Euro 2016: England, Germany, Italy emerge in different groups after draw

Northern Ireland were drawn in Group C with world champions Germany, plus Poland and Ukraine.

Germany boss Joachim Loew said his team would be foolish to under-estimate Ukraine and Northern Ireland in their Euro 2016 group even if their clash with Poland is the key to Group C.

Group B: England, Russia, Slovakia, Wales.

The Republic of Ireland have also proved in their qualifying campaign that they have superb teamwork to make up for the lack of star names.

Euro 2016 coaches gather on the stage following yesterday’s draw in Paris for next year’s 24-team finals.

Belgium, meanwhile, are many people’s tip for success in France and they are offered at 11/1 (12.00) having been drawn in arguably the toughest group with Italy, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland.

Former England captain Alan Shearer believes players from the Three Lions and Wales will relish their game but played down England’s chances in the overall tournament.

“I know Chris perhaps said he didn’t want it (England) but it is there now, so just embrace it and go for it”, said Curtis.

Led by Bale, one of the most fearsome forwards in today’s game, Wales qualified for their first major tournament since reaching the 1958 World Cup. They are, however, a team with Zlatan in it, and that’s never good news to face off against. It’s good for the Irish fans but hard for us. First up for Wales will be Slovakia in Bordeaux on the same day. He had an ageing team if you like for the last World Cup, he has built something different and has got some different things in his set-up now.

“There was a very good chance we’d meet one of the home nations in the draw”, Hodgson said. I’d like to think we have all set a standard of turning up whenever we can and that has been the catalyst for the team spirit.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Turkey captain Arda Turan, who joined Barcelona this season from Atletico Madrid. We are going to go there to enjoy the occasion and to try to do our country proud.

“We are better as underdogs, as soon as they are favourites we collapse”, he said. “We have three games we have to perform in – it is not a case of saving something for the next one”.

“We have had a number of our players not available through injury”. Sweden aren’t unbeatable by any means, which is why they were in the third pot and had to go to the third-place playoff to get to the final tournament.

“If you ask me at this moment in time whether I can see myself working after next summer, I’d have to say yes, absolutely”.

“Nothing has changed. We now know who we’ve got in the draw, that’s all that’s changed”.