PARIS, Dec 12 Spain will begin their bid for an unprecedented third successive European Championship title against Czech Republic while hosts France will open the 2016 tournament against Romania after the draw was made on Saturday.
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France will like its chances of getting out of Group A. After the opening match against Romania, the host nation will play Albania – in the tournament for the first time – and finally Switzerland on June 19.
The worst possible scenario would see England pitted against the Italians – who beat them in the last two tournaments – Sweden and either Wales or the Republic.
England, who enjoyed a ideal record in qualification, will meet neighbours Wales – a match-up which Chris Coleman admitted he was eager to avoid given the media “circus” which could surround the encounter.
The draw was not much kinder on Nothern Ireland who were drawn with Germany, Poland and Ukraine.
The Boys in Green have been paired alongside Belgium, now ranked number one in the world, four-time World Cup winners Italy and Sweden in Group E. “What a test for us to show everyone how far our wee country have come”.
“I will take what comes”, the England manager said.
Groupe de la mort – England, Italy, Sweden and Wales would look pretty fatal to Roy Hodgson’s dreams of glory. We actually won our group, we didn’t come through a play-off. It would be a great match to be involved in if we were to get England.
“These boys have all contributed and they have played in a lot of the bigger games earlier in the group, and they won’t be giving up their places easily”, O’Neill said.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal were given arguably the easiest draw, alongside Austria, Hungary and Iceland.
The Republic of Ireland have been handed a huge task and start their Group E bid against Sweden in the Stade de France on June 13.
“In many ways it’s a good challenge because our strongest options are at centre-back – we’ve got three Premier League centre-backs, and they will relish the challenge of playing against Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski”.
Wales will be the team in the bottom pot that Hodgson will be most keen to avoid – Chris Coleman’s side topped their qualifying group and their recent form has been so good that they were among the top seeds for the 2018 World Cup qualifying draw in the summer.
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At the other end Real Madrid star Bale was extraordinary, providing seven of Wales’ modest-11 goal tally, and his absence from Euro 2016 for any reason is simply unthinkable.
