DUBLIN: Former champions Germany and the Netherlands will meet each in qualifying for Euro 2020 after being paired together in Sunday’s draw in Dublin, but World Cup semi-finalists England will not complain about their group.
The Germans were the most dangerous team outside the first pot of seeds for the competition, relegated due to poor recent results which included losing to the Dutch in the Nations League.
Joachim Loew’s side will also face Northern Ireland, who they met at the Euro 2016 finals, as well as Estonia and Belarus in Group C.
The top two teams in each of the 10 groups will qualify for Euro 2020, which for the first time will be staged in 12 different venues across the continent.
The semi-finals and final will be played at Wembley, handing England a major incentive to go on and win the competition, fresh from reaching the last four at this year’s World Cup.
Gareth Southgate’s side will be happy with a draw which places them in Group A along with the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Kosovo.
England are in a section with just five teams rather than six because they have qualified for the final four of the Nations League, which will be held next June in Portugal. The draw for that will take place on Monday.
World Cup winners France will meet Iceland and Turkey as well as Albania, Moldova and Andorra in Group H.
But with the top two in each group qualifying, and the safety net of play-offs to determine the last four qualifiers related to final positions in the recent Nations League, the prospect of any leading nation missing out on Euro 2020 is extremely slim.
The task looks tougher for Scotland as they aim to reach a major tournament for the first time since the 1998 World Cup – they must take on Belgium, Russia, Cyprus, Kazakhstan and San Marino in Group I.
Scotland have, at least, already secured a play-off spot after topping their Nations League section.
The Republic of Ireland, with a new manager in Mick McCarthy, will meet Switzerland and Denmark in Group D as well as Georgia and Gibraltar.
Wales must take on World Cup runners-up Croatia in Group E alongside Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan.
Arguably the toughest group is Group F in which Sweden, Norway and Romania will likely compete for one berth behind Spain.
The qualifiers will begin in March, with the final round of games in November 2019.
The group line-up for Euro 2020 qualifying following Sunday's draw in Dublin:
Group A: England, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Kosovo
Group B: Portugal, Ukraine, Serbia, Lithuania, Luxembourg
Group C: Netherlands, Germany, Northern Ireland, Estonia, Belarus
Group D: Switzerland, Denmark, Republic of Ireland, Georgia, Gibraltar
Group E: Croatia, Wales, Slovakia, Hungary, Azerbaijan
Group F: Spain, Sweden, Norway, Romania, Faroe Islands, Malta
Group G: Poland, Austria, Israel, Slovenia, Macedonia, Latvia
Group H: France, Iceland, Turkey, Albania, Moldova, Andorra
Group I: Belgium, Russia, Scotland, Cyprus, Kazakhstan, San Marino
Group J: Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Greece, Armenia, Liechtenstein
Qualifying dates
Matchday one: March 21-23, 2019
Matchday two: March 24-26, 2019
Matchday three: June 7-8, 2019
Matchday four: June 10-11, 2019
Matchday five: September 5-7, 2019
Matchday six: September 8-10, 2019
Matchday seven: October 10-12, 2019
Matchday eight: October 13-15, 2019
Matchday nine: November 14-16, 2019
Matchday ten: November 17-19, 2019
-- AFP