Euros to decide England manager Hodgson’s future, says Dyke

The Republic of Ireland were drawn with Belgium, Italy and Sweden, while Northern Ireland will face world champions Germany, Poland and Ukraine.

Ex-Wales captain Kevin Ratcliffe said: “I’d rather be playing England than France, Germany or Spain”. Loew will have his chance to taste victory over Italy, albeit in a friendly, when Germany host England in Berlin, then Italy in Munich, next March in two key games as part of their Euro 2016 preparations.

“If we’re honest it might be a little bit early but we have Gary Cahill, Ross Barkley, John Stones and a very good goalkeeper in Joe Hart”.

“It will be an incredible atmosphere in Lens”.

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.

“I think we share a love, of course, and an appreciation of Fulham Football Club which was good to both of us in Chris as a player and manager and me as a manager”.

“But you look around all the coaches here and you feel so honoured and proud to be here, representing Wales. I think there is certain conditions about who you can and can’t play before tournaments”, he said.

Former England captain Terry Butcher believes Roy Hodgson should be handed a new contract up until the Russia World Cup in 2018.

“Despite having coached over 100 matches at this level with three teams [Finland, Switzerland and England], I have never come up against Russia, Slovakia or Wales”, he said.

Elswhere England are offered at 10/1 (11.00) but their group of Russia, Wales and Slovakia could potentially caused the Three Lions some problems.

Joachim Low’s men will be heavy favorites to win the group, with many thinking they should win the whole thing.

When we looked at the market last month, Austria were our outside tip, and the draw has been kind to them. “Sure, the challenge is tough but we are ready for it”, says Tomasz Iwan, the Organizational Director of the Polish National Football Team.

The Republic start in Paris against Sweden on June 13, go to Bordeaux to meet Belgium in June 18 and finish against Italy in Lille on June 22.

The draw for the group stages of the European Championships in France next year will be held later today. The last time in the Euros we bombed but I don’t see that happening this time.