EC day 5: Oranje and Belgium into the semi-finals, golden goal for Serbia

Oranje pull away from Czechia in the second quarter

The Netherlands beat host nation Czechia 36‑6 in Pool E in Prostějov. Czechia kept pace for one quarter: after the 1‑1 by Lukas Holik it was 6‑2 after ten minutes, for the Netherlands one of the smallest margins at this tournament.

In the second quarter Oranje scored ten times in a row, including two long shots in quick succession from Harjan Visscher and, just before half-time, a run-in from Olav van Wijngaarden: 16‑2. After three quarters it was 28‑6. At the start of the final quarter the Netherlands made six substitutions at once, and Czechia did not score in that quarter either.

Daniëlle Boadi and Fleur Hoek scored five each; twelve Dutch players scored. Jan Theissig was Czechia's top scorer with two goals; Czechia has never beaten the Netherlands in seventeen meetings. Also read the analysis of the Netherlands - Czechia.

England only get past Catalonia in the closing minutes

England beat Catalonia 15‑13 in Pool E in Prostějov. After 2‑2 England pulled away to 2‑6, with two goals from Joseph Bedford (one from a penalty), a free pass from Rachel Page and a goal from Ashley Warner. Catalonia called a time-out at 2‑5 and went into half-time at 4‑6.

Straight after half-time Julia Soriano Milián from the spot, Roc Margaix and Laura Tobaruela Ruiz put Catalonia 7‑6 up within just over a minute. Temi Combis Julià and Soriano again from a penalty made it 9‑7, the score after three quarters.

In the final quarter Shane Buckland took over: he made it 9‑9 and, after 10‑10 by Blake Palfreyman and 11‑10 by Aitana Segura Aparicio, also 11‑11. Palfreyman, England's all-time top scorer, then put his team 11‑13 up with two goals, and Bedford and Neala Brennan extended it to 12‑15. Soriano made it 13‑15 from a penalty eight seconds before the end. Bedford, Buckland, Soriano and Tobaruela each scored four times; England missed two penalties.

Belgium comfortably past Germany after half-time

Belgium beat Germany 26‑13 in Pool F in Otrokovice. Germany had always lost to Belgium until now and led in the first half, including through Madeline Gust and Lea Witthaus, but Belgium came back to 7‑7. Through Wout van Elsacker, Joke van Maldeghem with a free pass and Glenn Pauwels, who scored three times before half-time, Belgium went into the break at 10‑8.

After half-time Belgium quickly settled it. Lisa Pauwels, brought on at half-time, immediately scored twice, and after 14‑9 Lisa Pauwels again, Glenn Pauwels twice and Kian Amorgaste, also brought on at half-time, took the score to 18‑9. Germany called a time-out in the final quarter at 21‑10.

In the final quarter Lisa van Gorp scored three more times, Wannes Struyf converted a penalty and Hannah Flessner made it 26‑13. Glenn Pauwels was top scorer with seven goals, Van Gorp scored five. Despite the defeat Germany play the Netherlands in the semi-final on Thursday.

Turkey hold off Portugal after a fast start

Turkey beat Portugal 15‑13 in Pool F in Otrokovice. Ali Furkan Çetin scored with a run-in after fifteen seconds, and through Erva Duman, Ahmet Kanat, Gülsah Güner Dalar, Erva Duman again and a penalty from Buse Argin it was 0‑6 after eight minutes. Portugal called a time-out and Celise Ribeiro scored straight afterwards.

In the second quarter João Almeida scored twice in quick succession (4‑8), but Erva Duman made it 6‑11 just before half-time. After half-time Turkey pulled away to 7‑13, but Tiago Ferro, Hugo Fernandes and Beatriz Rosa brought Portugal to 10‑13, the score after three quarters.

In the final quarter Portugal came to 12‑14 after goals from Inês Santos and Ferro, but Güner Dalar made it 12‑15. Júlio Ruivo pulled one back with a free pass in the last minute. Güner Dalar was top scorer with five goals, Erva Duman scored four and Santos three for Portugal. Portugal lost both matches in the second round, against Germany by one goal.

