Azzurri enjoy safe passage

Italy have qualified for the 2007 UEFA European Futsal Championship after defeating Belarus 6-1 tonight to finish top of qualifying Group A.

Seven qualifiers
The 2003 champions are the seventh team to qualify for the eight-team tournament in Porto from 16-25 November following hosts Portugal, holders Spain, Russia, Serbia, the Czech Republic and Romania. France secured third place in the group with a 6-4 defeat of tournament debutants Turkey. The draw is on 12 May at 13.30 CET in Porto with four teams to be seeded; Portugal, Spain and the two other highest-ranked teams from the final eight.

Group B begins
Group B, which got under way in Andorra today, will be the last section to be decided in the qualifying round. The hosts lost 6-2 to Slovakia while Ukraine were 3-0 winners against Israel. The action will continue tomorrow before concluding on Thursday, and Ukraine or Slovakia could qualify after their Tuesday meeting. If Ukraine win, they are through with a match to spare unless Andorra overcome Israel, whereas a Slovakian victory would be sufficient if Israel then prevailed.