One of France, Germany and Portugal may face an early exit after being drawn together in Group F for Euro 2020 in what has already been dubbed the ‘Group of Death’.
They will be joined in the so-called ‘Group of Death’ by a team from Path A/D following the tournament draw in Bucharest.
That Path A/D team could be any of Iceland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Georgia, Belarus, North Macedonia or Kosovo.
While England avoided those team in the group stage, they could find themselves playing of the three in the last 16.
Beforehand, bearing in mind the complex structure of the draw, England’s worst group stage permutation would have been reigning world champions France, the reigning European champions Portugal and then Serbia from Play-off Path C.
While they have avoided that, they will face the Group F runners-up should they win their section.
This is because England will face a runner-up regardless of whether they finish first or second in their group.
Finishing second in their group may actually present the easiest path to progress. This is because the runner-up of Group E – featuring Spain, Sweden and Poland – set to be their opponent.
In Group D, England are due to face Croatia, Czech Republic and a Path C team. Scotland, Israel, Norway and Serbia are in Path C.
The Groups
Group A (Rome/Baku): Turkey, Italy (hosts), Wales, Switzerland
Group B (Copenhagen/St Petersburg): Denmark (hosts), Finland, Belgium, Russia (hosts)
Group C (Amsterdam/Bucharest): Netherlands (hosts), Ukraine, Austria, Play-off winner D or A
Group D (London/Glasgow): England (hosts), Croatia, Play-off winner C, Czech Republic
Group E (Bilbao/Dublin): Spain (hosts), Sweden, Poland, Play-off winner B
Group F (Munich/Budpaest): Play-off winner A or D, Portugal (holders), France, Germany (hosts)