October 10 – Not again! Defending champions Italy will face England in their Euro 2024 qualifying group, a repeat of last year’s final, following the draw on Sunday in Frankfurt.
The Italians, who beat England 3-2 on penalties at Wembley to lift the trophy will also play North Macedonia, who ironically prevented Roberto Mancini’s side from reaching the World Cup in Qatar, and Malta in Group C.
“I was sure we would end up getting either England or France, but that’s fine,” Mancini said. “It’s a workable group. There won’t be any simple games but they are all still to be played.”
Group B looks especially difficult with Netherlands and current world champions France paired together alongside Greece, Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar.
A total of 53 national associations were included in the draw with Germany already through as hosts.
Russia were not included following their invasion of Ukraine and the suspension of all Russian teams by UEFA. But Belarus, which has supported Russia’s war in Ukraine, was included.
The qualifying group matches will be played from March to November 2023 and the playoffs will take place in March 2024. The top two teams from each group qualify directly with the remaining three spots decided in the playoffs in March, 2024.
The draw in full:
Group A: Spain, Scotland, Norway, Georgia, Cyprus
Group B: Netherlands, France, Republic of Ireland, Greece, Gibraltar
Group C: Italy, England, Ukraine, North 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 and Herzegovina, Iceland, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Liechtenstein
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