diff --git a/EM-Qual/QualData.cs b/EM-Qual/QualData.cs
index 9aad1df..d87ed51 100644
--- a/EM-Qual/QualData.cs
+++ b/EM-Qual/QualData.cs
@@ -38,8 +38,24 @@ public static class QualData
             return Array.Empty<Match>();
         }
         
-        //using lists to avoid resizing the array (Programmers are lazy)
-        var matches = new List<Match>();
+        int index = 0;
+        Match[] matches = new Match[lines.Length];
+        foreach(var line in lines)
+        {
+            if (TryParseMatch(line, out Match? match))
+            {
+                matches[index++] = match!;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                return Array.Empty<Match>();
+            }
+        }
+        
+        return matches;
+        
+        //again, would be much easier with a list
+        /*var matches = new List<Match>();
         foreach (var line in lines)
         {
             if (TryParseMatch(line, out Match? match))
@@ -51,7 +67,7 @@ public static class QualData
                 return Array.Empty<Match>();
             }
         }
-        return matches.ToArray();
+        return matches.ToArray();*/
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -120,7 +136,33 @@ public static class QualData
     /// <returns>An array of unique country names</returns>
     public static string[] ExtractUniqueCountryNames(Match[] matches)
     {
-        string[] countryNames = [];
+        int uniqueCount = 0;
+        string[] tempCountryNames = new string[matches.Length * 2];
+        foreach (var match in matches)
+        {
+            TeamResult homeTeam = match.HomeTeam;
+            TeamResult guestTeam = match.GuestTeam;
+            if (!IsContained(homeTeam.TeamName, tempCountryNames))
+            {
+                tempCountryNames[uniqueCount++] = homeTeam.TeamName;
+            }
+            if (!IsContained(guestTeam.TeamName, tempCountryNames))
+            {
+                tempCountryNames[uniqueCount++] = guestTeam.TeamName;
+            }
+        }
+        
+        string[] countryNames = new string[uniqueCount];
+        
+        for (int i = 0; i < uniqueCount; i++)
+        {
+            countryNames[i] = tempCountryNames[i];
+        }
+        
+        return countryNames;
+        
+        //Would be much easier with a list, but unfortunately the task requires an array
+        /*string[] countryNames = [];
         foreach (var match in matches)
         {
             TeamResult homeTeam = match.HomeTeam;
@@ -135,7 +177,7 @@ public static class QualData
             }
         }
 
-        return countryNames;
+        return countryNames;*/
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -147,7 +189,30 @@ public static class QualData
     /// <returns>Array of matches in which the supplied country participated</returns>
     public static Match[] FilterMatchesByCountry(Match[] allMatches, string countryName)
     {
-        Match[] filteredMatches = [];
+        int count = 0;
+        foreach (var match in allMatches)
+        {
+            if (IsCountryMatch(match, countryName))
+            {
+                count++;
+            }
+        }
+        
+        Match[] filteredMatches = new Match[count];
+        
+        int index = 0;
+        for (int i = 0; i < allMatches.Length; i++)
+        {
+            if (IsCountryMatch(allMatches[i], countryName))
+            {
+                filteredMatches[index++] = allMatches[i];
+            }
+        }
+
+        return filteredMatches;
+        
+        //Mister Haslinger, please allow me to use lists
+        /*Match[] filteredMatches = [];
         foreach (var match in allMatches)
         {
             if (IsCountryMatch(match, countryName))
@@ -157,7 +222,7 @@ public static class QualData
                 
         }
 
-        return filteredMatches;
+        return filteredMatches;*/
     }
 
     /// <summary>