Reigning champions Italy have been drawn on Sunday to face England, the crew they beat within the last final 12 months, in qualifying for the 2024 European Championship. Euro 2024, hosted by Germany, can be Italy’s likelihood to regain some pleasure after they did not qualify for the World Cup finals which kick off in Qatar in six weeks’ time. Italy beat host nation England in a penalty shootout within the Covid-delayed Euro 2020 last at Wembley final 12 months after the match ended 1-1 following further time.
Italy have made it by way of to the ultimate 4 of the Nations League and despatched England all the way down to League B, which led to the 2 nations being drawn within the Euro 2024 qualifying Group C alongside Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta.
England’s relegation put them in Pot 2 for the attract Frankfurt whereas Italy have been among the many prime seeds for qualifying for the match.
Italy coach Roberto Mancini mentioned: “I knew that we would get both England or France, however that is OK. It is a respectable five-team group, no simple matches, all ones we are able to have a go at.”
Italy can be cautious of going through North Macedonia, the Balkan nation which knocked them out of the World Cup within the playoffs in Palermo in March.
“It is a type of matches that you simply get each from time to time, and as we noticed in Palermo we have now to take each match severely, even those who appear the only,” Mancini informed RAI Sport.
England coach Gareth Southgate informed the BBC: “It is ironic while you’ve had a fixture like we have had after which performed them once more already so just lately that you simply appear to have these form of issues.”
– ‘A killer within the field’ –
France, who will try to retain the World Cup in Qatar, will play the Netherlands, the Republic of Eire, Greece and Gibraltar in Group B.
The French have dangerous reminiscences of taking part in the Irish, who they solely beat to succeed in the 2010 World Cup finals due to what gave the impression to be a transparent handball by Thierry Henry.
“It is a fairly weighty group, a gaggle with worth,” France coach Didier Deschamps mentioned.
Spain’s opponents in Group A will embody Scotland and Norway, who can be spearheaded by prolific Manchester Metropolis ahead Erling Haaland.
The Spanish soccer federation’s president Luis Rubiales mentioned: “He is unimaginable, a killer within the field, a reference level in world soccer. It is excellent to face these kind of gamers. However Norway isn’t just Haaland.”
Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo, who can be 39 by the point the finals kick off, are in a Group J that features Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iceland.
Croatia, the shedding World Cup finalists in 2018, have been positioned in Group D with World Cup qualifiers Wales in addition to Turkey.
Denmark, one other crew going to Qatar, have Finland, Slovenia and Northern Eire amongst their opponents in Group H.
Russia are excluded from the competitors due to the invasion of Ukraine.
Promoted
As hosts, three-time European champions Germany qualify robotically.
The Euro 2024 finals can be performed in 10 German cities from June 14 to July 14 because the match returns to a single host nation following the multi-country format used for Euro 2020.
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