Fantasy Football Management

ENGLAND AND BELGIUM TO FACE OFF IN EURO 2004 QUALIFIERS

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS QUALIFIERS DRAW HELD IN ZURICH OVERNIGHT

by Mark Chang for PMF News

The qualifying groups for the 2004 European Championships in Portugal were drawn overnight in Zurich at a gala evening, and the numbers drawn out have sprung for some fantastic fixtures over the next year.

Group 1 sees one of the more intriguing pairings, with both Belgium and England drawn in the group. Alain Borl, who today sensationally left his fourth coaching job in England in less than two years by quitting at Manchester United, will be the Belgian head coach against the fancied English side, managed by Buck Hysen. Also in the group are England's World Cup qualifying sparring partner Greece, plus the lesser likes of Cyprus and Armenia.

Group 2 sees three countries of the former Yugoslavia go head-to-head. Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the Slavs themselves make up the bulk of this group in what will see some very heartfelt games, while potential surprise packets Israel and perennial minnows San Marino join them in the group.

Northern Ireland have been drawn in Group 3, but Sammy McIlroy's men will have a tough time of it to qualify with three solid teams the likes of the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary ahead of them, with Luxembourg making up the numbers. Group 4 sees reigning European and World champions France take on Russia, Switzerland, Estonia and the Faroe Islands.

Group 5 sees old enemies Germany and the Republic of Ireland go head-to-head again, with Finland, Latvia and Azerbaijan joining them in the group, while Group 6 is arguably the weakest with Turkey, Denmark, Slovenia, Georgia and Malta making up the group here.

In Group 9, Wales and Scotland will play eachother, while the rest of the groups will hold little interest for most Britons. Full groups can be found below.

GROUP 1 - Armenia, Belgium, Cyprus, England, Greece

GROUP 2 - Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Israel, San Marino, Yugoslavia

GROUP 3 - Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Northern Ireland, Poland

GROUP 4 - Estonia, Faroe Islands, France, Russia, Switzerland

GROUP 5 - Azerbaijan, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Republic of Ireland

GROUP 6 - Denmark, Georgia, Malta, Slovenia, Turkey

GROUP 7 - Albania, Belarus, Netherlands, Slovakia, Ukraine

GROUP 8 - Andorra, Iceland, Italy, Macedonia, Romania

GROUP 9 - Austria, Moldova, Scotland, Sweden, Wales

GROUP 10 - Bulgaria, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Norway, Spain