England face France and hosts Ukraine at Euro 2012
England are drawn in the same group as France, Sweden and co-hosts Ukraine at Euro 2012.
But Ireland face a tougher test against Spain, Euro 2008 champions and winners of the 2010 World Cup, Italy and Croatia.
The competition will be held in Ukraine and Poland. England’s training camp is in Poland, but all of their group games are in Ukraine: against France in Donetsk on 11 June 2012, Sweden in Kiev on 15 June and Ukraine in Donetsk on 19 June. For England fans, this means a lot of travelling between games.
If we can’t get ourselves through that group we have only got ourselves to blame. Paul Ince, former England captain
Former England captain Paul Ince told BBC Radio Five Live: “Overall we have to be delighted. It is a fantastic group for us. When you look at the groups we have had, in qualification and in the World Cup, the gods have been smiling down on us and they have certainly done it again tonight. If we can’t get ourselves through that group we have only got ourselves to blame.”
View from France
Former France defender Bixente Lizarazu told Eurosport: “We can go through this group. The only problem is we will be the favourites along with England and that’s a label that does not suit us. In South Africa (2010 World Cup) we said it was an easy draw and yet we did not qualify.”
Ireland, appearing in the championships for the first time since 1988, will open against Croatia in Poznan on June 10. Their manager Giovanni Trapattoni will be relishing the match against his felllow Italians.
Germany, who finished third in the World Cup, are in a difficult group: against World Cup runners-up Holland, Portugal and Denmark.
Opponents
England’s most arduous game is likely to be against France, despite their disappointing showing at the World Cup. Les Bleus have have some gifted players, including Karim Benzema, Loic Remy, Yann M’Vila and Franck Ribery.
England usually struggle against Sweden, but beat them in a friendly game at Wembley in November. Their talents include Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Kim Kallstrom and Olof Mellberg.
Ukraine will be relying on former Chelsea striker Andrei Shevchenko and Bayern Munich midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk.
Group A
Poland
Greece
Russia
Czech Republic
Group B
Holland
Denmark
Germany
Portugal
Group C
Spain
Italy
Republic of Ireland
Croatia