23-Mar, Finals:                                                         

Final:       [2] ENGLAND  2-1  [1] FRANCE
                     Joe Lee 3-0 Greg Marche                        9/1, 9/2, 9/6
                     Neil Cordell 3-0 Lucas Vauzelle               9/7, 9/6, 9/5
                     Victoria Lust 0-2 Camille Serme              0/9, 2/9

3rd/4th:   [4] GERMANY  2-1  [3] SWITZERLAND
                     Florian Silbernagl 0-3 Nicolas Mueller     5/9, 0/9, 2/9
                     Raphael Kandra 3-1 Peter Reiko            4/9, 9/1, 9/1, 9/4
                     Sina Wall 3-0 Jasmine Ballman               9/4, 9/3, 9/1
  

23-Mar, Final:
England retain Euro U19
team title in Stavanger

It was a match between the top two seeds - France aiming to add the team title for a first-ever clean sweep, England looking to retain a title they have won on every occasion but one since 1984.

England rested their number one Adrian Waller - who had lost to Greg Marche in the individual semi-finals - leaving the boys matches to Joe Lee and Neil Cordell, who contested the recent British U19 Nationals final.

First up was the men's top string with individual champion Greg taking on Joe. It was a nervous start from the Frenchman who was hitting the tin far too often as Joe took the first two games quickly.

Greg appeared to settle and find his form as he took a 6/0 lead in the third, but Joe came back strongly, 'playing great shots' according to our observer, taking the next nine points to put England into the lead.

The second boys' match was a much tighter affair, with Lucas Vauzelle matching Neil point for point in the first two games, losing out only at the very end of both.

Neil looked to be cruising to victory as he took a 7/2 lead in the third, but Lucas wasn't finished as he fought back to 7/5. One more point gave the Englishman match ball, but Lucas saved that, and two more, before Neil finally finished the match off 9/5 to keep the title in English hands.

Earlier 2006 champions Germany beat Switzerland 2/1 to claim the bronze medal.

"It was a great team performance from our perspective. France have done exceptionally well and must be congratulated for their success in the Individual competition.

"We knew it would be tough but the boys handled the situation very well and managed to produce the goods when it mattered in securing the title, leaving Victoria Lust the luxury of a dead rubber against Camille.

"The team have worked hard for this and thoroughly deserve their success, so well done to all of the players!"

   England Coach

The dream has passed. The two English players have today displayed incredible strength. Making hardly any unforced errors, they were a wall in which neither Greg or Lucas could find a crack… The games were very lengthy, very disputed, but we couldn’t make them yield.

Bravo to the English, as they deserve great respect for this victory. But most of all, bravo to our team, who gave everything they had.

We may be beaten, but still, I am so proud of them

What to say but I’ve rarely been so disappointed…

I know, some would have not to disappointed with an individual European title and a silver medal in the Team event, but this defeat really hurts.

Before the match, I felt the stress, but if normally that stress is positive for me, today I didn’t feel it the same way, I had the feeling that we absolutely HAD to win…

From the start of the match, nothing was like the rest of the week, couldn’t find my length, couldn’t find my shots…

I’m very disappointed, I know that if we missed this year’s chance, it's because of me, but it was one of those day. Still, thanks to all that have supported us, and I’ll do my best to take my revenge in the seniors!

"We are delighted to have retained the title that we won last year, in particular to beat the team of both the individual champions, and favourites France. Both boys played extremely well under the circumstances and performed well under the pressure of the occasion. The girls have been very strong this week also, and we are confident that Victoria would have delivered a good performance if the match had still been alive. It is testament to our strength in depth to come through a difficult draw and win the final with our number two and three boys.

"The team would like to thank coaches David Campion and Paul Carter for their help and advice over the last week. Their wealth of knowledge has seen us through a tough competition. Personally Neil would like to thank; Malcolm Willstrop, the people at Pontefract and Wigginton squash clubs, sponsors, Farah Kabir and enter shikari for making motivational music. Joe would like to thank Pete Genever and his dad (Danny).

Neil ends his junior international career having never dropped a game in an England shirt, a fantastic achievement, I'm sure you'll agree. Joe and Adrian look forward to the world juniors this summer, where we aim to emulate this success. Victoria will continue her conquest of the Wispa rankings, this being her last ever junior event. Good luck to Kimberley at the under 17 championships in Lyon, and in this event for the next two years, where we hope her success will continue."

