By Michael Pavitt

England have progressed to the final for the first time since 2009 ©TwitterDenmark will face England in the final of the European Mixed Team Badminton Championships after both teams earned thrilling 3-2 semi-final victories over Germany and Russia respectively in Leuven.


England were the first team to book their place in tomorrow's final as the second seeds returned to the final of the competition for the first time since 2009 by overcoming Russia.

The two teams entered the last four fresh off back of 3-1 victories in their quarter-finals but it was Russia who got off to a perfect start, with Evgeniya Kostetskaya and Ivan Sozonov stunning world number six pair Chris and Gabby Adcock 21-17, 17-21, 21-13.

The England team responded in the singles rubbers, firstly seeing Rajiv Ouseph overcome Vladimir Malkov in a three game match, before Fontaine Chapman completed the turnaround winning in straight games against Ksenia Polikarpova 21-17, 21-15 to give the English team a 2-1 advantage.

Russia, however, were able to peg the English team back in the men's doubles event as, despite losing the second game to Chris Langridge and Marcus Ellis, who had been unbeaten prior to the semi-final, they were able to win the decisive third game to set up a decider in women's doubles.

England's pairing of Adcock and Lauren Smith were able to hold their nerve against Kostetskaya and her partner Ekaterina Bolotova to see the English team through to the final, winning the doubles match 21-12, 15-21, 21-16.

They will face Denmark in the final for the 13th time in the competition 26-year edition history, having lost eight and won four of the previous final encounters, after the Danes overcame the defending champions Germany in the second semi-final.

It was a repeat of the 2013 final, which saw Germany come out on top, but the Danish team got off to a perfect start after Joachim Fischer and Christinna Pedersen joined forces to win the mixed doubles, before Viktor Axelsen beat Dieter Domke in straight games to give the Danes a 2-0 advantage.

Denmark claimed revenge over Germany in a rematch of the 2013 final ©TwitterDenmark claimed revenge over Germany in a rematch of the 2013 final ©Twitter



But the German team were defending champions for a reason and they began a fightback, starting when Karin Schnaase marked her 30th birthday with a 21-18, 11-21, 21-14 victory over Anna Madsen to reduce the arrears and the men's doubles pairing of Max Schwenger and Michael Fuchs restored parity with a straight games win over Mads Conrad and Mads Kolding.

The Danes were able to complete the job in the final after Kamilla Rytter and Christinna Pedersen held their nerve in the women's doubles event.

Due to the gruelling nature of today's semi-final matches, the final could be swung on which team recovers best from today's exertions.

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