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Group
9
Italy
won UEFA EURO 2004 qualifying Group 9 but not before Wales had
pushed them all the way to the final game having led by five
points at the halfway stage.
Wales sprang the first surprise by beating Finland 2-0 in
Helsinki in September 2002 while Italy were winning 2-0 in
Azerbaijan. The following month, Italy were held at home by
the then Yugoslavia, while Finland gained a 3-0 victory
against Azerbaijan. Four days later, Wales triumphed 2-1
against Italy in Cardiff thanks to Craig Bellamy's late
winner, with Yugoslavia up to second with a 2-0 win against
Finland. The Welsh lead was extended in November as they won
2-0 in Azerbaijan.
The renamed Serbia and Montenegro's challenge faltered in
February 2003,when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Azerbaijan
- having led 2-0 at one stage. The next month Wales eased to a
4-0 win against the former Soviet Republic, while Finland lost
2-0 in Italy, whose form now revived. Civil unrest saw Serbia
and Montenegro's home game four days later against Wales
postponed, and when they returned to action they lost 3-0 in
Finland in June.
Four days later Azerbaijan came from behind to beat Serbia and
Montenegro 2-1, with two goals in the last two minutes,
leading to the resignation of beaten coach Dejan Savicevic.
Finland's hopes of qualification were dented on the same
evening as Italy won 2-0 in Helsinki.
Wales still held a two-point lead over Italy at the summit.
However, their small squad was weakened by injuries when they
travelled to Belgrade on the rearranged date of 20 August and
lost 1-0. The group's defining game was then played in Milan
in early September, as Wales held out for an hour before a
Filippo Inzaghi hat-trick helped Italy clinch a 4-0 win.
Finland won 2-1 in Azerbaijan.
There could have been one more twist four days later, though,
as Italy were held to a draw in Belgrade by Serbia and
Montenegro. However, in Cardiff, Wales missed their chance to
reclaim pole position by drawing 1-1 with now eliminated
Finland, although a top-two place was assured. So, it was left
to Italy to beat Azerbaijan 4-0 to win the group, as Wales
lost their final qualifier 3-2 at home to Serbia and
Montenegro, but still entered the play-off draw.
- UEFA.com
| Azerbaijan |
0-2 |
Italy |
07/09/02 |
| |
Ahmadov
og 33
Del Piero 64 |
| Finland |
0-2 |
Wales |
07/09/02 |
| |
Hartson
30
Davies 72 |
| Italy |
1-1 |
Serbia-Montenegro |
12/10/02 |
| Del
Piero 39 |
Mijatovic
27 |
| Finland |
3-0 |
Azerbaijan |
12/10/02 |
Agaev
og 13
Tihinen 59
Hyypia 71 |
|
| Wales |
2-1 |
Italy |
16/10/02 |
Davies
12
Bellamy 71 |
Del
Piero 32 |
| Serbia-Montenegro |
2-0 |
Finland |
16/10/02 |
Kovacevic
55
Mihajlovic pen 85 |
|
| Azerbaijan |
0-2 |
Wales |
20/11/02 |
| |
Speed
9
Hartson 68 |
| Serbia-Montenegro |
2-2 |
Azerbaijan |
12/02/03 |
Mijatovic
pen 23
Lazetic 52 |
Gurbanov
59, 78 |
| Italy |
2-0 |
Finland |
29/03/03 |
| Vieri
6, 22 |
|
| Wales |
4-0 |
Azerbaijan |
29/03/03 |
Bellamy 1
Speed 40
Hartson 44
Giggs 52 |
|
| Finland |
3-0 |
Serbia-Montenegro |
07/06/03 |
Hyppia
19
Kolkka 45
Forssell 55 |
|
| Finland |
0-2 |
Italy |
11/06/03 |
| |
Totti
31
Del Piero 72 |
| Azerbaijan |
2-1 |
Serbia-Montenegro |
11/06/03 |
Gurbanov
pen 85
Ismaylov 89 |
Boskovic
28 |
| Serbia-Montenegro |
1-0 |
Wales |
20/08/03 |
| Mladenovic
73 |
|
| Italy |
4-0 |
Wales |
06/09/03 |
Inzaghi
59, 62, 70
Del Piero pen 76 |
|
| Azerbaijan |
1-2 |
Finland |
06/09/03 |
| Ismaylov
88 |
Tainio
52
Nurmela 74 |
| Wales |
1-1 |
Finland |
10/09/03 |
| Davies
3 |
Forssell
90 |
| Serbia-Montenegro |
1-1 |
Italy |
10/09/03 |
| Ilic
81 |
Inzaghi
22 |
| Italy |
4-0 |
Azerbaijan |
11/10/03 |
Vieri
15
Inzaghi 24, 87
Di Vaio 64 |
|
| Wales |
2-3 |
Serbia-Montenegro |
11/10/03 |
Hartson
pen 24
Earnshaw 90 |
Vukic
4
Milosevic 82
Ljuboja 87 |
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