After losing in last year's semi-finals following 32 successive title successes, England fought their way back into the women's final of the European Team Squash Championships after a 3/0 victory over Ireland in the Division 1 semi-finals of the European Squash Federation event at the Esport Center in Espoo, Finland.

After competing in all but one of the events since 1978, Italy celebrated their first appearance in the men's semi-finals of the European Team Squash Championships after beating Czech Republic 4/0 in the final Division 1 qualifying round of the European Squash Federation event at the Esport Center in Espoo, Finland.

Earlier in the day, the Italians went down 4/0 to defending champions England - but will now face second seeds France for a place in the final. Following comfortable 4/0 victories over both Italy and Wales, favourites England will take on third seeds Netherlands in the other semi.

And England also made a notable breakthrough in the Women's Division 1 event where the third seeds beat No2 seeds France 3/0 to finish as Pool B winners. Winners of the title every year until 2010, England will now face fourth seeds Ireland for a place in the final.

In one of the most dramatic clashes in the history of the championships, Spain beat Belgium in the Men's Division 2 quarter-finals. The matches ended 2-2, the games ended 7-7, but Spain ultimately clinched victory by a 124/122 points margin!

Men's Division 1 - Semi-finals line-up:
[1] ENGLAND v [3] NETHERLANDS
[2] FRANCE v [5] ITALY

Women's Division 1 - Semi-finals line-up:
[1] NETHERLANDS v [2] FRANCE
[3] ENGLAND v [4] IRELAND

Men's Division 2 - Semi-finals line-up:
[1] SPAIN v [6] DENMARK
[2] FINLAND v [4] SWEDEN

RESULTS: European Team Championship, Espoo, Finland

Division 1 - Men's final qualifying rounds - Pool A:
[1] ENGLAND bt [5] ITALY 4/0
Nick Matthew bt Davide Bianchetti 11-5, 11-6, 11-6
Daryl Selby bt Andrea Torricini 11-6, 12-10, 8-11, 11-8
Jonathan Kemp bt Mirko Pareccini 11-1, 11-6, 11-2
Peter Barker bt Amr Swelim 11-8, 11-3, 11-4

[4] WALES bt [8] CZECH REPUBLIC 3/1
Peter Creed lost to Jan Koukal 8-11, 8-11, 7-11
Alex Gough bt Jaroslav Cech 11-7, 11-8, 11-7
Nic Birt bt Pavel Sladecek 7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-5
David Evans bt Petr Martin 11-5, 11-5, 11-2

[1] ENGLAND bt [4] WALES 4/0
James Willstrop bt Peter Creed 11-9, 11-7, 11-9
Daryl Selby bt Alex Gough 11-8, 11-4, 11-7
Jonathan Kemp bt David Haley 11-2, 11-2, 11-6
Peter Barker bt David Evans 11-6, 11-6, 11-4

[5] ITALY bt [8] CZECH REPUBLIC 4/0
Stephane Galifi bt Petr Martin 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5
Marcus Berrett bt Roman Svec 11-1, 11-3, 11-3
Amr Swelim bt Pavel Sladecek 11-6, 11-5, 11-8
Davide Bianchetti bt Jaroslav Cech 11-9, 11-3, 11-9

Final positions: 1 England, 2 Italy, 3 Wales, 4 Czech Republic

Pool B:
[2] FRANCE bt [6] GERMANY 4/0
Gregory Gaultier bt Jens Schoor 11-1, 15-13, 11-4
Yann Perrin bt Andre Haschker 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8
Julien Balbo bt Raphael Kandra 11-7, 11-7, 13-11
Gregoire Marche bt Rudi Rohrmuller 11-4, 11-8, 14-12

[3] NETHERLANDS drew with [7] SCOTLAND 2/2
Laurens Jan Anjema bt Alan Clyne 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9
Piedro Schweertman lost to Chris Small 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 10-12, 9-11
Rene Mijs lost to Lyall Paterson 4-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5, 12-14
Dylan Bennett bt Stuart Crawford 11-6, 11-7, 11-6

[6] GERMANY bt [7] SCOTLAND 4/0
Simon Rosner bt Alan Clyne 11-3, 11-4, 11-3
Andre Haschker bt Chris Small 4-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-5
Raphael Kandra bt Harry Leitch 11-8, 11-6, 11-5
Jens Schoor bt Stuart Crawford 7-11, 16-14, 11-1, 11-9

