England to face Wales in qualifying
Reuters - Monday 08 February 2010, 12:22
WARSAW - England will lock horns with neighbouring Wales in qualifying for the 2012 European Championships.
While defending champions Spain were
handed an easy-looking path to the finals in Poland
and Ukraine in Sunday's qualifying draw, although coach Vicente
Del Bosque said afterwards he was taking nothing for granted.
Spain, who won Euro 2008 with a series of superb
performances culminating in their victory over Germany in the
final, are ranked number one in the world and were grouped with
Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania and Liechtenstein.
They were the last of the 51 teams drawn at the ceremony at
Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Science and Del Bosque was
cautious about the challenge ahead.
"We face a strong test and will have to be at our best in
every match so we do not want to make any mistakes; we are
taking nothing for granted," he told reporters immediately after
the draw.
World champions Italy face two World Cup finalists in Serbia
and Slovenia, as well as Northern Ireland, Estonia and Faroe
Islands in Group C, while France, the 2006 World Cup runners-up,
should be too strong for Romania, Bosnia, Belarus, Albania and
Luxembourg in Group D.
"Italy's group is balanced, with Serbia and Slovenia - two
teams who will play in the World Cup," Italy coach Marcello
Lippi, who was not present at the draw, was quoted as saying by
Italian news agency ANSA.
"There's an advantage in being in a group of six. Of the
other groups, England's is the most difficult."
Germany, runners-up to Spain in the Euro 2008 final, face
neighbours Austria as well as Turkey in what should be a
straightforward group for them.
Group A also includes Belgium, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan,
whom Germany beat home and away in their World Cup qualifying
group. Azerbaijan are coached by former German international and
manager Berti Vogts.
Azerbaijan were the first team drawn, and were then grouped
with Armenia - the exact scenario UEFA had wanted to avoid.
Political tensions between the two ex-Soviet states meant
that UEFA's executive committee had ruled they would not be
allowed to be in the same group.
Under a pre-arranged agreement, Armenia were moved into
Group B where they will face Russia, Slovakia, Ireland,
Macedonia and Andorra.
The two countries had refused to play
each other in the qualifiers for Euro 2008 after being drawn
together.
OLD RIVALRY
England will renew their old rivalry with Wales whom they
have met 99 times. Their last meetings were in the qualifiers
for the 2006 World Cup finals when England won both games.
England also face World Cup finalists Switzerland in Group
G, group along with Bulgaria and Montenegro.
England coach Fabio Capello's first match in charge of
England was a 2-1 win over Switzerland in February 2008 and he
said he was looking forward to playing them again.
"We have improved as a team since that first match," he
said. "Although it will be tough it will be good to play them
again."
France, runners-up in the 2006 World Cup final, face a
challenge from Romania, Bosnia, Belarus, Albania and Luxembourg.
France and Romania met in the World Cup qualifiers with both
matches ending in draws.
The qualifying competition starts in September and concludes
with final-place playoffs in November 2011.
The nine group winners and best runners-up automatically
qualify for the finals, along with the co-hosts.
The remaining eight runners-up face each other in the
playoffs with the four winners completing the 16-team line-up in
the finals.