Holders to learn fixture fate

The four national teams aiming to upstage France in the qualifying tournament for EURO 2004™ will learn when they must tackle the defending champions when the Group 1 schedule is planned in Cyprus on 18 and 19 February.

Extra-time victory
France, who memorably beat Italy in extra time to win EURO 2000™, were grouped with Slovenia, who made their finals debut in the Low Countries, Israel, Cyprus and Malta in last Friday's draw in Portugal.

Stiffest competition
Slovenia - who continue to grow in stature as a footballing force, as their qualification to the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals proved - are likely to provide France's stiffest competition but Israel are also to underestimated at the holders' peril.

Shock home defeat
A shock home defeat against the Israelis contributed to France's failure to qualify for the 1994 World Cup finals in the United States, but Lemerre was not perturbed by meeting them again. "The Israel game is in the future and I don't know what I will be doing then, but it's a group that gives France a lot of hope," Lemerre said.

Previous meetings
Slovenia have only met France once – the French winning 3-2 in a friendly shortly before EURO 2000™. Israel and Cyprus met in the EURO 2000™ qualifiers, when both won their respective home games.