World Cup 2006 draw - European qualifiers

[Salem6]

EUROPEAN DRAW
Group 1
Czech Republic
Netherlands
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 and Mont
Bosnia
Lithuania
San Marino

Group 8
Sweden
Croatia
Bulgaria
Iceland
Hungary
Malta

[Salem6]

England will meet both Wales and Northern Ireland in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers.

The three home nations were drawn together in Group 6 and will meet each other home and away.

Austria, Poland and Azerbaijan are the other opponents in the six-team group in Friday's draw in Frankfurt.

The 2006 World Cup will be hosted by three-time champions Germany

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was delighted to have avoided a potential meeting with the Dutch, but denied they had been given an easy passage through to the finals.

"I am sure Wales want to beat England at any cost but we want the same Sven-Goran Eriksson.

"I am very glad that we avoided Holland," he said. "I think England have played against Poland many times in these circumstances and have done well.

"I think it is a rather good draw - interesting. But it's absolutely not easy.

"Wales did very well in qualification for Euro 2004, they could have won the group. It will not be easy at all.

"Poland always have good football players and it's a good team. Northern Ireland and Wales are interesting, very interesting."

Scotland will face Italy along with Slovenia - like Scotland beaten in the Euro 2004 play-offs - Norway, Belarus and Moldova in Group 5.

The Republic of Ireland must take on France, Switzerland, Israel, Cyprus and the Faroe Islands in Group 4.

Only the eight European group winners and the best two runners-up will qualify for the finals with six other teams taking part in three play-offs.