Euro 2008: Czechs, Germany await Ireland

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Steve Staunton’s Republic of Ireland have been paired with big guns Czech Republic and Germany in Group D of the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

The Czechs, beaten semi-finalists in Euro 2004 and number two in Fifa’s latest rankings list, are the top seeds in the section, with Germany – the hosts of this summer’s World Cup finals – second seeds in the group.

If that pair will prove formidable opposition, Staunton & Co will be thankful to have swerved some of the top sides in pot three – Slovakia came out of the hat as the third seeds in Group D, meaning the boys in green avoided World Cup finalists Serbia-Montenegro and Ukraine and Euro 2004 qualification conquerors Russia.

Group D will also see a local derby with John Toshack’s Wales, with the section completed by Cyprus – who also met Ireland in the recent World Cup qualifiers – and San Marino.


Euro 2008, Group D:

Czech Republic
Germany
Slovakia
Republic of Ireland
Wales
Cyprus
San Marino

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Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton has expressed his satisfaction with his side’s Euro 2008 draw, offering the opinion that some of the other groups would have been much more difficult propositions for his side.

Staunton was in Montreux, Switzerland for the draw, which pitted Ireland against the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Wales, Cyprus and San Marino.

And speaking after the ceremonies, the new Irish boss admitted he was looking forward to the task ahead – and the possibility of catching some of the big guns with a World Cup hangover.

He said: “Well it’s obviously going to be tough but a couple of the other groups were a lot harder I think.

"I haven’t discussed the fixtures yet but hopefully we will be able to catch the teams going to the World Cup on the hop. They might be a bit drained or tired if they go quite far in that far competition.”