GROUP PLAY
34 teams competed in UEFA women's action as of the start of qualifying, but according to UEFA rules, these were split into two strength categories. The upper sixteen - the Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the Ukraine - were drawn into the first four groups. The remaining eighteen went into the last four groups, from which they could not qualify for the 2003 Women's World Cup. Instead, the winners of the groups would play off against the last placed teams in the top four groups for promotion into the top strength category.

For the lucky sixteen, first place in the group was good for a direct ticket into the Women's World Cup. The second placed teams would have to play two rounds of two leg playoffs to determine which would take UEFA's fifth and final place.

The action began on SUN 18 AUG 2001, as Russia drew Iceland 1-1 in the first qualifier for China 2003. Natalia BARBACHINA put Russia ahead early in the first half, but Andrea Olga FÆRSETH equalised four minutes into the second half. USA 1999 participants Denmark and Norway both began their campaigns in strong fashion, each winning 4-0 against Switzerland and the Ukraine respectively.

By the end of 2001, only one of the four groups had a leader not on the maximum nine points. Russia defeated Italy and Spain after their Iceland draw, but Iceland were only three points back in Group 3, and the other two sides also had three points. Norway led Group 1, Sweden Group 2, and Germany Group 4; each had a goal difference of at least +12.

First in

In early 2002, England turned things around. A 3-0 win against Portugal was followed by a 4-1 win at the Netherlands, a great improvement over the two points they obtained from their first three matches. Germany also defeated Portugal and the Netherlands handily, becoming the first to earn their way into China 2003 and placing England into the playoff. Spain bounced back from consecutive losses to Italy, winning 2-1 against group leaders Russia.

Norway's 3-1 win over France was enough to send them to their fourth Women's World Cup, in a match in which both goalscorers - Norway's hat trick winner Dagny MELLGREN of Boston and France's Marinette PICHON of Philadelphia - played professionally in the US. Meanwhile in Group 3, history repeated itself as Barbachina put Russia ahead, but Færseth salvaged a 1-1 draw for Iceland, who were in last place but only three points off the lead.

Spain were disappointingly dumped from contention when they gave away two own goals on their way to a 3-0 loss at Iceland. France won 2-1 against the Ukraine to earn their place in the playoffs, which left only a couple of questions. Would Sweden or Denmark earn the automatic berth in Group 2, and which two of Russia, Iceland, and Italy would move through?

Solving the puzzle

The answers came in JUN 2002, when most of the world's attention was focussed upon the 2002 Men's World Cup in the Korea Republic and Japan. Iceland visited the island of Sardinia on SAT 08 JUN 2002, playing Italy to a 0-0 draw that earned them a playoff against England. Their nine points were two behind group winners Russia.

Denmark played a scoreless match against Sweden for nearly an hour, but Katrine PEDERSON's foul on Jane TÖRNQVIST inside the area gave the visiting Swedes a penalty, which Malin ANDERSSON scored easily. Lene TERP's headed goal levelled things fifteen minutes later, and Cathrine PAASKE scored in the 87th minute for the all important 2-1 win for Denmark. But three weeks later in Pietarsaari, Sweden ran over Finland by a 5-0 margin. Tied on 15 points, Sweden were Group 2 winners due to head to head results, and Denmark would face France.

Although the Czech Republic, Finland, Spain, and Portugal brought up the rear in their respective groups, UEFA decided to cut them some slack by increasing the size of the upper category to twenty. Hence, Group 5-8 winners Scotland, Yugoslavia, Poland, and Hungary automatically earned their way into the top level.

PLAYOFFS
Six matches, then, would decide the last European team at China 2003. Things started off on FRI 23 AUG 2002 in Lens, where France hosted Denmark; the Danes had won the last seven encounters between these sides. This time, however, France brought an international superstar: Pichon, fresh off her first WUSA season in which she scored fourteen goals and won the Most Valuable Player award.

Pichon and Sonia BOMPASTOR scored in the first half for a 2-0 win in the first leg. In Odense, Denmark, Severine LECOUFLE's 87th minute goal neutralised Louise HANSEN's in the ninth. Meanwhile, England coach Hope POWELL was honoured by Queen ELIZABETH II with an Order of the British Empire commendation for her contributions to women's football. Her side fought back twice in Reykjavik, as England captain Karen WALKER scored twice - including within three minutes of Færseth's opener - to get a 2-2 away draw.

Walker, though, was shown her second yellow card of the qualifying campaign in that match, resulting in a one match suspension. In her absence, England were perfectly happy to take their two away goals and sit back defensively during the second leg, but a late counterattack led to an Amanda BARR goal that sent England through 3-2 on aggregate.

In the playoff final, it was Pichon who made the difference, scoring the lone goal in the London leg. Upon their return to France, les Bleues found the nation rallying behind them. The match in Saint-Etienne was scheduled for a national broadcast on Canal+, with France's Men's World Cup winning coach Aimé JACQUET on the broadcast team.

When the teams took the pitch, they were greeted by a spectacular crowd of 24,000, a women's record in France. The home side dominated the match, with England managing very few good attempts. When France captain Corinne DIACRE found a shot deflected by England keeper Pauline COPE right into her path, she didn't need to draw upon her vast international experience to know what to do with it: put it in. She did so, and France came away with another 1-0 win and their first ticket to the Women's World Cup.