The Germans took an overnight lead into the final rounds, with Dorothee Schneider and Jessica von Bredow-Werndl posting the best scores at Rotterdam Arena.

Schneider topped the leaderboard with Showtime FRH on a mark of 80.233 per cent, as von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB secured second place on 76.894.

A 24th team dressage European Championship title was secured by Sönke Rothenberger and Isabell Werth.

Rotherberger and Cosmo rode to a score of 79.084 per cent, before Werth and Bella Rose scored 86.652 as the last of the riders.

Schneider and Werth's scores contributed to a German total of 244.969 per cent with the best three scores counting towards the final mark.

The Netherlands quartet of Anne Meulendijks, Hans Pieter Minderhoud, Emmelie Scholtens and Edward Gal won silver to the delight of the Dutch home crowd.

They scored 230.140 per cent to edge Sweden into third place by just 0.217 per cent.

Sweden's Antonia Ramel, Therese Nilshagen, Juliette Ramel and Patrick Kittel closed the competition on 229.923 per cent.

Britain had finished second overall ahead of The Netherlands, but dropped to fourth after London 2012 Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin was eliminated.

Dujardin posted a score of 81.910 per cent before officials found blood on her horse, Mount St John Freestyle in a post-competition check, resulting in elimination under FEI dressage rules.

In the battle for three Olympic qualification places (for countries not yet qualified for Tokyo 2020), Denmark in fifth, Ireland in seventh and Portugal in eighth all sealed their spots in Japan.

The event continues tomorrow with the Para-dressage medals and the jumping qualification rounds for both team and individual competitions.