The draw for Euro 2020 took place in Bucharest on Saturday – and England face a rematch of their 2018 World Cup semi-final against Croatia.
Gareth Southgate’s side – who will also face the Czech Republic and a play-off winner at next summer’s continental showpiece – will have the opportunity to avenge defeat against Luka Modric & Co at Wembley in their tournament opener on June 14.
Wales have been handed matches against Italy, Switzerland and Turkey; Scotland already knew that winning their play-off means a slot in Group D alongside England. Only one of the Irish sides can make it to the Euros, and the Republic could face their neighbours in a prospective play-off final; should either make it, they would go up against Spain, Poland and Sweden.
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Twenty teams had automatically qualified for the continent-wide tournament next summer, spread across 12 host cities. There are still four qualifying spots remaining, and four play-off fixtures in March will determine the quartet that will join those who’ve already qualified.
A simple note: The top two sides from each group directly qualified for Euro 2020, while third-place finishers qualify for the play-offs. Winners of last year’s UEFA Nations League mini-groups qualified for the play-offs, but if those teams finished in the top two of their groups anyway, their play-off spot was given to the next best-ranked side in their respective group that hadn’t already qualified for the play-offs.
The 16 play-off teams are split into four groups/paths – A, B, C and D – of four teams, who take part in a semi-final and final to determine which of them qualifies for Euro 2020. If Scotland win their play-off, they will go into England’s group (D).
Group A (host cities: Rome, Baku)
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Italy
Switzerland
Turkey
Wales
Group B (ft. Saint Petersburg, Copenhagen)
Belgium
Russia
Denmark
Finland
Group C (ft. Amsterdam, Bucharest)
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Ukraine
Netherlands
Austria
Winner play-off path A (see below)
Group D (ft. London, Glasgow)
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England
Croatia
Czech Republic
Winner play-off path C
Group E (ft. Bilbao, Dublin)
Spain
Poland
Sweden
Winner play-off path B
Group F (ft. Munich, Budapest)
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Germany
France
Portugal
Winner play-off path A
Winner play-off Path A (Iceland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania)
Winner play-off Path B (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland)
Winner play-off Path C (Scotland, Norway, Serbia, Israel)
Winner play-off Path D (Georgia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Belarus)
According to UEFA’s official site:
- If Iceland, Bulgaria or Hungary win Path A, they go in Group F; the winner of Path D will complete Group C.
- If Romania win Path A, they go in Group C; the winner of Path D will complete Group F.
Source: Fourfourtwo.com