[2] FRANCE bt [3] NETHERLANDS 3/1
Mathieu Castagnet lost to Laurens Jan Anjema 9-11, 6-11, 7-11
Yann Perrin bt Piedro Schweertman 11-1, 9-11, 11-4, 12-10
Julien Balbo bt Sebastian Weenink 11-7, 11-2, 11-6
Gregoire Marche bt Dylan Bennett 11-4, 11-3, 11-5

Final positions: 1 France, 2 Netherlands, 3 Germany, 4 Scotland

Division 1 - Women's final qualifying rounds - Pool A:
[1] NETHERLANDS bt [5] GERMANY 3/0
Vanessa Atkinson bt Sina Wall 11-6, 11-4, 11-4
Natalie Grinham bt Pamela Hathway 11-1, 11-7, 11-3
Milja Dorenbos bt Franziska Hennes 11-9, 11-6, 11-5

[4] IRELAND bt [8] SPAIN 2/1
Madeline Perry bt Xisela Aranda Nunez 11-5, 11-6, 13-11
Aisling Blake bt Stela Carbonell 11-3, 11-5, 11-9
Claire O'Brien lost to Chantal Moros-Pitarch 3-11, 4-11, 11-7, 12-14

[1] NETHERLANDS bt [4] IRELAND 2/1
Vanessa Atkinson lost to Madeline Perry 11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 4-11, 9-11
Natalie Grinham bt Aisling Blake 11-6, 11-5, 11-7
Orla Noom bt Claire Staunton 11-7, 11-2, 11-2

[5] GERMANY bt [8] SPAIN 2/1
Sina Wall bt Xisela Aranda Nunez 11-3, 9-11, 11-4, 11-5
Pamela Hathway lost to Stela Carbonell 6-11, 8-11, 11-6, 10-12
Eva Brauckmann bt Laura Alonso Perez 11-7, 5-11, 11-9, 11-8

Final positions: 1 Netherlands, 2 Ireland, 3 Germany, 4 Spain

Pool B:
[2] FRANCE bt [7] SCOTLAND 2/1
Isabelle Stoehr bt Frania Gillen-Buchert 12-10, 11-6, 11-8
Camille Serme bt Senga Macfie 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8
Coline Aumard lost to Lisa Aitken 6-11, 7-11, 8-11

[3] ENGLAND bt [6] ITALY 3/0
Sarah Kippax bt Grossi Katiuscia 11-4, 11-2, 11-5
Jenny Duncalf bt Manuela Manetta 11-1, 4-11, 13-11, 11-5
Emma Beddoes bt Monica Menegozzi 11-2, 11-4, 11-4

[3] ENGLAND bt [7] SCOTLAND 3/0
Sarah Kippax bt Senga Macfie 11-9, 11-2, 11-3
Dominique Lloyd-Walter bt Lisa Aitken 11-5, 11-2, 11-1
Emma Beddoes bt Alex Clark 11-9, 11-5, 11-5

[2] FRANCE bt [6] ITALY 3/0
Camille Serme bt Manuela Manetta 11-9, 11-6, 11-8
Isabelle Stoehr bt Grossi Katiuscia 11-7, 11-2, 11-7
Maud Duplomb bt Simona Fedeli 11-2, 11-1, 11-2

[3] ENGLAND bt [2] FRANCE 3/0
Jenny Duncalf bt Camille Serme 15-13, 11-9, 4-11, 11-5
Sarah Kippax bt Isabelle Stoehr 12-10, 11-9, 11-4
Emma Beddoes bt Coline Aumard 11-7, 11-9, 11-1

[7] SCOTLAND bt [6] ITALY 2/1
Senga Macfie lost to Manuela Manetta 6-11, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 7-11
Frania Gillen-Buchert bt Grossi Katiuscia 11-4, 11-4, 11-3
Lisa Aitken bt Monica Menegozzi 11-4, 11-1, 11-2

Final positions: 1 England, 2 France, 3 Scotland, 4 Italy

Division 2 - Men's quarter-finals:
1] SPAIN bt [7] BELGIUM 2/2 (Spain win 124-122 on points countback)
Borja Golan lost to Stefan Casteleyn 11-8, 9-11, 10-12, 2-11
Alejandro Garbi Caro bt Mark Burke 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5
Hugo Varela lost to Jan van den Herrewegen 1-11, 8-11, 7-11
David Vidal bt Tom de Mulder 12-10, 11-7, 11-3

[6] DENMARK bt [5] SWITZERLAND 3/1
Kristian Frost Olesen lost to Nicolas Mueller 5-11, 6-11, 1-11
Morten W Sorensen bt Lukas Burkhart 11-4, 11-5, 11-3
Michael Frilund bt Patrick Miescher 7-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-6
Rasmus Nielsen bt Reiko Peter 12-10, 11-4, 11-6

