Football: Euro 2000 qualification explained

QUALIFICATION

THE QUALIFIERS for Euro 2000 will be the nine group winners, the second- placed team with the best record and the winners of four two-leg play- off matches between the eight other group runners-up. The pairings for the play-off matches will be decided by a draw on 11 October. The play- off first-leg matches will be staged on 13 or 14 November, with the second legs on 17 November.

If teams finish equal on points after playing all their group matches the following criteria (in the order listed) will be used to determine rankings: 1 Greater number of points obtained in the matches between the teams in question. 2 Goal difference resulting from the matches between the teams in question. 3 Greater number of goals scored away from home in the matches between the teams in question. 4 Goal difference (all matches). 5 Greater number of goals scored (all matches). 6 Greater number of goals scored away from home (all matches). 7 Fair Play conduct. 8 Drawing of lots.

When the second-placed teams are ranked to determine which team proceeds directly to the finals and which teams proceed to the play-offs, only the results obtained against the teams placed first, third and fourth in the groups shall be considered. The following criteria (in the order listed) shall be used to determine the ranking for the second-placed teams: 1 Number of points obtained in the matches against the teams placed first, third and fourth in the group. 2 Goal difference resulting from these matches. 3 Greater number of goals scored in these matches. 4 Greater number of goals scored away from home in these matches. 5 Fair Play conduct.