY delivered a flawless performance, each claiming straight-games victories to book their spot in the semi-finals. Alexis LEBRUN:“The match went really well. Félix gave us the perfect start with a very solid performance against NUYTINCK, who also played a good match. That allowed me to come in with great energy against Adrien, who’s been in good form lately, he just played a competition in Sweden, so I knew it would be a tough battle. I managed to handle it really well, and that set up Simon perfectly to finish the job. Overall, it was a perfect match for us today.” “As for tomorrow, it’s going to be a different story. We’ll probably face Germany, since they haven’t played their quarter-final yet. On paper, that’s likely the two strongest teams of the tournament going head-to-head. It’s going

At the European Team Championships in Zadar, the women’s semi-final line-up is complete. In the penultimate stage, Portugal will take on Germany, while Romania will face the Netherlands in two highly anticipated encounters for a place in the final. Poland – Netherlands 1-3 In the opening session of the day, the Netherlands made history by returning to the medal podium for the first time since 2017, when the team also featured Britt EERLAND and Jie LI. Facing a young and ambitious Polish team, the Dutch side showed resilience to earn a 3–1 victory and secure their place among the top four in Europe. Poland took the early lead after Natalia BAJOR defeated Britt EERLAND 3–1. However, Jie LI quickly levelled the score with a dominant win over Anna BRZYSKA 3–0, her defensive game proving too difficult for the 19-year-old opponent to break through. In the third match, Shuohan MEN overcame Zuzanna WIELGOS 3–1, before LI returned to the table to defeat BAJOR once more, this time 3–1 sealing the Netherlands’ victory and a guaranteed medal. Britt EERLAND:“We played better today. Yesterday, LI said she felt that everyone was growing into the tournament more and more. We’re here with a goal, and we’re fighting for it. We don’t want to lose that momentum, and I think we really built on it today. After the match, she said, ‘We’re not done yet.’ The hardest part of the quarter-finals is always the mental game, the one who can still play under pressure is the one who comes out on top. Every match is a fight. LI said she really had to start attacking to make her opponent feel more pressure, and she made small but smart adjustments that made things uncomfortable for her opponent. I tried the same, to change things up, but it was really difficult to get her out of rhythm. I had a small chance to turn it around and even took a timeout for that moment; I felt I had done everything right. But in the end, it’s all about teamwork, we warm up together, change positions, and support each other. Before she started, LI said, ‘If I don’t win, you can still win,’ so we have full confidence in one another. Anton and Maaike, our coach and physio, everyone supports us. I really feel we’re working as one team.” Reflecting on Poland’s challenge, EERLAND added: “LI has played many times against Anna, so she’s experienced in this style. We weren’t really worried, but we didn’t know if Poland would change their order, that was the only question mark. Before my first match, I was nervous, but I told myself that even if I lost, I just had to do my best. I think my opponent was also nervous, so I just gave everything. She was nervous too, but when she made her choices, she committed fully and put real quality behind the ball, that kind of extra effort can make the difference.” Germany – Sweden 3–0 Reigning champions Germany once again demonstrated their quality and consistency, sweeping Sweden 3–0 to reach the semi-finals of the European Team Championships in Zadar and secure another medal. Led by Sabine WINTER, Annett KAUFMANN, and Nina MITTELHAM, the German side delivered a disciplined performance against a determined Swedish team featuring Christina KÄLLBERG, Linda BERGSTRÖM, and Filippa BERGAND. WINTER gave Germany the perfect start, overcoming KÄLLBERG 3–1 after four well-contested games. KAUFMANN extended the lead with a straight-games win against defensive specialist BERGSTRÖM, before MITTELHAM sealed the tie with a convincing victory over BERGAND. Sabine WINTER:“I played my best match today, though there’s still room to improve, especially with my forehand and variation. It’s easier said than done under pressure, but I’ll take the confidence into tomorrow and aim to raise my level again.” Nina MITTELHAM: “Filippa Bergand played much better than last time, but even when she had a set ball, I always felt in control and stayed quite relaxed throughout the match.” Annett KAUFMANN: “It was a solid team performance. There were tight moments, but we never felt in danger. Playing against defense suits me, I’ve practiced that since I was ten.” Coach Tamara BOROS: “I expected tough matches today. Sabine was excellent in key moments, Annett played smart and patient, and Nina impressed me after her illness. The whole team, including Mia and Yuan, showed great spirit.” Ukraine – Portugal 2–3 Portugal extended their remarkable streak of reaching the medal rounds at the European Team Championships to four consecutive editions, following a dramatic 3–2 victory over Ukraine in the quarter-finals in Zadar. Portugals had to fight back from 1–2 down, showing remarkable composure under pressure to clinch the deciding match in five games. Margaryta PESOTSKA gave Ukraine a strong start by defeating Fu YU 3–1, but Jieni SHAO levelled the score after a five-game battle against Veronika MATIUNINA. Tetyana BILENKO then restored Ukraine’s lead with a straight-games victory over Julia LEAL, before SHAO struck again, beating PESOTSKA to force a decisive fifth match. In the final clash, Fu YU held her nerve against MATIUNINA, prevailing 3–2 to secure Portugal’s place in the semi-finals. Fu YU:“We needed to stay focused despite the great pressure. Especially the last match was very difficult for me. Jieni did her part of the job perfectly by giving us two points, so the pressure was on me to deliver the third one, and I’m very happy I managed to do it.” Jieni SHAO: “I needed to be at the top of my game to win both my matches. There wasn’t much room for mistakes today, every point mattered.” Romania – Slovakia 3–0 Top-seeded Romania showed no mercy against Slovakia, recording a 3–0 victory to secure their place on the medal rostrum at the European Team Championships in Zadar. Romania was in full control throughout the tie. Bernadette SZÖCS opened with a confident straight-games win over Ema LABOSOVÁ, followed by Elizabeta SAMARA, who overcame Tatiana KUKULKOVÁ 3–1 after a brief stumble in the third game. Andreea