Courtesy: UEFA.com

Big names form formidable finals

Monday, 02 February 2004

All four of the 2003 semi-finalists, including reigning world champions Spain, will be at the 2005 UEFA European Futsal Championship in the Czech Republic after last week's qualifying round.

Seven join hosts

Only the seven group winners would join the hosts in the tournament next February in Ostrava, and holders Italy, 2003 beaten finalists Ukraine, Spain, Portugal, Russia, the Netherlands and first-time qualifiers Hungary all emerged unbeaten from their groups to claim their berths.

Holders through

Italy were given a tough draw in Group 7 against hosts Bosnia-Herzegovina, but the holders beat their main rivals 3-1 in their second match to qualify with a game to spare. They finished by overcoming third-place Poland 11-3.

World champions pushed hard

Spain, 2001 winners and 2003 semi-finalists, were the only qualifiers to drop points Despite hosting Group 4 in Madrid, they were pushed all the way by Slovenia, and only emerged on goal difference after a thrilling 3-3 last-day draw. Slovenia were the only unbeaten side to depart in the qualifying round.

Comfortable Ukraine

Ukraine, losers in the last two finals, were in comfortable form in Group 2. A 6-2 win against home team Slovakia in Trnava was followed by a 8-2 cruise past Romania and a decisive 4-1 victory against Belarus.

Russia through

Russia are still on course to win back the continental crown they last claimed in 1999, needed an exciting 5-2 victory against group 5 hosts Serbia and Montenegro to qualify with a perfect record. Also through with three wins were Portugal, like Russia eliminated in the first round in 2003, who scored 22 goals in Group 3 to progress past Moldova, mini-tournament hosts Andorra and Cyprus.

Dutch goal feast

However, the highest scorers were the Netherlands, who did not qualify in 2003 but will be in the Czech Republic after managing 24 goals in Group 1. They secured an 11-1 win against Israel and a 10-2 triumph against France, but found home side Belgium tougher, emerging 3-0 victors. Hungary's first qualification also came with a 100 per cent record against Group 6 rivals Latvia, Greece and Croatia - all 4-2 wins.

Final tournament

The final tournament itself will be staged in the week 14-20 February 2005. The eight teams will be drawn into two groups of four, with the top two in each pool progressing to the knockout semi-finals.