A day before the end of the preliminary round European Championships three
teams are already qualified for the semi-finals: more, Sweden, as winner of the
group A, and Germany, second team in the same group, are qualified for the World
Championship of the next year in Egypt too, where they will find Russia,
qualified as world champion. In group B today Spain and Russia will play the
group leadership: Russia, that won the last European Championship, is certain to
be in semi-final if it loses too, but Spain could become third theoretical if
Russia wins and if at the same time Croatia should beat Hungary. Actually Spain
has the better goal difference (32 goals) that could be decisive by same point
record with Croatia. To make it hard, if Hungary should beat Croatia, Hungarians
could take third place in the group and qualify for the fifth-place-final game.
In group A France and Yugoslavia play against a do-or-die game for the important
third place: the winner of the match beetween both third teams, Europe’s fifth
team, qualifies for the World Championships as last team.