[4] SWEDEN bt [3] IRELAND 3/1
Rasmus Hult bt Arthur Gaskin 11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8
Christian Drakenberg bt Steve Richardson 6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-1
Romain Tenant bt Conor O'Hare 13-11, 11-2, 11-7
Gustav Detter lost to Derek Ryan 11-7, 8-11, 13-15, 9-11

[2] FINLAND bt [8] HUNGARY 2/2 (Finland win 9-5 on games countback)
Olli Tuominen lost to Mark Krajcsak 3-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-7, 4-11
Matias Tuomi bt Sandor Fulop 11-7, 11-4, 11-1
Erno Teitti lost to Andras Torok 9-11, 11-5, 9-11
Henrik Mustonen bt Marton Szaboky 11-4, 11-4, 11-6

9th - 11th place play-offs:
[11] AUSTRIA bt [10] UKRAINE 4/0
Aqeel Rehman bt Ruslan Sorochinskiy 11-7, 11-7, 11-5
Daniel Haider bt Valeriy Fedoruk 7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9
Marcus Greslehner bt Denis Podvornyi 11-9, 11-7, 11-6
Jakob Dirnberger bt Kostiantyn Rybalchenko 11-4, 9-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7

Division 2 - Women's 2nd Qualifying rounds:
[3] AUSTRIA bt [5] FINLAND 2/1
Birgit Coufal bt Saara Valtola 11-7, 13-11, 7-11, 10-12, 11-3
Sandra Polak bt Elina Kononen 11-6, 10-12, 11-9, 12-10
Sabrina Rehman lost to Pia Ojala 11-9, 4-11, 4-11, 7-11

[1] SWITZERLAND bt [6] CZECH REPUBLIC 3/0
Gaby Schmohl bt Lucie Fialova 7-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6
Sara Guebey bt Veronika Koukalova 7-11, 11-4, 11-2, 6-11, 11-6
Agapi Kazamia bt Klara Janoskova 17-15, 11-5, 11-7

[2] WALES bt [4] BELGIUM 2/1
Deon Saffery bt Kim Hannes 11-6, 11-7, 12-10
Tesni Evans bt Liesbeth Dries 11-1, 11-8, 11-3
Hannah Jane Davies lost to Nele Gilis 20-22, 8-11, 9-11

[4] BELGIUM bt [5] FINLAND 2/1
Kim Hannes bt Saara Valtola 11-6, 11-13, 11-8, 11-7
Yara Delagrange bt Emilia Soini 11-9, 11-9, 11-8
Nele Gilis lost to Jutta Tuunanen 13-11, 5-11, 9-11, 6-11

[2] WALES bt [6] CZECH REPUBLIC 2/1
Deon Saffery lost to Lucie Fialova 11-4, 11-4, 6-11, 7-11, 6-11
Tesni Evans bt Veronika Koukalova 12-10, 11-4, 10-12, 9-11, 11-5
Hannah Jane Davies bt Eva Fertekova 11-5, 11-3, 11-5

[1] SWITZERLAND bt [3] AUSTRIA 2/1
Gaby Schmohl lost to Birgit Coufal 11-9, 9-11, 13-11, 5-11, 8-11
Sara Guebey bt Sandra Polak 11-8, 11-5, 6-11, 8-11, 11-6
Agapi Kazamia bt Judith Gradnitzer 11-7, 11-6, 11-6

Hosts Finland flourished on the opening day of action in the European Team Squash Championships at the Esport Center in Espoo with two successive wins in the Men's Division 2 category of the long-established European Squash Federation event.

But it was a 2/1 upset over second seeds Wales in the Women's Division 1 championship that was the biggest boost to the hosts' ambitions in the event which is being held in Finland for the fourth time.

Elina Kononen began the rout with an 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 5-11, 13-11 victory over Welsh teenager Tesni Evans to lift fifth seeds Finland's spirits. Wales bounced back when Deon Saffery beat Saara Valtola in straight games - but Jutta Tuunanen clinched victory with an 11-8, 12-10, 11-8 win over Hannah Jane Davies.

It turned out to be a disappointing opening day overall for Wales, fourth seeds in the Men's Division 1 event, who went down 4/0 to fifth seeds Italy.

England, favourites to win the men's premier title for the 19th year in a row, successfully began the defence of their crown with a 4/0 victory over Czech Republic, the No8 seeds.

England's top player Nick Matthew, the world number one, faced 12 times Czech champion Jan Koukal, ranked 44 places lower.

