The world champions will meet Ukraine to battle for European glory on Sunday after a narrow win over Italy
Portugal took full advantage of Russia’s slip-up against Switzerland to book a place in the final of the Catania Superfinal courtesy of a 5-4 win over Italy on Saturday.
After seeing Russia beaten by 3-2 on penalties by the Swiss Portugal bounced back from defeat to their long-standing rivals as Be Martins and Leo Martins inspired an exhilarating win.
Italy, who also harboured hopes of reaching the final, finish third and will instead meet Belarus to battle for fifth place.
Russia missed the opportunity to book their place in the final after an even contest that saw Hodel and Ott – the latter back from suspension – cancel out Romanov and Ilinskii efforts before Stankovic and Shkarin took the game to extra time.
From there, Makeiev proved the fall guy for Russia, with Stankovic striking the winning blow for Switzerland, as the world’s number two side missed the chance to guarantee their Superfinal spot.
In Division A, Group One, Spain will feature in the third-place play-off after edging Belarus 3-2 in extra time to tie up second place in the group.
A gutsy effort from Belarus saw them fight back from 2-0 down in the dying stages of normal time – keeping alive their hopes of finishing the group as runners-up, only for Cintas to have to final say late in extra time.
Elsewhere in the group, Ukraine warmed up for their Superfinal appearance with an assured 4-1 win over Germany.
Yevhen Varentsyia’s side booked their place in Sunday’s final with victory over Spain and rarely looked like tasting defeat, captain Korniichuk among the goals in a win that condemns Germany to a third straight defeat.
In the second tier, Azerbaijan will take on Hungary in the Promotion Final after wrapping up a perfect group campaign with a 5-1 win against Czech Republic.
Zeynal Zeynalov’s men followed up wins against England and Turkey with another assured display, with Orkhan, Ramil and Elvin among those on target.
The Czechs remain bottom of the pool, but denied Azerbaijan a second clean sheet when Kovarik atoned for his own goal in the final minute prior to Ramil’s second.
Turkey picked up their first points at the third attempt, beating England 4-3, having started the day bottom of Division B, Group Two after defeats to Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic.
However, a brace from Volkan helped bolster confidence ahead of the final day on Sunday, while England, who showed fight late on through goals from Temple and Bowes, will go into the play-offs off the back of two straight group defeats.
Hungary ensured their final place after edging second-placed Estonia 5-3 with the help of Csoszanszki’s brace.
Having fallen behind to Stuf’s early effort, Csoszanszki scored twice as the table toppers surged into a 5-1 lead by the opening stages of the third period.
Maeorg and Marmor both salvaged pride late on for Estonia, who head to the third-place play-off, while Hungary will focus on the final and their bid to return to Division A.
Already-relegeated Romania, in turn, closed the 2016 European season bagging the last three points at stake, following a comfortable 9-3 win over Moldova.
Saturday results
England 3-4 Turkey
Estonia 3-5 Hungary
Azerbaijan 5-1 Czech Republic
Romania 9-3 Moldova
Ukraine 4-1 Germany
Switzerland (3) 3-3 (2) Russia
Spain 3-2 Belarus (AET)
Italy 4-5 Portugal
Sunday fixtures
Moldova v Czech Republic (Promotion Final, Seventh-Place Play-off)
Romania v Turkey (Promotion Final, Fifth-Place Play-off)
Germany v Switzerland (Superfinal, Seventh-Place Play-off)
Belarus v Italy (Superfinal, Fifth-Place Play-off)
Estonia v England (Promotion Final, Third-Place Play-off)
Hungary v Azerbaijan (Promotion Final, Final)
Spain v Russia (Superfinal, Third-Place Play-off)
Ukraine v Portugal (Superfinal, Final)