Poland pull away from Wales in the final quarter

Poland beat Wales 15‑8 in Pool G in Prostějov; Wales never led. After 2‑0 Kiera Wilcox levelled with two long shots, but Tamara Siemieniuk immediately put Poland back in front: 3‑2 after the first quarter.

In a match full of interceptions it stayed tight for a long time. Julia Arent made it 7‑4 with a long shot just before half-time, and after half-time substitutes Leo Comerford and Kristopher Banham, just on the court, brought Wales back to 8‑6. Jedrzej Masztaleruk made it 9‑6 from the spot, the score after three quarters.

In the final quarter Poland pulled away: Natalia Klimczyk, Siemieniuk and Marcin Nowak took the score to 12‑7, and Filip Majchrzak scored the last two Polish goals. Olivia Tyso missed a penalty at 13‑7. Majchrzak, Siemieniuk and Kiera Wilcox scored three each. Poland also won the four previous meetings with Wales, the first at the 2010 European Championship (17‑12).

Ireland turn the match against Switzerland around

Ireland beat Switzerland 13‑12 in Pool G in Prostějov, through a goal by Stephen Mcdonagh a minute and a half before the end. Switzerland led for a long time: Romain Nijenhuis opened the scoring and then also made it 4‑1 from a penalty and 5‑1, the score after the first quarter. Aaliyah Gfeller made it 7‑4 just before half-time.

Straight after half-time Ireland closed the gap. Elizabeth Tighe converted a penalty, Mcdonagh scored twice and within a minute and a half it was 7‑7. After 9‑9 at the end of the third quarter Ireland pulled away to 9‑12, with goals from Daisy Tighe, Elizabeth Tighe from a free pass and Leanne Drury.

Nijenhuis and two penalties from Carra Tillon brought Switzerland back to 12‑12, but Mcdonagh decided it with a short shot. Nijenhuis was top scorer with five goals, Elizabeth Tighe scored four. It was the second Irish win in four meetings; the first was at the 2017 European Championship (16‑2).

Hungary strike after half-time against Slovakia

Hungary beat Slovakia 18‑10 in Pool H in Otrokovice. 18-year-old Szabolcs Csernák opened with two goals close to the basket, and after the first quarter it was 6‑3.

In the second quarter Slovakia closed the gap: through Ilia Stetsenko, Timea Darnadiova with a free pass and Ema Ondrejcova it became 6‑6, and Zuzana Bušíková made it 7‑7. Míra Kiss and Noémi Tóth put Hungary 9‑7 up at half-time, although Kiss and captain Diána Vaszkó both missed a penalty in that phase.

After half-time Hungary scored five goals in a row to 14‑7, two of them from 40-year-old György Dörfi, the oldest player on the court. After three quarters it was 17‑8. Csernák was top scorer with five goals, Kiss scored four and Ondrejcova three for Slovakia. Hungary also won the previous meetings with Slovakia; the last one was in 2014.

Golden goal decides Scotland - Serbia

Serbia beat Scotland 15‑14 in Pool H in Otrokovice, after a golden goal. Serbia started with 0‑3, but Scotland made it 3‑3 through Ross Acklam and two penalties from Jennifer Devlin. Ross Fraser put Scotland 8‑6 up just before half-time.

After half-time Serbia came to 8‑8 through Petar Jovanovic and Nikola Perkovic and a little later to 9‑10. Scotland responded with a long shot from Acklam and goals from Matthew Mchugh and Nadine Gallagher: 12‑10. After 13‑13 Nikola Perkovic put Serbia 13‑14 up just over two minutes before the end, but substitute Beth Taylor immediately made it 14‑14.

In the golden goal Nemanja Stojevic decided it with a run-in after just over two minutes. Nikola Perkovic was Serbia's top scorer with four goals; Acklam, Devlin and Mchugh scored three each for Scotland. Mchugh missed a penalty in the second quarter.

Semi-finals on Thursday

On Thursday the final phase starts at 9:30 with Ireland - Scotland, followed by Serbia - Switzerland, Poland - Slovakia, Hungary - Wales, England - Portugal and Turkey - Catalonia. In the evening are the semi-finals: the Netherlands - Germany at 19:00 and Belgium - Czechia at 20:35. The top ten of this European Championship qualify for the World Championship of October 2027 in the Netherlands.