European champions Spain were given no favors this morning when the draw for the UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying rounds were made. Spain’s group includes the Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania and Liechtenstein.
Runners up in 2008 Germany were handed a much easier draw as they will play Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and the side they beat in a dramatic UEFA EURO 2008 semi-final, Turkey.
England, who did not qualify for EURO 2008, should have no problem this time in a group that includes Switzerland, Bulgaria, Wales and Montenegro.
The nine winners and the runner-up with the best record against the top five sides in their pool qualify directly for the final tournament, the last before the championship is expanded to 24 teams. The eight remaining runners-up go into play-off matches in November 2011 to decide the final four sides to join co-hosts Poland and Ukraine.
Group A
Germany
Turkey
Austria
Belgium
Kazakhstan
Azerbaijan
Group B
Russia
Slovakia
Republic of Ireland
FYR Macedonia
Armenia
Andorra
Group C
Italy
Serbia
Northern Ireland
Slovenia
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Group D
France
Romania
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Belarus
Albania
Luxembourg
Group E
Netherlands
Sweden
Finland
Hungary
Moldova
San Marino
Group F
Croatia
Greece
Israel
Latvia
Georgia
Malta
Group G
England
Switzerland
Bulgaria
Wales
Montenegro
Group H
Portugal
Denmark
Norway
Cyprus
Iceland
Group I
Spain
Czech Republic
Scotland
Lithuania
Liechtenstein