Three teams of Squad 2, Finland, Norway and Sweden and Squad 1 leader Germany led the field of 33 countries as the five-player Team preliminaries at the Men's European Championships have reached the halfway point.

Finland's Joonas Jähi, Joonas Jehkinen, Perttu Jussila, Osku Palermaa and Petteri Salonen (pictured left) set the pace after three games on the on medium oil pattern (38') with 3297 total and an average of 219.80 including games of 1134, 1044 and 1119.

Joonas Jehkinen (front row, left), who led the Finns with 686, overtook the lead in All Events after 21 of 24 games with 4553 (216.81). Michael Loos of Austria and Dane Thomas Larsen slipped one spot to second and third place with 4542 and 4512. resp.

Trailing Team Finland, which has won the Team gold medals at the 2009 and 2005 MEC, was Norway with Svein Roger Olsen, Glenn Morten Pedersen, Björn Einar Rudshagen, Mads Sandbækken and Tore Torgersen at 3181.

2007 MEC Team champion Sweden featuring Kim Bolleby, Dennis Eklund, Martin Larsen, Martin Paulsson and Karl Wahlgren (pictured right) was third with 3147.

Germany's David Canady, Bodo Konieczny, Marco Baade, Achim Grabowski and Timo Schröder took the early lead in Squad 1 with 3125 total, an average of 208.33, but slipped to fourth place and is the team on the bubble in fourth place.

Defending Team champion, Doubles and Trios gold medalist Denmark toppled only 2928 pins (195.20 average) in Squad 1 and is 197 pins off the pace for the medals in 10th place.

All teams return Friday for the second block of three games on long oil (44'). The 33 teams will be divided into two squads according to their day one results to bowl at 8 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. CEST.

The top four teams with the highest six-game total will advance to the medal round, which will take place on Friday, Aug. 24 starting at 7 p.m. The team preliminaries also decide the medals in All Events and the 24 players for the Masters match play.