Vicente Del Bosque Says Spain Placed in ‘Difficult’ Euro 2016 Group

It will be the 102nd meeting between England and Wales since they first clashed in 1879.

Group B: England, Russia, Wales, Slovakia.

France coach Didier Deschamps singled out Switzerland as the Euro 2016 host nation’s main rivals in Group A after the draw for next year’s finals was made in Paris on Saturday.

“I can say that Spain, as reigning champions and given they still have a lot of quality players, are the favourites in the group”, Cacic said. “I have not come across either of those two teams in my global management before”, England coach Roy Hodgson said. The French will be the more confident side given recent form, having thrashed the Swiss 5-2 in the group stage at last year’s World Cup – with Karim Benzema arguably having his best game for France.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal will take on Iceland, Austria and Hungary in Group F. “There will be plenty of research between now and June and we can find out as much as we can before the campaign”.

Wales’ hopes of progressing rest largely with Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale, who scored seven goals in qualifying.

Karim Benzema starred in that match, but could well miss the tournament after being indefinitely suspended from the national team.

Instead of taking centre stage, the leader of European football’s ruling organisation was banned under the terms of his provisional 90-day FIFA suspension that forbid him from any involvement in the sport, pending investigations into his financial arrangements with world football’s governing body.

The draw was conducted by UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino, with assistance from a number of leading football stars, including France’s David Trezeguet.

They will meet June 10 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the northern outskirts of Paris.