ENGLAND have learned their opponents for Euro 2024 QUALIFYING, having been named in Group C – and they will be out for revenge.
The Three Lions came so close to lifting silverware at Wembley for the first time since 1966 last summer but Italy came from behind to
There will be a rematch of the Euro 2020 final when England take on Italy, sure to be keen for revenge after losing on penalties at Wembley.
As well as Roberto Mancini’s side, England will face Ukraine, North Macedonia, Ukraine and Malta as they look to qualify for the tournament which will take place in Germany.
Elsewhere, Wales will face Croatia, Armenia, Turkey and Latvia in Group D while Scotland take on Spain, Norway, Georgia and Cyprus in Group A.
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Follow the qualifying draw with our live blog below…
Southgate hails Ukraine ‘quality’
Gareth Southgate reckons England’s group rivals Ukraine are packed with individual quality and were unlucky to lose 4-0 to the Three Lions in the Euro 2020 quarter-finals.
The England chief also admitted he is unsure about venues and scheduling as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues.
Southgate said: “We know the quality of a lot of [Ukraine’s] players.
“We had a good result against them at Euro 2020 but the scoreline did not reflect the quality of their team. They will be difficult games.”
With Russian banned from the draw by Uefa, Southgate added: “We don’t know what that [games against Ukraine] will look like politically and venue wise.
“All of us, of course, have got more that we are thinking about when we talk about Ukraine than football, but the team themselves football-wise are a very good side.”
‘Ironic’ to draw Italy – but will it be iconic?
England boss Gareth Southgate believes Italy have become the new Croatia – by repeatedly drawing the Three Lions.
The Azzurri beat England in the Euro 2020 final shootout, before drawing 0-0 in June and winning 1-0 at home last month in the Three Lions’ dismal Nations League campaign.
Southgate said: “It’s ironic when you’ve had a fixture like we’ve had and then played them again already again so recently that you seem to have these sort of things.
“We seemed to be playing Croatia every five minutes not so long ago and now its seems we have got that situation with Italy.”
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Thank you for keeping up with SunSport’s live blog of the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Credit: EPA
Scotland face Haaland
Elsewhere, Scotland were put into Group A with Spain, Georgia and Cyprus but will surely be tussling with Erling Haaland’s Norway to qualify.
Wales must take on Croatia, Armenia, Turkey and Latvia in Group D, giving them a strong chance of making it through to a third major tournament in a row.
Northern Ireland’s trickiest opponent are Denmark while the Republic of Ireland must try and somehow get past Netherlands and France.
In total there are 53 nations across ten groups with the ten winners and runners-up qualifying.
A look into England’s tricky group
England will battle Euro 2020 nemeses Italy to qualify for Euro 2024.
The Three Lions, who were in Pot 2 following their Nations League relegation, were pitted in Group C.
That sees them go up against Roberto Mancini’s Azzurri as their toughest opponent in a repeat of last year’s final which England lost on penalties.
England will also face Ukraine, arguably the strongest team from Pot 3.
And their group was completed by Malta and North Macedonia, who famously ended Italy’s bid to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar.
Gareth Southgate’s side know if they finish in the top two of their group, they will guarantee their spot at Euro 2024.
They think it’s all over
Well, actually it is yeah.
Here are your Euro 2024 qualifying groups..
Group A: Spain, Scotland, Norway, Georgia, Cyprus
Group B: Netherlands, France, Republic of Ireland, Greece, Gibraltar
Group C: Italy, England, Ukraine, Macedonia, Malta
Group D: Croatia, Wales, Armenia, Turkey, Latvia
Group E: Poland, Czech Republic, Albania, Faroe Islands, Moldova
Group F: Belgium, Austria, Sweden, Azerbaijan, Estonia
Group G: Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Lithuania
Group H: Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland, San Marino
Group I: Switzerland, Israel, Romania, Kosovo, Belarus, Andorra
Group J: Portugal, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iceland, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Liechtenstein
Northern Ireland drawn into Group H
Northern Island are drawn into a fairly nice Group H with Denmark, Finland, Slovenia and Kazakhstan.
