Qualification for the 2004 UEFA European Football Championship took place between September 2002 and November 2003.
Contents
Fifty teams were divided into ten groups, with each team playing the others in their group twice, once at home and once away. The top team in each group automatically qualified for Euro 2004, and the ten group runners-up were paired off against each other to determine another five places in the finals.
Portugal qualified automatically as hosts of the event.
Qualified teams
UEFA Euro 2004 qualification coefficients were sixth in the list of criteria to separate teams that finished level on points in their group in Euro 2004. The coefficients were calculated as the points earned per game in qualification for both Euro 2004 and the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Tiebreakers
If two or more teams were equal on points on completion of the group matches, the following criteria were applied to determine the rankings:
- Higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question.
- Superior goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question.
- Higher number of goals scored in the group matches played among the teams in question.
- Higher number of goals scored away from home in the group matches played among the teams in question.
- If two or more teams still had an equal ranking, criteria 1) to 4) would be reapplied. If this procedure did not lead to a decision, criteria 6) and 7) would apply.
- Results of all group matches: 1. Superior goal difference 2. Higher number of goals scored 3. Higher number of goals scored away from home 4. Fair play conduct.
- Drawing of lots.
Seedings
The draw was made on 25 January 2002. France were seeded first as holders. The other seedings were determined by points per game in the qualifiers for 2000 European Championship and the 2002 World Cup. Belgium and Netherlands did not have to qualify for UEFA Euro 2000 as hosts, so only their record in World Cup 2002 was used.
Portugal qualified automatically as hosts of the tournament and therefore did not take part in the qualification process.
Summary
Hosts
Top goalscorers
There were 566 goals scored by 302 different players and 14 own goals. This list reflects the players who scored, at least, 4 goals.