England squads all set for European Team Championships

October 10, 2025 | Paul Stimpson

Tom Jarvis says heâ€s ready to “step up and contribute more†when England start their European Team Championships campaign in Croatia.

In the absence of the injured Liam Pitchford, Jarvis is the team leader in terms of world rankings – though he defers to both Paul Drinkhall and Sam Walker in terms of experience.

Speaking during the teamâ€s preparation camp at the Elite Training Centre in Sheffield, Jarvis admitted Englandâ€s squad will feel a bit different without Pitchford at the forefront.

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England’s group matches (UK time) are:

• Sunday 12 October (6pm): England women v Croatia (T3)
• Monday 13 October (9am): England men v Portugal (T2)
• Tuesday 14 October (9am): England men v Greece (T3)
• Tuesday 14 October (12pm): England women v Italy (T3)

“Itâ€s the first time in about 10 years weâ€ve not had the normal four players, with Pitch not available and Connor (Green) coming in,†said Jarvis, “so it will be a bit different. Maybe itâ€s time for me to step up and contribute more.

“Weâ€ve still got Paul, whoâ€s been there and done it all and can still play to a really high level when we need him, and Sam with all his experience.

“Weâ€ll all have to try to step up and bring the best out of each other.â€

Jarvis travels to Zadar, on Croatiaâ€s Dalmatian coast, with a couple of good wins under his belt at the China Smash, where he says he showed his best form since his run to the last 16 of the World Championships in Doha in May.

The fourth member of the squad is Green, who is fresh from winning bronze at the Europe Youth Top 10, and Jarvis credits the teenager with helping him during his memorable run in Doha.

“Connor brings a really good new energy to the team,†said Jarvis. “He had a good result at the Youth Top 10 and weâ€re all really pleased for him.

“Itâ€s nice to see the programme getting good results – weâ€ve all been waiting for that next person to come through after me.

“I was sharing a room with him at the World Championships in Doha and it was a really good vibe and helped me to perform well.â€

England are in Group D and face Portugal at 9am UK time on Monday, followed by Greece at the same time on Tuesday.

Jarvis said: “Portugal are obviously a strong team and have won it before (in 2014) with a similar team. Theyâ€re a bit older now but still know how to win as a team.

“I think Greece is tough for us. Their No 1 (Panagiotis) Gionis is a defender and is tricky so weâ€ll have to think about who will match up best and try to take a point off him, and their other players are good as well.â€

England would normally be plotting a way to qualify for the 2026 World Championships by reaching the last 16 in Zadar – but as hosts for the Worlds, qualifying is not something they need to worry about.

Head coach John Murphy says the approach is to aim to reach at least that stage but also to build momentum in the team running into London 2026.

“Obviously we would like to advance in the group,†said Murphy, “That’s the first goal, to make the knockout stages.

“To lose the player of Pitchâ€s qualities is obviously very difficult for the team, that’s never easy to lose your No 1 player, but it does open up doors for younger players like Connor Green.

“We’ve obviously got Paul and Sam, who have played in multiple World and European Team Championships. And Tom had a very good World Championships.

“Portugal probably start as favourites in the group, I would say, and I would say it’s probably a 50-50 between ourselves and Greece.

“But both matches are winnable when we play at our best and so I think the goal is to obviously qualify from the group.

“I think, aside from performance, it’s about trying to have a good team spirit leading into the next team championships, which is the Worlds in London and to come out of this Europeans – regardless of the result – with some kind of momentum into London.

The womenâ€s team of Tin-Tin Ho, Tianer Yu, Jasmin Wong and Ella Pashley secured their place at the Euros via the qualifying tournament in Sarajevo earlier this year.

There is no doubt Ho is the leader of a young quartet, with Yu and Pashley each making their major tournament debut and Wong having featured at the last team Europeans two years ago.

Ho was undefeated at the qualifying tournament and says the squad is aiming to build on their performance in Bosnia.
“We had a very good team spirit,†said the Londoner. “We were quite disciplined as a team and when we had any bad moments that pulled us through. Hopefully we can continue with that.â€

England are in Group G, where they meet hosts Croatia as 6pm UK time on Sunday and then Italy at midday on Tuesday.

“Itâ€s a good group, thereâ€ll be a lot of good matches,†said Ho. “Both teams are strong and have good players and there are different styles as well – I think Croatia have a defender.

“The aim is just to do the best we can do and itâ€s a chance for the team to get experience. Theyâ€ve had some at the qualifying event and itâ€s good for them to continue and get more experience at big events. I think itâ€s good weâ€ve got keen young players coming through and itâ€s looking positive.â€

And on the horizon of course is the 2026 Worlds in Hoâ€s home city. She added: “Iâ€ve not played a Worlds for a while and obviously never played a home Worlds – everything weâ€re doing now at the WTTs and in training is aimed towards that and itâ€s great to have that buzz and excitement around what weâ€re working towards.â€

Coach Carlo Agnello will be on the womenâ€s bench and feels the team can go in with no pressure.

“I hope Tin-Tin can pass her experience on to Ella and Tiana, who will play their first European Championships and try to learn for the future and have a good experience.

I think just being around best players in Europe and see them in the practice hall, see how they prepare and then being against them in the match, it’s an experience that’s priceless for the future and something you need to go through if you want to become a good player yourself.

“Qualifying was a was a great step for them, I think was a great achievement. And now that weâ€ve reached the final stage, I think we should go in there without pressure, try to go every match 100% and see what’s possible.

“If everyone’s playing on their top level and we can be a team on the bench, I think something is possible.

“Let’s go and enjoy, give everything and see where we end up.â€

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