Post by Taxigirl on Dec 5, 2003 18:35:33 GMT
The draw for the European qualifying groups of the 2006 Fifa World Cup was made in Frankfurt on Friday.
Brazilian legend Pele, Italian referee Pierluigi Collina and Formula One champion Michael Schumacher assisted with the draw which followed the selections for the Asia, Oceania, Concacaf and Africa zones.
England intriguingly found themselves drawn against home nations Wales and Northern Ireland - along with Azerbaijan, Poland and Austria.
Scotland face a tough group with Italy, Slovenia, Norway, Belarus and Moldova.
Republic of Ireland also face a difficult qualification, with France, Switzerland, Israel, Cyprus and the Faroe Islands all drawn with them.
The eight group winners and two best runners-up reach the finals, the other six second-placed teams go into play-offs for a place in Germany 2006.
Germany, as hosts, qualify automatically.
Group 1:
Czech Republic
Holland
Romania
Finland
FYR Macedonia
Armenia
Andorra
Group 2:
Turkey
Denmark
Greece
Ukraine
Georgia
Albania
Kazakhstan
Group 3:
Portugal
Russia
Slovakia
Latvia
Estonia
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Group 4:
France
Republic of Ireland
Switzerland
Israel
Cyprus
Faroe Islands
Group 5:
Italy
Slovenia
Scotland
Norway
Belarus
Moldova
Group 6:
England
Poland
Austria
Wales
Northern Ireland
Azerbaijan
Group 7:
Spain
Belgium
Serbia & Montenegro
Bosnia
Lithuania
San Marino
Group 8:
Sweden
Croatia
Bulgaria
Iceland
Hungary
Malta