22-Mar, Day Three:
Top seeds to face holders in final

Top seeds France will face defending champions England in the Euro U19 team final on Sunday, after both completed 2/1 wins in today's semi-finals.

France's top two boys Greg Marche and Lucas Vauzelle both won in straight games to establish a winning lead against Germany, leaving the number two girls to play out the dead rubber.

Joe Lee got England off to a good start against Switzerland with a straight games win over Reiko Peter, but Nicolas Mueller levelled things up for the Swiss before Victoria Lust took the holders through to the final - a feat they have achieved every time since the start of the competition in 1984.

With both individual champions on call France will be aiming for a clean sweep of titles, something which hasn't been done since England's 1999 hat-trick with Adrian Grant and Jenny Duncalf.

France 2-1 Germany
  Greg Marche 3-0 Florian Silbernagl                   9/5, 9/1, 9/2
  Lucas Vauzelle 3-0 Carsten Schoor                   9/2, 9/5, 9/3
  Laura Pomportes 0-2 Astrid Kern                             5/9, 1/9

England 2-1 Switzerland
  Adrian Waller 0-3 Nicolas Mueller                     5/9, 2/9, 5/9
  Joe Lee 3-0  Reiko Peter                                 9/5, 9/1, 9/2
  Victoria Lust 3-0 Jasmine Ballman                  9/1, 9/1, 10/9
 

Everybody here in Valence [Greg’s Club] is behind you for this European Final. We know we are going to tremble tomorrow, but we hope it will be with pleasure…

What to say but Allez les Bleus!!!! Go and get that victory, we do love you all very much, and we are with you all the way…

Just a few lines to talk about what happened during these past days.

First of all, I would like to congratulate Camille and Greg for their performances, and in particular Greg, and to thank him, as he shows us the way it’s done. We’ll do our best to follow his example, and I’m proud to walk alongside Cam and Greg.

Then, we just qualified for the final. One more match, one more victory, and our dream could become a reality. Every drop of sweat we drop on the court will be for us all, will be for our country.

Another final against England. Them again!

We know they never give up, but it would make the victory even sweeter… I hope I’ve recuperated enough from my match in the individual final, so, keep everything crossed, I should be fine for tomorrow.

I still remember my defeat last year 3/2 against Joe, but a lot has happened since, and France never won this title, so no matter what, I’ll give all that I’ve got left…

Here we are…

Tomorrow is the day, and we’ll do our best not to miss the opportunity.

 We’ve been dreaming for years to win this title, so, yes, we’ll give it all, on court, and off court, to support our team mates.

Tomorrow, we'll fight in the name of France.

More messages on the French site ...

21-Mar, Day Two:
Down to the Playoffs ...

The pool stages concluded today with seven of the eight seeds progressing as expected. Top seeds France played surprise quarter-finalists Netherlands in the evening's quarter-finals while defending champions England beat Scotland to claim a place in the semi-finals.
  
It's down to business in Saturday's semi-finals as France meet 2006 champions Germany - who needed Florian Silbernagle to complete a comeback from 2/0 down to seal their semi-final spot - while England take on the Swiss, whose boys proved too strong for the Czech Republic....

Quarter-Finals:

France 2-1 Netherlands
  Greg Marche 3-0 Rick Penders                          9/0, 9/0, 9/0
  Antoine Camille Petrucci 3-0 Tomas De Paauw   9/5, 9/5, 9/4
  Laura Pomportes 0-2 Melissa Meulenbelt                   7/9, 3/9

Germany 3-0 Wales
  Florian Silbernagl 3-2 Hywel Robinson   7/9, 5/9, 9/5, 9/1, 9/7
  Raphael Kandra 3-0 David Haley                        9/1, 9/0, 9/2
  Sina Wall 2-0 Natalie Pritchard                                  9/7, 9/3

Switzerland 3-0 Czech Republic
  Nicolas Mueller 3-1 Petr Martin                    6/9, 9/3, 9/4, 9/2
  Peter Reiko 3-0 Roman Svec                             9/7, 9/3, 9/5
  Jasmin Ballman 2-1 Anna Klimundova                3/9, 9/3, 9/3

England 3-0 Scotland
  Adrian Waller 3-0 Lyall Patterson                       9/3, 9/2, 9/2
  Joe Lee 3-0 Chris Ferguson                               9/1, 9/0, 9/1
  Victoria Lust 2-0 Lisa Aitken                                     9/3, 9/3