Euro giants drawn together
Euro giants drawn together
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Sunday, 02, Dec 2007 12:35
World champions Italy will face France and Holland at Euro 2008 after they were drawn together in the same group.
Group C looks to be the most difficult of the four with Romania completing the group.
France and Italy faced each other in qualifying for the tournament, narrowly edging out Scotland, having competed in the World Cup final last year.
Because Uefa chose to hand seedings to the two host nations and champions Greece a number of big name teams were in lower pots, which is how the world champions and runners-up came to be in the same group.
Germany will face neighbours Austria and will also play against Poland and Croatia in group B.
The draw drew gasps from the audience gathered for the gala draw in Lucerne and the match between the co-hosts and Germany will be one of the most anticipated of the tournament.
Croatia will provide tough opposition for Germany in a group which features three group winners from qualification along with one of the host nations.
Despite this there was a cheer from the Croatian contingent at the draw when they were placed in group B.
Switzerland will open the competition on June 7th in Basle against Czech Republic who were drawn against the co-hosts in group A along with Turkey and Portugal.
Group D features Greece, who were seeded as they are the current holders of the trophy, Russia, Spain and Sweden.
Russia are at the tournament at the expense of England after they failed to beat Croatia at Wembley last month and the draw would have been a favourable one for the Three Lions.