"It was the first time we played against each other," said Matthew after his 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-3 win. "He impressed me and should in my mind deserve a somewhat higher ranking. Personally it was not until in the third game I could say I was satisfied in my own squash."

When asked about England's competition in the championships, Matthew said: "When looking at the Championships, France have a good team. They are missing Thierry Lincou, which means that Greg Gaultier's role will become even bigger. And then I could think that the Netherlands will be strong."

RESULTS: European Team Championships, Espoo, Finland

Division 1 Men's Qualifying rounds - Pool A:
[5] ITALY bt [4] WALES 4/0
Stephane Galifi bt Peter Creed 11-9, 11-4, 10-12, 16-14
Amr Swelim bt Nic Birt 11-5, 11-7, 6-11, 11-5
Davide Bianchetti bt David Evans 11-3, 11-8, 11-7
Marcus Berrett bt Alex Gough 11-3, 16-14, 11-2

[1] ENGLAND bt [8] CZECH REPUBLIC 4/0
Nick Matthew bt Jan Koukal 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-3
Jonathan Kemp bt Pavel Sladecek 11-3, 11-4, 11-4
James Willstrop bt Petr Martin 8-11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-7, 11-6
Daryl Selby bt Roman Svec 11-1, 11-5, 11-2

Pool B:
[3] NETHERLANDS bt [6] GERMANY 3/1
Laurens Jan Anjema bt Simon Rosner 11-8, 14-12, 6-11, 11-6
Sebastian Weenink lost to Raphael Kandra 7-11, 6-11, 6-11
Dylan Bennett bt Jens Schoor 11-6, 3-11, 4-11, 14-12, 12-10
Piedro Schweertman bt Rudi Rohrmuller 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-5

[2] FRANCE bt [7] SCOTLAND 4/0
Gregory Gaultier bt Alan Clyne 11-5, 12-10, 2-11, 11-7
Julien Balbo bt Harry Leitch 6-11, 11-1, 11-1, 11-2
Mathieu Castagnet bt Stuart Crawford 11-5, 11-7, 11-7
Yann Perrin bt Chris Small 11-5, 11-7, 11-5

Division 1 Women's Qualifying rounds - Pool A:
[1] NETHERLANDS bt [8] SPAIN 3/0
Orla Noom bt Stela Carbonell 11-6, 11-7, 11-6
Vanessa Atkinson bt Xisela Aranda Nunez 11-2, 11-5, 11-3
Milja Dorenbos bt Laura Alonso Perez 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-6

[4] IRELAND bt [5] GERMANY 2/1
Aisling Blake bt Pamela Hathway 13-11, 11-7, 11-2
Madeline Perry bt Sina Wall 15-13, 11-1, 11-6
Claire Staunton lost to Eva Brauckmann 3-11, 3-11, 3-11

Pool B:
[2] FRANCE bt [7] SCOTLAND 2/1
Isabelle Stoehr bt Frania Gillen-Buchert 12-10, 11-6, 11-8
Camille Serme bt Senga Macfie 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8
Coline Aumard lost to Lisa Aitken 6-11, 7-11, 8-11

[3] ENGLAND bt [6] ITALY 3/0
Sarah Kippax bt Grossi Katiuscia 11-4, 11-2, 11-5
Jenny Duncalf bt Manuela Manetta 11-1, 4-11, 13-11, 11-5
Emma Beddoes bt Monica Menegozzi 11-2, 11-4, 11-4

Division 2 Men's Qualifying rounds - Pool A:
[1] SPAIN bt [9] SLOVAKIA 4/0
Borja Golan bt Tomas Toth 11-7, 11-3, 11-1
Ivan Flores bt Miroslav Celler 16-14, 11-2, 11-3
David Vidal bt Marek Manik 11-4, 11-5, 11-3
Alejandro Garbi Caro bt Peter Kviecinsky 11-6, 11-3, 9-11, 11-2

[8] HUNGARY drew with [9] SLOVAKIA 2/2
Mark Krajcsak bt Tomas Toth 11-5, 11-1, 11-7
Andras Torok lost to Miroslav Celler 8-11, 9-11, 11-8, 12-10, 10-12
Marton Szaboky lost to Marek Manik 11-7, 6-11, 11-2, 5-11, 8-11
Sandor Fulop bt Peter Kviecinsky 11-7, 11-6, 9-11, 11-1

