Defending champions Denmark eased to victory in the Group One match against Israel, with their team winning each of their five matches in straight games.

They then assured themselves of a place in the quarter-finals by overcoming winless Iceland 4-1, giving them top spot in the standings.

Sweden secured a 5-0 win over Iceland before beating Israel 4-1, with the result boosting their chances of qualifying as one of the best second place teams.

Germany also reached the quarter-finals in dominant fashion, as they completed three straight 5-0 wins in Group Three with successes over Ireland and Ukraine following their opening day triumph against Lithuania.

Bulgaria continued their strong start to the tournament, as they look to better their silver medal from the 2016 event.

They claimed their second straight win by beating Greenland 5-0, while France bounced back from their loss to Bulgaria by thrashing Belarus by the same scoreline to move second in Group Five.

The closest standings come in Group Six, with England and Poland securing 4-1 wins over the Czech Republic and Norway respectively.

Both teams will now go head-to-head tomorrow, with the winners assured of progression to the last eight.

Hosts Russia are on course for the last eight as they beat Estonia 5-0 for their second Group Four success, with Turkey getting off the mark by beating Latvia by the same score.

Spain top Group Two after two wins, with the latest success being a 5-0 triumph over neighbours Portugal to take them to the brink of the knock-out stage.

Defending men’s champions Denmark continued their impressive start by winning 5-0 against Croatia in Group One.

They are now set to face Ireland in a head-to-head clash to win the group, with Ireland having matched Denmark’s two wins by beating Israel 5-0 today.

England sealed their second straight 5-0 win in Group Two as they swept aside Slovakia, who now lie joint second with Hungary after they won 4-1 against Greenland.

Germany thrashed Luxembourg 5-0 to move to the verge of progressing from Group Three, while hosts Russia top the Group Four standings after winning their second straight match 4-1, with this one coming against Spain.

France and the Czech Republic lead Group Five and Six, with both nations having yet to lose a single match in each of their ties to date.

Finland are clear in Group Seven, with their team having recorded three straight successes.

The group winners will all advance to the knock-out stage, while the top second place team in the men’s event and best two in the women’s will also progress.

The competition will run until February 18 and serves as a qualification event for the 2018 Thomas and Uber Cups.

The African Continental Team Badminton Championships continued in Algiers, with the group stage having concluded.

Hosts Algeria reached the last four by beating Cameroon 3-0 in the first quarter-final of the men’s competition.

They will face the winners of the match between Mauritius and Zambia.

Egypt will take on Ghana for a place in the semi-finals, with the victor set to take on either Morocco and Nigeria.

Nigeria will meet Egypt in the semi-finals of the women’s event, with the winner progressing to a final against Algeria or Mauritius.