Courtesy: UEFA.com

World champions learn fate

Tuesday 18 September 2007

Spain have been handed games against Croatia and Georgia as they begin their bid for a third straight FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Spanish challenge
Having taken the title in Guatemala in 2000 and defended it four years later in Chinese Taipei, Spain will aim to complete a hat-trick in Brazil next autumn. But first they must win qualifying round Group 3 on home soil to gain one of five places in the play-offs. The winners of those home and away play-offs will then qualify for Brazil.

Interesting draw
Among the other pools, 2004 runners-up Italy will host Andorra, Cyprus and Kazakhstan in Group 8, while their fellow former European champions Russia - who did not qualify for the last World Cup - are up against Serbia and France in Group 1, which like Spain's section boasts only three teams. Of the other teams to compete in Chinese Taipei, Portugal play Slovakia, Latvia and Turkey, Ukraine face debutants Moldova, Israel and Bulgaria and the Czech Republic take on Azerbaijan, Finland and Armenia.

2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup qualifying round

23 February - 2 March
Hosts in bold

Group 1
Russia
Serbia
France

Group 2
Netherlands
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Lithuania
Estonia

Group 3
Spain
Croatia
Georgia

Group 4
Hungary
Poland
F.Y.R. Macedonia
England

Group 5
Belgium
Belarus
Romania
Montenegro

Group 6
Czech Republic
Azerbaijan
Finland
Armenia

Group 7
Slovenia
Greece
Albania
Malta

Group 8
Italy
Andorra
Cyprus
Kazakhstan

Group 9
Portugal
Slovakia
Latvia
Turkey

Group 10
Ukraine
Moldova
Israel
Bulgaria




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