[1] SPAIN bt [8] HUNGARY 3/1
Borja Golan bt Mark Krajcsak 9-11, 11-9, 11-2, 14-12
Ivan Flores lost to Andras Torok 6-11, 7-11, 7-11
David Vidal bt Marton Szaboky 11-4, 11-5, 11-2
Alejandro Garbi Caro bt Sandor Fulop 11-4, 11-7, 6-11, 9-11, 11-4

Final positions: 1 Spain, 2 Hungary, 3 Slovakia

Pool B:
[2] FINLAND bt [10] UKRAINE 4/0
Olli Tuominen bt Ruslan Sorochinskiy 11-6, 11-1, 12-10
Erno Teitti bt Denis Podvornyi 11-7, 11-3, 11-4
Henrik Mustonen bt Kostiantyn Rybalchenko 11-6, 11-4, 11-2
Hameed Ahmed bt Valeriy Fedoruk 11-7, 11-3, 11-4

[7] BELGIUM bt [10] UKRAINE 4/0
Stefan Casteleyn bt Ruslan Sorochinskiy 11-6, 11-6, 11-4
Dave de Beule bt Denis Podvornyi 8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8
Tom de Mulder bt Kostiantyn Rybalchenko 11-3, 11-6, 16-14
Jan van den Herrewegen bt Valeriy Fedoruk 11-8, 7-11, 11-0, 11-9

[2] FINLAND bt [7] BELGIUM 4/0
Olli Tuominen bt Stefan Casteleyn 11-4, 11-4, 11-4
Arttu Moisio bt Dave de Beule 11-4, 11-1, 11-8
Henrik Mustonen bt Tom de Mulder 11-5, 11-2, 11-9
Matias Tuomi bt Jan van den Herrewegen 11-6, 5-11, 11-6, 11-8

Final positions: 1 Finland, 2 Belgium, 3 Ukraine

Pool C:
[3] IRELAND bt [11] AUSTRIA 4/0
Arthur Gaskin bt Aqeel Rehman 11-6, 2-11, 11-3, 11-2
Graeme Stewart bt Stefan Brauneis 11-5, 5-11, 4-1 ret.
Derek Ryan bt Jakob Dirnberger 9-11, 11-6, 11-3, 7-11, 12-10
Steve Richardson bt Daniel Haider 11-5, 11-6, 11-2

[6] DENMARK bt [11] AUSTRIA 4/0
Kristian Frost Olesen bt Aqeel Rehman 11-8, 5-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8
Michael Frilund bt Marcus Greslehner 11-4, 11-7, 11-5
Rasmus Nielsen bt Jakob Dirnberger 11-6, 11-8, 11-6
Caspar Grauball Nielsen bt Daniel Haider 11-9, 11-8, 11-2

[3] IRELAND drew with [6] DENMARK 2/2
Arthur Gaskin lost to Kristian Frost Olesen 8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 9-11, 2-11
Graeme Stewart lost to Michael Frilund 11-5, 9-11, 6-11, 11-9, 6-11
Derek Ryan bt Rasmus Nielsen 11-8, 11-2, 11-5
Steve Richardson bt Morten W Sorensen 11-5, 11-9, 11-3

Final positions: 1 Ireland, 2 Denmark, 3 Austria

Pool D:
[5] SWITZERLAND drew with [4] SWEDEN 2/2
Nicolas Mueller bt Rasmus Hult 11-4, 11-7, 11-2
Patrick Miescher lost to Romain Tenant 8-11, 5-11, 7-11
Reiko Peter bt Gustav Detter 13-11, 11-9, 11-4
Lukas Burkhart lost to Christian Drakenberg 11-8, 5-11, 6-11, 2-11

Final positions: 1 Switzerland, 2 Sweden

Division 2 Women's Qualifying rounds - Pool A:
[1] SWITZERLAND bt [4] BELGIUM 3/0
Sara Guebey bt Yara Delagrange 11-7, 11-7, 11-6
Gaby Schmohl bt Kim Hannes 11-9, 11-4, 9-11, 11-8
Agapi Kazamia bt Liesbeth Dries 2-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-8

[5] FINLAND bt [2] WALES 2/1
Elina Kononen bt Tesni Evans 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 5-11, 13-11
Saara Valtola lost to Deon Saffery 4-11, 8-11, 11-13
Jutta Tuunanen bt Hannah Jane Davies 11-8, 12-10, 11-8

[6] CZECH REPUBLIC bt [3] AUSTRIA 2/1
Veronika Koukalova lost to Sandra Polak 8-11, 11-6, 9-11, 12-14
Lucie Fialova bt Birgit Coufal 13-11, 7-11, 11-7, 8-11, 13-11
Klara Janoskova bt Judith Gradnitzer 11-7, 11-7, 11-6