Courtesy: UEFA.com


Azerbaijan stand in Spain's way

Friday 24 September 2010

Reigning champions Spain will take on 2010 semi-finalists Azerbaijan after the UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 preliminary and qualifying round draws were made in Nyon.

Holders Spain have been placed in a group with 2010 semi-finalists Azerbaijan after the UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 preliminary and qualifying round draws were made in Nyon.

A record 42 teams are competing for 11 places in the finals early in 2012 alongside hosts Croatia. Of those, 18 have been given a bye to the six qualifying round groups played from 24 to 27 February 2011, with section winners to go through to the finals alongside the five best runners-up.

While Spain will travel to Azerbaijan and also have Kazakhstan in their section, the runners-up in January's finals in Hungary, Portugal, are rematched with opponents they drew 5-5 with in the group stage, Belarus, in a mini-tournament staged by Poland. Three of the 2010 finalists – Ukraine, Hungary and Belgium – are in Group 5 while bronze-medallists the Czech Republic play neighbours Slovakia in Romania.

The six remaining qualifying round slots, one in each group, will be filled by the winners of the preliminary round mini-tournaments played from 20 to 24 January, which feature the four competition debutants: Iceland, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland.

UEFA Futsal EURO 2012

Preliminary round draw

Matches 20-24 January 2011, winners to qualifying round

Group A: Moldova, Turkey (hosts), Montenegro, Switzerland
Group B: Greece, Latvia, Armenia, Iceland (hosts)
Group C: Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (hosts), Georgia, England, Estonia
Group D: Lithuania, France, Bulgaria, Malta (hosts)
Group E: Finland (hosts), Cyprus, Albania, San Marino
Group F: Israel, Andorra, Republic of Ireland (hosts), Norway


Qualifying round draw

Matches 24-27 February 2011, winners and five best runners-up to finals with hosts Croatia

Group 1: Spain, Azerbaijan (hosts), Kazakhstan, Winner preliminary round Group D
Group 2: Russia, Serbia, Netherlands (hosts), Winner preliminary round Group E
Group 3: Portugal, Belarus, Poland (hosts), Winner preliminary round Group C
Group 4: Czech Republic, Romania (hosts), Slovakia, Winner preliminary round Group F
Group 5: Ukraine (hosts), Hungary, Belgium, Winner preliminary round Group A
Group 6: Italy, Slovenia (hosts), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Winner preliminary round Group B


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com