England to face Wales in Euro qualifying
Capello will be pleased after being drawn in a group comprising five teams
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Sunday, 07, Feb 2010 11:21
By Matt Hallam.
England will face fellow home nation Wales in their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.
Fabio Capello's team were drawn in Group G at the ceremony in Warsaw, and will face Switzerland, Bulgaria and Montenegro as well as John Toshack's young Welsh side.
England last faced Wales during their qualifying campaign for the 2006 World Cup, beating them 1-0 at the Millennium Stadium and 2-0 at Old Trafford.
It will be seen as positive draw by Capello, having been placed in a group comprising five teams, rather than six - meaning England will play a total of eight games.
England will be looking to banish memories of their disastrous qualifying campaign for Euro 2008 when defeat to Croatia at Wembley ended the reign of former coach Steve McLaren.
Meanwhile, the other home nations were handed tougher draws with Scotland drawn in Group I where they will face reigning European champions Spain and the Czech Republic, whilst Northern Ireland were placed in Group C with World Cup holders Italy.
The draw was a little kinder to the Republic of Ireland though who were drawn in Group B along with Russia, Slovakia, FYR Macedonia, Armenia and Andorra.
Qualifying will start in September and finish in October 2011 when nine group winners will automatically qualify along with the runner-up with the best overall record. The eight remaining runners-up will then face a round of play-offs over two legs in November 2011.
Draw in full
Group A: Germany, Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan
Group B: Russia, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, FYR Macedonia, Armenia, Andorra
Group C: Italy, Serbia, Northern Ireland Slovenia, Estonia, Faroe Islands
Group D: France, Romania, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Belarus, Albania, Luxembourg
Group E: Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Moldova, San Marino
Group F: Croatia, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Georgia, Malta
Group G: England, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Wales, Montenegro
Group H: Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Cyprus, Iceland
Group I: Spain, Czech Republic, Scotland Lithuania, Liechtenstein