"But we are happy to qualify for the next round in first place."
The top three teams from each section qualified for the final round.
The first 4 teams of each group qualify for the second round.
The top 2 teams in each group qualified for the final round.
The next season, they finished 4th, their best result as of 2010 but did not qualify for the final round.
The two best teams of each group qualified for the next round.
I still think they can qualify for the second round.
This continues until six have qualified for the next round.
First, however, the Americans must qualify for the second round before they can prepare.
However they were already sure of qualifying for the next round.