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

The knockout stage of the European Team Championships in Zadar brought a day full of drama, long battles, and emotional moments. Several underdogs who had caused upsets in the group stage entered the Round of 16 determined to challenge Europe’s elite, and they delivered fierce performances that pushed the favourites to their limits. Portugal – Spain 3–2 In a clash of epic proportions lasting over three and a half hours, Portugal secured their place in the quarter-finals after a dramatic 3–2 victory over Spain. Spain’s youthful lineup, Juan PÉREZ (23), Daniel BERZOSA (19), and Miguel PANTOJA (21), pushed Portugal’s experienced trio of João GERALDO (30), Tiago APOLÓNIA (39), and João MONTEIRO (42) to the edge before last Championships’ bronze medallists finally prevailed to reach the Round of 8. PÉREZ was the standout for Spain, scoring impressive wins over both GERALDO and APOLÓNIA, who made his first appearance at the Championships following recovery from a left knee injury. “It was a really tough match against a very young and fiery team,” said GERALDO. “We managed to control our emotions very well. Spain played with so much energy and passion, they were big fighters. But we managed to absorb that energy in the right way and finish the match with a victory.” Reflecting further, GERALDO added: “It’s very hard to control their spin, everyone struggles with it. But the most important thing was to stay emotionally stable and believe until the end that we would win. PÉREZ was on fire today; he played two great matches. The third match was crucial, João MONTEIRO won 3–0 but was down 10–7 in the first and had another very tight set. That win gave us a big push. Then Tiago and I beat BERZOSA, who’s also a talented young player coming up. I’m sure he will be one of the best one day. But today, Tiago and I relied on our experience and qualities, and we proved that it still counts.” GERALDO also praised the emerging generation of players: “Many countries now have strong young players, and Portugal as well. We have Tiago ABIODUN, who’s already shown he can compete at senior level. The level of the new generation is really high, there are many more young players than in my time, or even in the generations of Tiago, Marcos, and MONTEIRO. It’s exciting to see who will become the best in the future. Meanwhile, I’ll keep fighting to stay among the best too.” Speaking about APOLÓNIA’s recovery, he added: “Tiago is improving day by day. Playing today was an important step, he’s getting better and better.” Slovenia – Moldova 3–1 Slovenia’s trio of Deni KOZUL, Darko JORGIC, and Bojan TOKIC secured a solid 3–1 victory over Moldova’s Vladislav URSU, Andrei PUTUNTICA, and Denis TERNA, booking their place in the quarter-finals. After Moldova had previously stunned Austria and nearly defeated Croatia in the group stage, Slovenia approached the match with caution. “I think they could have even finished first in their group,” explained JORGIC. “Their match against Croatia was 50–50. We watched it in the hall and knew they weren’t an easy opponent. We were prepared from the start to the end for a tough fight, and that’s exactly what happened.” URSU continued his strong form, defeating KOZUL in the opening match. “URSU is playing really well. He already played in the Olympic qualification last year and has improved a lot,” said JORGIC. “Deni didn’t find his rhythm, and URSU was dominant. The first game could have gone either way, but in the end, we managed to turn the match around.” JORGIC then led by example, winning both of his matches, against PUTUNTICA and URSU, while TOKIC’s experience sealed the team’s victory. “I started my match a bit under stress, it’s difficult to play when you’re 0–1 down and the team expects you to win,” admitted JORGIC.