England Seeded To Retain European Titles
England, hosts of the event for the first time in 25 years, are seeded to retain both titles in the 2003 European Squash Championships in Nottingham from 01-04 May.
England's men, unbeaten since 1992 and winners of the title in all but three years since the inaugural event in 1973, are expected to face second seeds France in Sunday's final in what would be a repeat of the dramatic 2002 final - which ended 2-2, with England prevailing on an 8-7 countback in games!
The women's final is also predicted to be a replay of the 2002 climax, with England scheduled to meet No2 seeds Scotland. The England squad, boasting four players in the world's top ten, are highly fancied to win their 27th consecutive title.
The 2003 European Championships at Nottingham Squash Rackets Club - featuring 37 teams representing 23 countries - is the biggest team event in the sport ever to be staged in England. This year's event also marks the 30th anniversary of the championships which were first held in Edinburgh in 1973.
Peter Nicol, the world No1 who is making his debut for England in the event after famously 'defecting' from his country of birth Scotland two years ago, will face the ultimate test in his opening match when the hosts take on his fifth-seeded former compatriots! Nicol, who lost only one match in his 67 appearances for Scotland, is likely to face his Scottish No1 successor John White, the world No5 who scotched Nicol's defence of the World Open title in Belgium last December.
In a tough men's Pool A, England will also face fourth seeds Netherlands and eighth-seeded Switzerland for a place in the semi-finals on Saturday (3rd May). Alongside France in Pool B are 3rd seeds Wales, and Germany and Finland, 6th and 7th seeds, respectively.
Pool A in the women's event lines up 4th seeds Denmark, 5th seeds Belgium and 8th seeds Wales alongside England, while Scotland will meet 3rd seeds Germany, 6th seeds Netherlands and 7th seeds France in Pool B.
Scotland v England
in the opening match!
Men:
Pool A: [1] England, [4] Netherlands, [5] Scotland, [8] Switzerland
Pool B: [2] France, [3] Wales, [6] Germany, [7] Finland
Pool C: [9] Ireland, [16] Hungary, [17] Norway
Pool D: [10] Sweden, [15] Austria, [18] Russia
Pool E: [11] Spain, [14] Czech Republic, Greece
Pool F: [12] Denmark, [13] Belgium, Israel, Isle of Man
Women:
Pool A: [1] England, [4] Denmark, [5] Belgium, [8] Wales
Pool B: [2] Scotland, [3] Germany, [6] Netherlands, [7] France
Pool C: [9] Ireland, [12] Austria, [13] Slovakia, [16] Israel
Pool D: [10] Switzerland, [11] Spain, [14] Italy, [15] Finland