Sweden face tricky opener

Sweden face a potentially difficult away trip to Latvia when they kick off their qualifying campaign for the 2004 UEFA European Championship.

Schedule agreed
In a press conference held in Stockholm, the Group 4 qualifying schedule was announced following a meeting involving all five nations - Poland, Hungary and San Marino making up the quintet. The first of the highly anticipated encounters between Sweden and Poland, the group's 2002 FIFA World Cup representatives, will be played on 11 June 2003 in Stockholm with the return on 10 September 2003.

Söderberg pleased
"We got the warm-up which we needed for the matches against Poland as we are playing San Marino on both occasions before we clash with Poland," said Sweden co-coach Tommy Söderberg, who was also pleased with the fact that Sweden will travel to Latvia for their first match. "It will be a tough challenge but it's better to go there straight after the World Cup because we might need to introduce some new players in our matches and that would have been difficult to do against Poland."

Engel eyes Sweden
Poland coach Jerzy Engel also seemed content with the outcome of the meeting. "We're pleased with the draw," he said. "We were all very prepared when we arrived and it only took us ten minutes to agree on the schedule. I am especially happy that we won't meet with Sweden until 2003 because that will give us time to focus on the World Cup."

Eight difficult matches
Sándor Puhl, the vice-president of the Hungarian FA, was keen to point out the strength of the group. "There are eight difficult matches to be played and it doesn't really matter when they are played," he said. "Poland and Sweden are the favourites but you shouldn't underestimate Latvia who have developed tremendously during the last couple of years."

Detailed fixtures
2002 - 7 September: San Marino v Poland, Latvia v Sweden; 12 October: Sweden v Hungary, Poland v Latvia; 16 October: Hungary v San Marino; 20 November: San Marino v Latvia.
2003 - 29 March: Poland v Hungary; 2 April: Poland v San Marino, Hungary v Sweden; 30 April: Latvia v San Marino; 7 June: Hungary v Latvia, San Marino v Sweden; 11 June: Swedenv Poland, San Marino v Hungary; 6 September: Latvia v Poland, Sweden v San Marino; 10 September: Poland v Sweden, Latvia v Hungary; 11 October: Sweden v Latvia, Hungary v Poland.