Qualifying round lineup complete
Monday, January 24, 2011
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France have the toughest task of the six preliminary round group winners as they face Spain after the lineup for the qualifying round from 24 to 27 February was finalised.
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The full lineup for the UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 qualifying round is decided following the conclusion of the six preliminary round mini-tournaments.
Teams topping each preliminary section have each gone into one of the qualifying round groups, joining the 18 nations seeded through to this stage. France, who won their mini-tournament in Malta, have perhaps the toughest task in Group 1 against holders Spain, aiming for a fourth straight title, hosts Azerbaijan – who reached the 2010 semi-finals – and Kazakhstan.
Norway, one of four sides who made their competition debut in the preliminary round, won all of their matches and are rewarded with the trip to Romania for Group 4 in which 2010 bronze-medallists the Czech Republic and Slovakia are also involved. All qualifying round groups will be played from 24 to 27 February, with section winners to go through to join hosts Croatia in the finals early next year alongside the five best runners-up.
UEFA Futsal EURO 2012
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, France*
Group 2: Russia, Serbia,Netherlands (hosts), Finland*
Group 3: Portugal, Belarus,Poland (hosts), Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*
Group 4: Czech Republic,Romania (hosts),Slovakia, Norway*
Group 5: Ukraine (hosts), Hungary, Belgium, Turkey*
Group 6: Italy,Slovenia (hosts), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Latvia*
*Preliminary round winners