Team

P

W

D

L

F

A

Points

Italy

8

5

2

1

17

4

17

Wales

8

4

1

3

13

10

13

Serbia & Mont.

8

3

3

2

11

11

12

Finland

8

3

1

4

9

10

10

Azerbaijan

8

1

1

6

5

20

4


Wales got off to a flier in Group 9 but, after winning their first four games, they stumbled, losing 1-0 to Serbia & Montenegro and then 4-0 to Italy.

Even having lost 4-0 to the azzurri in Milan, Wales could have won the group but rather than capitalising on Italy's subsequent 1-1 draw away to Serbia, Mark Hughes' side also drew, 1-1 to Finland.

When it came to the final day, Italy had no problems in registering the victory they required to make it through automatically to Euro 2004, overpowering bottom-of-the-table Azerbaijan 4-0 at home thanks to a Fillippo Inzaghi double. Christian Vieri opened the scoring and substitute Marco di Vaio was also on target for Trappatoni's side.

Second-placed Wales were safe in the knowledge that no matter what happened against third-in-the-table Serbia-Montenegro at the Millennium stadium, they would still be competing in the play-offs, which was fortunate seeing as though they went down 3-2.

Zvomimir Vukic's fifth-minute free kick somehow beat Paul Jones at his near post, before John Hartson equalised from the spot, but two late goals from ex-Aston Villa striker Savo Milosevic and Danijel Ljuboja killed the game off, despite Rob Earnshaw's stoppage-time header for the home team.

Home

 

Away

Finland

0-2

Wales

Azerbaijan

0-2

Italy

Finland

3-0

Azerbaijan

Italy

1-1

Serbia & Mont.

Serbia & Mont.

2-0

Finland

Wales

2-1

Italy

Azerbaijan

0-2

Wales

Serbia & Mont.

2-2

Azerbaijan

Wales

4-0

Azerbaijan

Italy

2-0

Finland

Finland

3-0

Serbia & Mont.

Azerbaijan

2-1

Serbia & Mont.

Finland

0-2

Italy

Serbia & Mont.

1-0

Wales

Azerbaijan

1-2

Finland

Italy

4-0

Wales

Wales

1-1

Finland

Serbia & Mont.

1-1

Italy

Wales

2-3

Serbia & Mont.

Italy

4-0

Azerbaijan