Maltesers
Malta are thrown into the mix with Gareth Southgate’s team in Group C.
Home Nations
Here are the groups for the Home Nations so far…
Group A: Spain, Scotland, Norway, Georgia
Group C: Italy, England, Ukraine, Macedonia
Group D: Croatia, Wales, Armenia, Turkey
Northern Ireland are yet to be drawn.
The Three Lions joined by North Macedonia
North Macedonia have been drawn into England’s group.
Wales draw Croatia
Group D is a competitive one.
Croatia, Wales and Armenia.
Group B
Republic of Ireland will face Holland and France.
Group C
England and Italy are joined by Ukraine.
Group A and B
The Netherlands are joined by France in a huge clash.
While Scotland are added with Spain.
England and Italy face off in Euro 2020 Final reunion
England have drawn Italy…
Again.
Pot 2 to join the party
The rest of the top ten seeded teams have been drawn.
Let’s see who they join from ‘Pot 2’… including England.
Nations League powerhouses drawn
The Netherlands have been drawn to Group B.
Italy to Group C.
Croatia to Group D.
Pot over.
Credit: Getty Spain first out
Here we go!
Spain drawn to Group A.
Groups A-D with bigger teams from Nations League
The Nations League big boys Netherlands, Croatia, Italy, Spain will be allocated to Groups A-D.
Lights, camera, action!
The production has begun.
We are treated to a pop song to start.
Credit: Getty All pots ready
Here is a nice visual view of the draw pots, courtesy of Uefa.
Gunter comfortable in League Two ahead of World Cup
Gunter told SunSport: “The most important thing leading into a major tournament is to make sure you’re getting regular football.
“So from the summer until the World Cup starts, that is three to four months worth of playing time.
“I’m not going to improve or diminish in that space of time so the most important thing was to give myself the best possible chance of playing regular football, which I have done and at a place where I feel comfortable.”
Gunter and Wales will be facing England in the group stage of the Qatar World Cup.
We await their fate for the Euro 2024 qualification with the draw up next!
Gunter fights for Wales spot ahead of Qatar World Cup
Chris Gunter will swap League Two for the World Cup this winter, an exclusive by Justin Allen reveals.
And the defender believes dropping into the EFL’s bottom division to join AFC Wimbledon in the summer gave him the best chance of booking his place on the flight to Qatar.
Gunter, 33, was one of the stars of Wales’ incredible run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals — knocking out tournament favourites Belgium en route.
But the former Reading and Nottingham Forest ace — who followed his Charlton boss Johnnie Jackson to Plough Lane this summer — had no qualms about getting his hands dirty against the likes of Crawley and Barrow.
How the qualification tournament works
Gareth Southgate’s side are in ‘Pot 2’ today.
Then, when the qualifying tournament begins, twenty teams will book their places in Germany directly via qualifying.
The ten group winners and ten group runners-up will qualify.
The three remaining places at EURO 2024 will be determined by play-off spots via the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League.
Again, Germany qualify for the tournament automatically as hosts.
Pot of gold
Here is confirmation of the pots for our draw today.
Uefa Nations League pot: Netherlands*, Croatia*, Italy*, Spain*
Pot 1: Denmark, Portugal, Belgium, Hungary, Switzerland, Poland
Pot 2: France, Austria, Czech Republic, England, Wales, Israel*, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, Serbia*, Scotland*, Finland.
Pot 3: Ukraine, Iceland, Norway, Slovenia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, Montenegro, Romania, Sweden, Armenia
Pot 4: Georgia*, Greece*, Turkey*, Kazakhstan*, Luxembourg, Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Faroe Islands, North Macedonia
Pot 5: Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Belarus, Lithuania, Gibraltar, Estonia*, Latvia*, Moldova, Malta
Pot 6: Andorra, Liechtenstein, San Marino
*indicates team who have already secured Euro 2024 play-off spot at the very least, via Nations League
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
