Russia and Sweden also claimed comfortable wins in Friday’s two round-robin ties in the women’s event as second seed Russia joined top seed Great Britain on two wins heading into Saturday’s fourth day of competition.

Martin de la Puente and Daniel Caverzaschi, both world-ranked inside the Top 20, dropped just three games apiece in winning their two singles rubbers to give top seed Spain an unassailable lead against Hungary in Pool 1.

De la Puente and Caverzaschi then closed out a 3-0 victory for Spain after winning the doubles rubber 6-1, 6-0.

Fourth seed Croatia secured its third successive 2-1 win after a deciding doubles rubber to top Pool 4, beating host nation Portugal.

João Sanona gave the hosts an early lead, edging past Jozo Milos 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

However, Anto Joskic and Drazen Miksic dropped just four games in total across the remaining singles rubber and the doubles to earn Croatia its place in the last four against Spain.

Second seed Greece won both singles rubbers in its last Pool 2 contest against Czech Republic before Czech Republic earned a fine doubles rubber win.

Switzerland will play Hungary and Czech Republic will play Slovakia in the first of two days of play-offs for fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth places.

Anthony Dittmar levelled Germany’s last Pool 4 tie against Switzerland, but Raphael Gremion and Daniel Dalla Pellegrina soon put the result beyond doubt, winning the deciding doubles rubber 60 60.

 Meanwhile Russia remain on track to meet Great Britain in a winner-takes-all tie on Sunday after beating Belgium 3-0.

Russia, winner of the European Qualification in 2014 and 2016, will now play Austria.

Austria’s hopes of a first round-robin win came undone against Sweden, with Sanna Klindt taking the opening singles rubber against Christina Pesendorfer 61 63. Rebecca Sternisa Bellander held on in a much closer singles contest, beating Margrit Fink 76(4) 64.

After a rest day, from competition top seed Great Britain resumes its campaign tomorrow against Belgium.