After eight rounds only one team in the Open series has won all its matches - yes you guessed it, the all-conquering reigning Champions Italy, although yesterday they only managed narrow victories against Denmark & Sweden. The Swedish team is fourth, not far behind the teams lying second and third, Netherlands and Bulgaria.

Then comes the chasing pack, a group led by Hungary, Germany, England, Finland, Turkey and Belarus. Several teams expected to mount a challenge will be hoping for better things today, notably Iceland, Denmark, Ireland, Poland and France.