“But in the end, Bojan was fantastic. His experience made the difference. He showed exactly why we needed him here.” This result marks Slovenia’s return to the top eight and proves they are on the good way to repeat their memorable run in 2017, when they last reached the medal podium. “It’s a great result for us, honestly, we didn’t expect it, but everything is possible,” said JORGIC. “We’ll keep fighting and look forward to facing Portugal or Spain next. Hopefully, we can deliver another strong performance and maybe celebrate a medal again like in 2017.” France – Slovakia 3–0 France’s team of Alexis LEBRUN, Félix LEBRUN, and Simon GAZY advanced to the quarter-finals after a convincing 3–0 victory over Slovakia’s Yang WANG, Alexander VALUCH, and Jakub ZELINKA. The French trio, one of the tournament favourites, handled the challenge with efficiency, securing a straightforward path into the last eight. “Everything’s going well so far, we’re very happy to be in the quarter-finals and can’t wait for the competition to continue,” said Félix LEBRUN. “At 1–0 and 3–0 up against VALUCH, I kind of switched off a bit, and he quickly came back to 4–3. I didn’t necessarily play my best at that point, he raised his level compared to the earlier games, so the match evened out a little. But so far in this tournament, I’ve managed to win all my matches even when that happens, so it’s not a big issue. The important thing is to get the win, though I hope I’ll have fewer dips in my level of play as we move forward. Here at the European Championships, the goal is to build momentum, to find your rhythm, stay focused on every point, and, little by little, make fewer mistakes. If you can avoid them altogether, that’s even better.” Germany – Denmark 3-0 Germany’s Benedikt DUDA, Patrick FRANZISKA and Dang QIU justified their status by overcaming Denmark’s Jonathan GROTH, Anders LIND and Martin ANDERSEN. Right from the opening game between Benedikt DUDA and Jonathan GROTH, the match was spectacular. Duda saved four game points against the Dane before finally taking the opener 15–13. Although the

On the fifth day of play at the European Team Championships in Zadar, the top 16 teams battled for a place in the quarter-finals. Poland – Austria 3–2 Poland advanced to the quarter-finals after a thrilling 3–2 victory over Austria. For the Polish side, Natalia BAJOR, Zuzanna WIELGOS, and Katarzyna WĘGRZYN each contributed to the decisive scoreline. In Austria’s team, Sofia POLCANOVA secured two wins, but Karoline MISCHEK and Yuan LIU were unable to provide the needed support. “The key was to stay in the match despite POLCANOVA’s two wins, we knew she would get them,” said WIELGOS.“For me, the receive is the most important part of my game, and I’m happy it worked well today. I was very stressed; playing a decisive match at such an important stage of the Championships didn’t make it easier.However, I managed to stay focused until the end.” Ukraine – Hungary 3–0 Ukraine’s trio of Margaryta PESOTSKA, Veronika MATIUNINA, and Tetyana BILENKO halted Hungary’s progress with a commanding 3–0 victory. For Hungary, Georgina POTA, Rebeka NAGY, and Johanna PETERY were unable to find a way through. PESOTSKA’s opening win over POTA (3–1) proved decisive, setting the tone for Ukraine’s overall success. “My match against POTA was very close because we’ve played each other many times and know each other’s game well,” explained PESOTSKA. “I needed to stay calm and focused in the key moments. I managed to do that, and it was a very tight win. The crucial part of our team victory was to stop Georgina.” Portugal – Luxembourg 3–0 Portugal’s trio Fu YU, Jieni SHAO, and Julia LEAL advanced to the quarter-finals with a 3–0 victory over Luxembourg’s Sarah DE NUTTE, Tessy DUMONT, and Enisa SADIKOVIC. One of the biggest surprises of the Women’s Team group stage, Luxembourg failed to claim a single individual win this time, but the scoreline does not fully reflect how hard-fought the match was. Sarah DE NUTTE came back from 0–2 down to level the score before narrowly losing 10–12 in the decisive game, while Enisa SADIKOVIC also pushed LEAL to the full distance. “At this level, it’s normal that we have to be at the top of our game,” said LEAL. “It’s already Day 5 of the Championships, and I’ve gained a lot of confidence here. Against Ukraine, I expect a really tough match.” Netherlands – Czechia 3–1 Led by the refreshed Jie LI, the Netherlands defeated Czechia 3–1 to reach the quarter-finals. The Dutch team, Jie LI, Britt EERLAND, and Shuohan MEN, overcame Hana MATELOVA, Veronika POLAKOVA, and Hanka KODET in a hard-fought encounter. LI claimed victories over both MATELOVA and POLAKOVA, while EERLAND prevailed against POLAKOVA. KODET secured the only point for the Czech side