Day 3 - Sunday May 7th at The Polo Club du Domain du Chantilly.

Sunday's games were played simultaneously. If France lost against England, Spain had to win to qualify for the final round. Germany on the other hand could force a penalty shootout with France and Spain by winning.
Everything was set on Chantilly's field 1 for Spain vs. Germany. Germany played fast and open polo, changing their positions for this game as Heinrich Dumrath was back. Spain on the other hand tried to slow the pace a bit, making the game more favorable for their players and horses.
The game was tied for the duration of the match, with Germany having a slight advantage thanks to the goal and a half awarded for the handicap difference. Spain could take the lead with only 30 second to go after Pelayo Berazardi's lecture of the field left him alone with the ball and no opposing players in front.
Spain qualifies for the final round in Sydney after 9 years of their last World Polo Championship semifinal in Mexico 2008.
 
Result (Spain): 5-4 1/2

Spain: Mario Gomez 4, Antonio Ayesa 3, Pelayo Berazardi 5 and Jose Trenor 2. Total 14 goals.
Germany: Heinrich Dumrath 3, Max Bosch 3, Caesar Crasseman 3 and Caspar Crasseman 3. Total 12 goals.

Meanwhile England vs France. England's previous wins had them at least on an eventual penalty shootout. France had to win and wait for Spain vs Germany's result to see if the qualified directly or forced a penalty shootout.
The locals won for most of the match, playing fast paced polo with the help of N'Goumou and Paillol. England seemed to be playing below their possibilities, then the 4th chukker came and with it the best horse of the final, played by an even more impressive Will Lucas. Everything was decided in the last half, with England finally beating France 7-6.
This result, along with Spain's last second win, qualifies the englishmen for Sydney.
 
Result (England): 7-6

England: Henry Porter 2, Mark Baldwin 3, Satnam Dhillon 5 and Will Lucas 5. Total 14 goals.
France: Julien Reynes 3,  Patrick Paillol 5, Pierre N’Goumou 5 and Alexandre Sztarkman 1. Total 14 goals.

 

Italy is the winner of 1st Ladies European Championship

The stage was set for the final of the 1st FIP European Championship. The local team was the team to beat after winning in their 3 group stage games. Italy on the other hand got their ticket to the final after a tense penalty shootout, eliminating heavyweights like England and Germany.
The Italian girls started playing a great game, showing that their win against Germany was not coincidence. Ginevra D'Orazio hit the ball really hard and made some amazing passes to her forwards. Caroline Anier, had a great game but could not overcome the great team work of Team Italy. In the end D'Orazio scored the championship's most amazing goal by a long shot.
 
Score (Italy): 5-4
 

Teams & players:
Germany: Tahnee Schroeder 3, Maike Hoelty 3, Laura Gissler Weber 3 and Naomi Schroeder 3. Total 12 goals
France: Léa Siboni 0, Adèle Renauldon 1, Charlotte Garaud 3 and Caroline Anier 6. Total 10 goals.
Italy: Ginevra Visconti 1, Maria Vitoria Marchiorello 3, Costanza Marchiorello 3 and Ginevra D'Orazio 3. Total 10 goals.
England: Suzannah Harvey 0, Angela Robb 0, Lottie Lamacraft 5 and Lucy Coddington 5. Total 10 goals.
 

In his final speech the FIP President congratulated all the teams and thanked all the athletes who had travelled from all over Europe to attend as well as their grooms and support staff who made it all possible. He also thanked Philippe and Benoit Perrier and all their staff for the wonderful organisation at the Chantilly Polo Club which he said had to be one of the finest Polo Clubs in Europe as well as the FIP Tournament Team under the direction of Alejandro Taylor & Felipe del Sel and the unsung heroes; the FIP Umpires Juan Jose Díaz Alberdi, Rafael Silva & Matias Baibiene.