My favorite is England.

If England meets Denmark in final, England will beat Denmark by 3:2.

denmark should sweep the mens events, and could sneak in a win in either WS, or less likely XD.

I think it could be 3:2 to Denmark of to England, England'll lose all men's and win all ladies and it could be close in the Mxd.:D

Baderz_Jas:)

My bet is on Denmark. They have almost overwhelming advantage over England in MD, MS and WS

Top four are England, Denmark, Holland and Germany.

Most probably England vs Denmark in final.

XD and WS to England
MS and MD to Denmark
WD will be the key?

Tine Rasmussen is back so the WS might very well go the other way :) Agree that the WD is key. I'm going with denmark. Men's events are in the pocket and all the others are close calls.

My bet is on Denmark. They have almost overwhelming advantage over England in MD, MS and WS

That's true for MS and MD but not WS. England's Tracey Hallam is regularly top 10 in the world and I think that she has the advantage over Denmark's WS players.

I think that the result could be 3:2 to England as their WS WD and XD are stronger than the Danes

My money's on the Danes as well. I think they'll definitely be able to pick up one of WS, WD or XD. When you definitely have to win all 3 to win the match, it's never a good situation. Also, I'm not too impressed with the GE/DK WD combination, if that's who they'll be playing. They were troubled too much by the Malaysians and Indians in the CG.

Anyone know if they'll be showing the competition in the UK?

My money's on the Danes as well. I think they'll definitely be able to pick up one of WS, WD or XD. When you definitely have to win all 3 to win the match, it's never a good situation. Also, I'm not too impressed with the GE/DK WD combination, if that's who they'll be playing. They were troubled too much by the Malaysians and Indians in the CG.

Anyone know if they'll be showing the competition in the UK?

I can't see the Danes winning WS with Hallam around. Also, Robertson/Emms are pretty solid although we cannot dismiss Eriksen/Schjoldager. I also can't see GE/DK losing to a Danish pair. I still put my money on England.

looks like it's gonna be interesting then. nothing better than a close tie. let the games begin! :)

I agree that England should be favourites if they meet denamrk. Key area XD IMHO. MS+MD to Denmark, but WS/WD to Eng (Denmark seem poor at present in these discipline, although they could bring a win.) Jens/Mette could beat Eng pair if hit form and luck at the right times.

More of a worry to Eng for me would be reaching the final if they have to play Holland. WS and WD could go to Holland as Mia should play and her WD partner is back (Lotte bruil?) and Dicky palyama i would bet to beat any eng MS 9 times out of ten.

Denmark however could beat Holland due to the strength of men and XD.

I would still be surprised if ENG didn't win however.

and her WD partner is back (Lotte bruil?)

I don't think she's playing (she pregnant)
http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/team.aspx?id=9756&team=5

I don't think she's playing (she pregnant)
http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/team.aspx?id=9756&team=5
Again!?!!! :eek:

This changes things a lot as Netherlands won't have a so strong WD in the end.

Final should quite clearly be England vs Denmark in that case!

I echo Seven, Pregnant again?! she only just came back.

And also I agree that Should definitely be eng Vs Denmark, although Germany should not be discounted, especially as They have WS, MS, WD to challenge england on good day if get lucky.

I echo Seven, Pregnant again?! she only just came back.

And also I agree that Should definitely be eng Vs Denmark, although Germany should not be discounted, especially as They have WS, MS, WD to challenge england on good day if get lucky.

hey, there's more to life than badminton you know!
besides, where are the next generation of quality, DNA-infused badminton players gonna come from if the national team's men and women don't reproduce?
:cool:

England had the best chances to win.

Why?

Simple.

Nathan/Gail will win against all nation XD.

Tracey had an adavantage about 55:45 against Denmark WS.

Yes, she will lost if she play Mia or Xu but Germany and Netherland MD are weak.

WD: Probably only Netherland WD had a chance to beat England WD.

England had the best chances to win.

Why?

Simple.

Nathan/Gail will win against all nation XD.

Tracey had an adavantage about 55:45 against Denmark WS.
/.../

You guys are talking out of your hats. :D
If Tine is back from her injury, Donna doesn't stand a chance.
And regarding MX, Nathan/Gail against Jens/Mette is a tough call looking at previous matches. I would change "Nathan/Gail will win..." to "Nathan/Gail MIGHT win"... :p

Also, dont forget there are still a few experienced women's doubles players on the roster for Denmark. Pernille Harder and Mette Schjoldager could get back together, and Kamilla Juhl has showed her class in the past Sudirman Cup. I say, Denmark to win. Though it could really go either way. Maybe another country will pull a hat trick and neither Denmark or England will win. Can't really see that though:-)

You guys are talking out of your hats. :D
If Tine is back from her injury, Donna doesn't stand a chance.
And regarding MX, Nathan/Gail against Jens/Mette is a tough call looking at previous matches. I would change "Nathan/Gail will win..." to "Nathan/Gail MIGHT win"... :p

Hey Mag, don't you mean "...if Tine is back from her injury, *Tracey* doesn't stand a chance".

