Post by Salem6 on Jan 27, 2006 13:04:20 GMT
England have been handed a favourable draw in the qualifying stages for the 2008 European Championship.
But the other home countries and the Republic of Ireland face tougher tests to reach the finals in Austria and Switzerland after the draw was made in Montreux on Friday.
England - under Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor - will face Croatia, Russia, Israel, Estonia, Macedonia and Andorra in Group E.
Scotland face a major battle to qualify from one of the hardest groups alongside France, Italy, Ukraine, Lithuania, Georgia and the Faroe Islands.
Wales and the Republic of Ireland face the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Cyprus and San Marino.
Northern Ireland boss Lawrie Sanchez must also plot a difficult course to the finals after being drawn with Sweden, Spain, Denmark, Latvia, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
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Group A
Portugal
Poland
Serbia & Mont
Belgium
Finland
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Kazakhstan
Group B
France
Italy
Ukraine
SCOTLAND
Lithuania
Georgia
Faroe Islands
Group C
Greece
Turkey
Norway
Bosnia
Hungary
Moldova
Malta
Group D
Czech Republic
Germany
Slovakia
REP OF IRELAND
WALES
Cyprus
San Marino
Group E
ENGLAND
Croatia
Russia
Israel
Estonia
Macedonia
Andorra
Group F
Sweden
Spain
Denmark
Latvia
Iceland
NORTHERN IRELAND
Liechtenstein
Group G
Holland
Romania
Bulgaria
Slovenia
Albania
Belarus
Luxembourg
Joint hosts Austria and Switzerland qualify automatically
Games start on 2 September
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4650140.stm