BBC SPORT    BBC News >>   Graphics version >>   Change to UK edition >>
Sport Front Page | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Other Sports | Sports Talk | BBC Pundits | TV & Radio | Funny Old Game | N Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Football Contents: Teams | FA Cup | Eng Prem | Internationals | Champions League | Uefa Cup | Eng Div 1 | Eng Div 2 | Eng Div 3 | Eng Conf | Scot Prem | Scottish Cup | Scot Div 1 | Scot Div 2 | Scot Div 3 | Europe | Africa | League of Wales |
Thursday, 13 February, 2003, 21:57 GMT

Euro 2004 Group 4

BBC Sport Online looks at the countries drawn in qualifying Group 4 for Euro 2004.


Sweden
Coach: Tommy Soderberg & Lars Lagerback
Sweden suffered a setback when they failed to qualify for France 98 and then failed to win a single point during the Euro 2000 finals.

But a relatively comfortable World Cup qualifying campaign has left them among the top 10 seeds for the 2004 qualifying campaign and Tommy Soderberg and Lars Lagerback have a squad to be feared.

They impressed at the World Cup itself, winning the "group of death" ahead of England, Argentina and Nigeria before losing to Senegal in the second round.

Group 4 fixtures

  • 2002
  • Sept 7: San Marino v Poland, Latvia v Sweden
  • Oct 12: Sweden v Hungary, Poland v Latvia
  • Oct 16: Hungary v San Marino
  • Nov 11: San Marino v Latvia
  • 2003
  • Mar 29: Poland v Hungary
  • Apr 2: Poland v San Marino, Hungary v Sweden
  • Apr 30: Latvia v San Marino
  • June 7: Hungary v Latvia, San Marino v Sweden
  • June 11: Sweden v Poland, San Marino v Hungary
  • Sept 6: Latvia v Poland, Sweden v San Marino
  • Sept 10: Poland v Sweden, Latvia v Hungary
  • Oct 11: Sweden v Latvia, Hungary v Poland
  • Sweden are boosted by a strike-force of Celtic's Henrik Larsson, Heerenveen's Markus Allbäck and Ajax's Zlatan Ibrahimovic. They can also bank on the creative flair of Arsenal's Fredrik Ljungberg and Southampton's Anders Svensson.


    Poland
    Coach: Zbigniew Boniek
    The legendary Zbigniew Boniek has taken over from Jerzy Engel after Poland's disastrous performance in the World Cup.

    Boniek's career high spot came when he scored a hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Belgium at the 1982 World Cup.

    He faces a tough task as Poland have never managed to reach the European Championship finals.

    But, on the form of their World Cup qualification campaign, that unflattering record could end.

    Over the last two years under new coach Engel, Poland had suggested they were about to recreate their successes in 1974 and 1982 when they reached the World Cup semi-finals on each occasion.

    In qualifying for the 2002 finals in Korea and Japan, Poland only lost once and were the first European nation to qualify for this summer's tournament.


    Hungary
    Coach: Imre Gellei
    Long gone are the days of Ferenc Puskas and the Magic Magyars.

    And Hungary's fans were hurt by their team's first ever loss to Romania, during the qualifying campaign for the 2002 World Cup.

    But they will expect playmaker Bela Illes to take them further this time and Hungary can usually be relied upon to play attacking and entertaining football.

    Imre Gellei's job looks less than secure, with Germany's Lothar Matthaeus among those named as a replacement.


    Latvia
    Coach: Aleksandrs Starkovs
    Latvia's English coach Gary Johnson stood down in 2001 after a woeful 1-1 draw at home to minnows San Marino during qualification for the 2002 World Cup.

    His successor Aleksandrs Starkovs must now try to pick up the pieces, by harnessing the silky talents of in-form Southampton striker Marian Pahars and a host of other promising players.


    San Marino
    Coach: Giampaolo Mazza
    Goalkeeper Frederico Gasperi is San Marino's key man and he has often emerged as his nation's hero having kept scorelines down to a respectable level.

    San Marino have only avoided defeat twice in their history, a 1-1 draw in Latvia during the 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign.

    That result came nine years after their goalless draw with Turkey.

    Andy Sleva is the only professional footballer among the republic's population of 27,336.

    Figures suggest that a male Sammarinese between the ages of 15 and 35 has a one in 250 chance of playing for his country.

    At least San Marino have the consolation of being Europe's most consistent side.


    Internet links: Uefa
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
    Sport Front Page | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Other Sports | Sports Talk | BBC Pundits | TV & Radio | Funny Old Game | N Ireland | Scotland | Wales
    Football Contents: Teams | FA Cup | Eng Prem | Internationals | Champions League | Uefa Cup | Eng Div 1 | Eng Div 2 | Eng Div 3 | Eng Conf | Scot Prem | Scottish Cup | Scot Div 1 | Scot Div 2 | Scot Div 3 | Europe | Africa | League of Wales |

    ^^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | ©