By Alan Duffy
Roy Hodgson will be rather pleased with the Three Lions’ grouping for the EURO 2016 qualifiers, with Switzerland arguably the only other side who can top Group E. Chris Coleman’s Wales will face Belgium and Bosnia-Herzegovina in a tricky Group B while Northern Ireland will find it tough against Greece, Hungary, Romania, Finland. However, it is Scotland of the British sides who face the toughest challenge, with the mighty Germany, Poland and an improving Republic of Ireland (c’mon the Boys In Green!) all standing in their way. Oh, and Danny Higginbotham’s Gibraltar too!
To be fair, with the European finals expanded to 24 teams for 2016, the top two sides in each group will qualify with the third-placed side going into the play-offs, so really all the teams have every chance of making it to France 2016.
Full draw:
Group A: Netherlands, Czech Republic, Turkey, Latvia, Iceland, Kazakhstan.
Group B: Bosnia-Hercegovina, Belgium, Israel, Wales, Cyprus, Andorra.
Group C: Spain, Ukraine, Slovakia, Belarus, FYR Macedonia, Luxembourg.
Group D: Germany, Republic of Ireland, Poland, Scotland, Georgia, Gibraltar.
Group E: England, Switzerland, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania, San Marino.
Group F: Greece, Hungary, Romania, Finland, Northern Ireland, Faroe Islands.
Group G: Russia, Sweden, Austria, Montenegro, Moldova, Liechtenstein.
Group H: Italy, Croatia, Norway, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Malta.
Group I: Portugal, Denmark, Serbia, Armenia, Albania.
Photos: UEFA