Europe's hopefuls learn their fate

Russia and France were paired together when the draw for 2003/05 UEFA European Women's Championship qualifying took place at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland today.

Held in England
The two nations are among the most powerful in women's football and both will represent Europe in next year's FIFA Women's World Cup in China. Iceland, Hungary and Poland complete Group 3 but face a likely forlorn task to qualify for the final round in England in the summer of 2005.

Reigning champions
The 20 teams competing in the first category were drawn into four groups of five and the 14 challengers in the second category were drawn into two groups of five and one group of four. England qualify automatically as hosts but Germany, the reigning champions, are in Group 4 along with Ukraine, Portugal, Czech Republic and Scotland.

Nordic challenge
Sweden and Norway - who will join Germany, Russia and France at the World Cup - were the top-seeded teams in Groups 1 and 2 respectively. The Swedes must tackle rapidly improving Italy, Finland, Switzerland and Yugoslavia, while the Norwegians are up against fellow Scandinavians Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Qualifying procedure
The four group winners will qualify for the final round in England. The three other berths will be decided following a play-off featuring the four runners-up and the two best third-placed teams.

Newcomers Kazakhstan
Thirty-four UEFA member associations entered a team for the competition including Armenia, Malta and newcomers Kazakhstan. All three found themselves in the second strength category which is made up of 14 nations. Malta's chief rivals in Group 5 will be Romania, Belarus are the main seeds in Kazakhstan's pool, Group 6, and Armenia are in a four-team section with Slovakia, Greece and Austria.

Aiming for play-off
The winners of Groups 5, 6 and 7 and the best runner-up will play a home-and-away play-off against teams finishing bottom of the four first-strength groups in order to decide where teams compete in the next qualifying competition.