Hungary face agonising wait
Monday, October 13, 2003
Article summary
Twelve countries have joined the three top seeds in the next round, but Hungary's fate is not yet assured.
Article body
Seeds lie in wait
Twelve countries have now booked their place in the second round, where they will join seeds Spain, England and Poland. Finland and Northern Ireland were the first through after a keenly contested Group 2 mini-tournament. They were soon followed by Ukraine and Moldova from Group 12, Italy and Israel from Group 4, Russia and Iceland from Group 10, Scotland and Norway from Group 3, and Greece and Slovakia from Group 8.
Third-place race
As well as the top two countries from each mini-tournament the best third-placed side from the 12 groups will also proceed to the second round. At the moment that honour falls to Hungary - who were edged out of second place in Group 3 by Norway. However, with a further six mini-tournaments still to be played between now and 8 November, the Hungarians' hopes of progress remain in peril.
Second-round qualifiers:
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N.B. Seeds in bold. The winners of each second-round group will join hosts France at next summer's final tournament.
