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England headed for clash with France but spared Group of Death
Lisbon, Dec 01: England were paired with title-holders France while Holland and three-time winners Germany were drawn in the same group for the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal here yesterday.
Lisbon, Dec 01: England were paired with title-holders France while Holland and three-time winners Germany were drawn in the same group for the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal here yesterday.
England and France will slug it out in Group B along with Switzerland and Croatia. Holland must also contend with 1996 finalists Czech Republic and playoff qualifiers Latvia in Group D.
Host nation Portugal face neighbours Spain in Group A, while Italy will expect to qualify from Group C, which also features Sweden, Bulgaria and Denmark.
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was relieved that England, who have never won the European title, managed to avoid Group D, which is set to earn the title of the Championships' 'Group of Death'.
"D is the most difficult group," said Eriksson. "We will have the first match against France, in Lisbon. It will be a big, big, game and very nice. Difficult, but beautiful.
"France is one of the favourites to win the tournament and you hope to have them in the final, but we are playing in the biggest stadium in Portugal (the Stadium of Light).
"Switzerland and Croatia are doing very well, so I don't expect that to be easy.
"France are a difficult one but I think we can beat them if we play our game."
France coach Jacques Santini said the clash with France, on June 13, would be "like a derby" because France stars such as Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira play club football in the English Premiership.
Bureau Report
England and France will slug it out in Group B along with Switzerland and Croatia. Holland must also contend with 1996 finalists Czech Republic and playoff qualifiers Latvia in Group D.
Host nation Portugal face neighbours Spain in Group A, while Italy will expect to qualify from Group C, which also features Sweden, Bulgaria and Denmark.
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was relieved that England, who have never won the European title, managed to avoid Group D, which is set to earn the title of the Championships' 'Group of Death'.
"D is the most difficult group," said Eriksson. "We will have the first match against France, in Lisbon. It will be a big, big, game and very nice. Difficult, but beautiful.
"France is one of the favourites to win the tournament and you hope to have them in the final, but we are playing in the biggest stadium in Portugal (the Stadium of Light).
"Switzerland and Croatia are doing very well, so I don't expect that to be easy.
"France are a difficult one but I think we can beat them if we play our game."
France coach Jacques Santini said the clash with France, on June 13, would be "like a derby" because France stars such as Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira play club football in the English Premiership.
Bureau Report