with a win over MEN. “It feels like in every European Championship we somehow have to play Czechia,” reflected EERLAND with a smile. “We were even a little surprised we didn’t face them in the group stage, it’s as if it was meant to happen in the last 16. It’s always a tough match against them. MATELOVA is a well-known player, and their younger ones already have medals from the youth circuit, so you can’t underestimate them. Sometimes it’s even more difficult because you don’t know exactly how they’ll play or what they’ll bring that day, maybe they catch fire and win big matches.” EERLAND underlined the team’s determination: “No matter what happens, we want to be there as a full, united team. We didn’t want to underestimate them at all. They also changed their order, so LI had to play MATELOVA at the end that was expected to be tight. It became a match with some extra tension, but LI fought through it really well. She didn’t put herself under pressure, she kept the pressure on the table, and that made the difference.” Speaking about her own win against POLAKOVA, she added: “Starting 1–0 up helped me to settle in. I noticed she played with a different rhythm and timing, so sometimes it was better just to slow the pace, touch the ball softly, and keep it on the table. I focused on small details, that’s how I won points. I’m happy I could keep that level for all three games.” EERLAND also commented on Shuohan MEN’s loss to KODET: “Our number three had already beaten KODET once before, so we knew she could be dangerous again. But when you’ve beaten someone before, you also expect from yourself to do it again and that brings extra pressure. We told her: ‘You don’t have to win, they’re the ones who must. Just put the pressure on them.’ She really tried to fight her own nerves, you could see how much she wanted it. In the end, it was a bit of a mental game. It’s a pity she couldn’t take the match, but we were confident that LI could finish it for us and she did. I’m proud of how we handled it as a team. In the end, we did it together, and that’s what matters most.” Spain – Sweden 0–3 Sweden’s team of Linda BERGSTRÖM, Christina KÄLLBERG, and Filippa BERGAND advanced to the quarter-finals after a commanding 3–0 victory over Spain’s Maria XIAO, Huan ZHANG, and Elvira RAD. BERGSTRÖM and KÄLLBERG produced impressive performances against XIAO and ZHANG, setting the tone for Sweden’s success. In the closing match, BERGAND was pushed to the limit by RAD, but held firm to complete the sweep. BERGSTRÖM on her match:“It was almost a perfect match. I could play the way I wanted throughout the three sets, and I’m happy I could secure the first point for the team.” On the team’s performance: “It’s really strong to beat Spain 3–0. Stina played a very good match against an opponent she doesn’t like to face that much, and Filippa finished it off with a very strong win. It feels great to win 3–0.” On the next opponent (likely Germany): “It will be tough, they’re probably the best team here. But we’ll

Both the Men’s and Women’s Events were marked by surprises in the group stage, but several of the teams that arrived in Zadar as favourites managed to recover after early setbacks and bounce back strongly to secure their place in the Final Stage of the European Team Championships 2027, which will be held in Porto. After two rounds of play-off matches, Slovenia and France in the women’s event, and Austria and Czechia in the men’s event, booked their tickets for the next stage of the continental competition. In the Women’s Team event, France, represented by Jia Nan YUAN, Prithika PAVADE, and Leana HOCHART, recorded convincing 3–0 victories over both Wales and Türkiye to finish in positions 17–18 and secure qualification. Slovenia’s trio of Ana TOFANT, Sara TOKIĆ, and Katarina STRAŽAR faced far greater pressure, going the full distance in both of their encounters against Greece and Bulgaria, but ultimately prevailed to join France among the qualified teams. In the Men’s Team event, Austria’s Andreas LEVENKO, Robert GARDOS, and Maciej KOŁODZIEJCZYK overcame Ukraine and the Netherlands to clinch their spot in the Final Stage. Czechia’s Lubomir JANČAŘÍK, Pavel ŠIRUČEK, and Radim MORÁVEK also delivered a strong performance, defeating Italy and Hungary by identical 3–1 margins.