Well that might be possible but at the moment I think Tracey is the best non-asian (origin) in the world. But I agree with you about MX, never been impressed by the english pair.

/mats

Hey Mag, don't you mean "...if Tine is back from her injury, *Tracey* doesn't stand a chance".


I think he did too, but Donna (Kellog) wouldn't have a great chance either!

I agree with you and Mag on the XD, and WD to an extent. But the WS with tine only just returning from injury and no match experience of the new scoring system, it will be tough for her to compete.

OK, Donna, Tracey, Alison, Janet, Susan, Jack or Jill... it doesn't matter what their names are, if Tine's recovered she's beating them all! :D

Seriously though -- I just don't see Denmark losing this time. But then again, I've been proven wrong before. *cough*

It is Denmark vs Netherlands in the final.
Netherlands has just beaten England 3-2, with Mia contributing 2 points in the singles and doubles. The other pt comes from Dicky Palyama.

I think Denmark will win the men's singles and doubles comfortably; and perhaps the mixed doubles as well. Mia will take the pt in women's singles, while the women's doubles could go either way. So, its either 4-1 or 3-2 to Denmark.

i suppose that's the trouble with being a strong women's doubles pair - but not that strong - there is a lot of pressure on gail and donna to win their rubbers in order to get england thru, the singles events are always going to lose us two points against the bigger nations, men's doubles isn't always guaranteed, whereas the mixed your looking at greater than even chance of winning,

but disappointed that we didn't get thru - like you all said - an england denmark final would have been closely contested. I doubt tine is back to full fitness / match sharpness after such a long absence so tracey probably stood a chance. WD could go either way, MD would go to denmark, MS would go to denmark, XD could go either way, so if the either way results go in englands favour they would have won the team comp - however, they don't even get the chance because they couldn't even beat Holland!!! grrr.. wonder if they were saving themselves for the individuals???

Coops

Netherlands had been lucky. Their record so far is Spain 4-1, Sweden 3-2, Scotland 3-2, then England 3-2. Somehow they just had enough firepower to overcome their opponents.

I think against Denmark, they will lose 3-2, but maybe they will get a lucky break in one of those matches they expect to lose.

dont forget the Netherlands have home team advantage too:-) But I think Denmark is too strong. Go Denmark!

It is Denmark vs Netherlands in the final.
Netherlands has just beaten England 3-2, with Mia contributing 2 points in the singles and doubles. The other pt comes from Dicky Palyama.

I think Denmark will win the men's singles and doubles comfortably; and perhaps the mixed doubles as well. Mia will take the pt in women's singles, while the women's doubles could go either way. So, its either 4-1 or 3-2 to Denmark.

Heavy Indonesian influence. And they have Yao Jie as well.

I think Yao Jie will play WS considering that Tine is still far from her best. Then, Mia can concentrate on getting that WD point. But it's hard to see another point coming.

In a lot of ways, Denmark is now sufferring the "Malaysian syndrome" (weaker women players).

The picture on the main website for the European Championships would make a good 'who's this'. Does anyone know who the lefty in the skirt is?

Netherlands had been lucky. Their record so far is Spain 4-1, Sweden 3-2, Scotland 3-2, then England 3-2. Somehow they just had enough firepower to overcome their opponents.

I think against Denmark, they will lose 3-2, but maybe they will get a lucky break in one of those matches they expect to lose.

Lucky? We all know you need some luck in tournaments :p

4-1 Spain
All the games were won in straight games, the MD lost to 18 and 17 after winning the first set to 13
-Fair enough, spain aren't exactly dangerous :o

3-2 Sweden
The singles were won in straight games, while the other 3 rubbers went to 3 games each.

3-2 Scotland
MS, WS, WD all in straight games, the MD was lost in 2 (not suprising) and the XD lost in three 21-18 15-21 18-21

3-2 England
WS and WD in straight games (16 7, 15 16 respectively). XD and MD lost in straight games. Decisive MS won in 3 21-13 16-21 17-21
I'd say this is the only place they got lucky ;)

2-3 Denmark
Womens events go to NED, everything else to Danes....unless they suffer an injury while playing *touchwood*

mmm it seems like netherlands are planning to lose 3-1 (4-1) and playing other players in the MD and WD?

I don't really think the dutch will stand a chance...they haven't lined up Mia or dicky....
Ya Jie will get a WS point. maybe the WD, but a close call...

I wa sthere Saturday, Man those Danes can play!

Stars of teh day were Spitko and Joopien form Germany, But Thomas Laybourn showed amazing skill, ease and relaxation on the court...Kaldau si no pushover either...what a great day it was...