Qualifying Round

  

Group 4

After two draws in their opening matches against Latvia and Hungary, it seemed unlikely that Sweden would win UEFA EURO 2004 Group 4 with a match to spare, but five straight victories booked their place in Portugal with Latvia pipping Poland and Hungary in an exciting race for the play-off berth. 

While Poland beat San Marino 2-0, Sweden began with a 0-0 draw in Latvia and it was the former Soviet Republic who began to set the pace as they triumphed 1-0 in Poland as the Swedes were drawing 1-1 with Hungary. A second-half hat-trick from substitute Zoltán Gera then gave Hungary a 3-0 victory against San Marino, but it was Latvia who ended 2002 in first place as they won 1-0 away to the group minnows - though only after Carlo Valentini's last-minute own goal denied the Sanmarinese their first UEFA European Championship point. 

When the group resumed in March, Hungary put up a tremendous rearguard action to draw 0-0 in Poland, who four days later reinvigorated their campaign by beating San Marino 5-0, while Sweden returned to action with a 2-1 win in Budapest. Then at the end of April, Latvia moved three points clear of Poland as they overcame San Marino 3-0. In June, though, Latvia were defeated 3-1 in Hungary - having led at half-time - while Mattias Jonson's hat-trick helped Sweden beat San Marino 6-0. Four days later, the Swedes took first place as they saw off Poland 3-0 and Hungary won 5-0 in San Marino. 

Sweden ended San Marino's campaign in September with a 5-0 defeat, while Latvia stumbled again as they lost 2-0 at home to a revived Poland side. Clearly the 10 September encounters were to be crucial, with Sweden visiting Poland and Latvia welcoming Hungary. And the results could not have worked out better for the Swedes, who had already heard of Latvia's 3-1 success as they secured a 2-0 victory, giving them an unassailable four-point lead with only one game left. 

On the final day Latvia handed the Swedes their first qualification defeat since 1997 by winning 1-0 in Stockholm to clinch the play-off spot, meaning Poland's 2-1 win in Hungary was in vain. However the joy of the Latvians' first top-two finish in a qualification tournament was tempered by a tough play-off draw that paired them with Turkey.
  - UEFA.com

 
San Marino 0-2 Poland 07/09/02
  Kaszorowski 76
Kukielka 88
Latvia 0-0 Sweden 07/09/02
   
Sweden 1-1 Hungary 12/10/02
Ibrahimovic 76 Kenesei 5
Poland 0-1 Latvia 12/10/02
  Laizans 30
Hungary 3-0 San Marino 16/10/02
Gera 39, 62, 88  
San Marino 0-1 Latvia 20/11/02
  Valentini og 90
Poland 0-0 Hungary 29/03/03
   
Poland 5-0 San Marino 02/04/03
Szymkowiak 3
Kosowski 27
Kuzba 55, 90
Karwan 80
 
Hungary 1-2 Sweden 02/04/03
Lisztes 65 Allback 34, 67
Latvia 3-0 San Marino 30/04/03
Prohorenkovs 10
Bleidelis 21, 75
 
Hungary 3-1 Latvia 07/06/03
Szabics 53, 59
Gera 88
Beck 20
San Marino 0-6 Sweden 07/06/03
  Jonson 16, 59, 66
Allback 52, 84
Ljungberg 55
Sweden 3-0 Poland 11/06/03
Svensson 15, 70
Allback 43
 
San Marino 0-5 Hungary 11/06/03
  Boor 3
Lisztes 20, 80
Kenesei 59
Szabics 76
Latvia 0-2 Poland 06/09/03
  Klos 36
Szymkowiak 39
Sweden

5-0

San Marino 06/09/03
Jonson 33
Jakobsson 49
Ibrahimovic 56, pen 83
Kallstrom pen 68
 
Poland 0-2 Sweden 10/09/03
  Nilsson 2
Mellberg 36
Latvia 3-1 Hungary 10/09/03
Verpakovskis 38, 51
Astafjevs 43
Lisztes 52
Sweden 0-1 Latvia 11/10/03
  Verpakovskis 23
Hungary 1-2 Poland 11/10/03
Szabics 48 Niedzielan 10, 23

 

 

 

 

 « Group Standings »

Group 4
Sweden
Latvia
Poland
Hungary
San Marino

P
8
8
8
8
8

W
5
5
4
3
0

D
2
1
1
2
0

L
1
2
3
3
8

F
19
10
11
15
0

A
3
6
7
9
30

Pt
17
16
13
11
0

 

 « Ad »

gamebookers.com - the better you bet!

 

 

 

Copyright © 2004 Yoong's Football. All rights reserved | Disclaimer & Copyright | Privacy Policy