Coaches mull EURO task

The route to the 2007 UEFA European Futsal Championship became clear today with the draw for the qualifying round, and some of the continent's leading coaches are digesting the outcome.

Hermans hopeful
Only the seven group winners in February's mini-tournaments will progress to the finals in Porto, Portugal next November, leaving no room for error in some tough groups. The Netherlands, who returned to the finals in 2005 after missing out for the first time two years earlier, will stage Group 4 in Eindhoven playing Serbia, Azerbaijan and the best runners-up from the preliminary round, and experienced Dutch coach Vic Hermans is hopeful.

Rebuilding paying off
"I am confident we can qualify from this group," Hermans told uefa.com. "We have spent recent years rebuilding and we are now a long way down the line to achieving the quality side I always hope we could build. We know Azerbaijan very well having played them in 2002. We won that game but I was impressed with their technical ability. We must be careful in that game. I know very little about Serbia but again their culture in football means they produce individuals with a lot of talent so it will be another hard game."

Holders react

Hungary task
Hungary have probably the toughest task of the seven mini-tournament hosts, as they are in Group 6 along with Greece, Lithuania and former winners and Russia, runners-up in 2005. Having led Hungary to their first finals last year, coach Mihály Kozma knows it will not be easy in the only pool containing two teams that played in the Czech Republic. "The Russian team that beat Italy during the last EURO and was only stopped by Spain in the final certainly have more power than we have," he said. "I understand that they also have well-motivated new players in the squad. We have to be equal to them at home next year and we have to work for this. Also Lithuania and Greece should not be underestimated, especially in competitive matches."

Croatia face Czechs
Croatia qualified for the finals in 1999 and 2001 but missed out behind Hungary last time around. Like their rivals they will stage a mini-tournament, and meet the Czech Republic, who pipped them in 2003, Bosnia-Herzegovina and the winners of preliminary round Group C - Georgia, Cyprus, Kazakhstan or Malta - in Group 5. "I am satisfied with the group we are in and glad we avoided Russia and Ukraine," said Croatia coach Mićo Martić. "Admittedly it's a strong section and the Czechs will be difficult to overcome but we have the talent to qualify if we play to our best ability. It is the third time that we will meet the Czechs in a qualifying group so we are no strangers. We beat them in 2000 although they beat us last time so that will be close. We beat Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Czech Republic in a 4-3 thriller but lost two friendlies to them earlier this year so that will be tight too. I expect Georgia to qualify as the fourth team. They are very skilful but I think we'll prove too strong if we meet them."

Andorra worry