Spain have reached the men's wheelchair basketball final in Rotterdam following their victory over hosts The Netherlands ©EPC

Spain shocked hosts The Netherlands 76-57 to seal their place in the men’s wheelchair basketball final at the European Para Championships and secure a ticket to next year’s Paralympics in Paris.

The Spanish team produced a superb performance at the Rotterdam Ahoy to take down the defending champions and set up a showdown with Britain who overcame Germany 63-42 to clinch their spot at Paris 2024.

After the success of the Dutch women who made it through to the final yesterday, the men would have been looking to match that feat.

But Spain were inspired, opening up a 36-29 lead at half-time.

The Netherlands battled back as they trailed 48-46 going into the final period only for Spain to silence the home fans.

Lourdes Ortega Rico led the scoring for Spain with 24 points, while Alejandro Zarzuela contributed with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

"It is very important that we go to the Paralympics," said Spanish coach Abraham Carrion.

"Two years ago we didn’t qualify for the World Cup which was a very bad surprise to us.

"Two years later the players have done an amazing job.

"The only goal was to go to Paris 2024 and the players have achieved that.

"They deserve the reward."

Mendel Op den Orth scored a game-high 28 points while Robin Poggenwisch finished with 12 points, nine rebounds and nine assists but it was not enough to send The Netherlands through to the final.

"We missed too many chances, where they kept scoring inside," said Dutch coach Cees van Rootselaar.

"Whether it was the tension, I cannot say.

"We played six very good games here, this one was less.

"It is an incredible disappointment, obviously we would have liked to have had the ticket to Paris by now.

"There is nothing left now but to recharge ourselves for the match for the bronze."

Seven-time champions Britain advanced to another final after seeing off Germany at the Rotterdam Ahoy.

The Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists proved too strong, with Phil Pratt notching 26 points and eight assists in another impressive showing in British colours.

Terry Bywater and Gregg Warburton also got into double figures in scoring as Britain swept Germany aside.

"We very much want to win this European Championships," said British coach Bill Johnson.

"At the last European Championships we didn’t get a fair chance because of COVID.

"It would have been nice if we could have played against The Netherlands, but Spain is also a nice, strong team."