One place up for grabs
Wednesday, November 20, 2002
Article summary
The final team to reach the 2003 UEFA European Futsal Championship finals will be known this week.
Article body
Polish pedigree
Only the Group 2 qualifying mini-tournament has yet to be concluded with Belgium, Finland, Poland and Moldova all doing battle from today until Saturday. Finland may have an advantage as they are hosting the matches, which will see each nation play each other once, although Poland were the only team to make the last eight in 2001.
Draw next month
The group winner will join the hosts Italy, Spain, Russia, Slovenia, Portugal, Ukraine and the Czech Republic in the last eight. The finals have been confirmed for 14-24 February, with the draw for the tournament being held on 10 December.
Fine displays
Twenty-eight sides entered the qualifying round, which has been played out through seven groups of four teams. Each one of the six winners so far qualified in fine style, taking maximum points from all three of their games.
Russian triumph
Russia won the inaugural UEFA event in 1999, defeating hosts Spain on penalties. The next edition in 2001 saw Spain make amends with a 2-1 final victory against Ukraine to lift the trophy in Moscow.
