O’Neill ‘confident’ ahead of Euro 2016 draw

It was the draw Coleman had been hoping to avoid, but Russian Federation and Slovakia are the other opponents in the group meaning the most highly-rated rivals had been avoided.

Correct again. Federation Internationale de Football Association uses its ranking system while UEFA has its own co-efficient – and unfortunately for Wales they do not do so well in the latter system.

“It does give me great heart that we do have quality players coming through in this country”, Hodgson said.

“But I am confident with what we have got on our day – we can have a game with anyone”.

The runner-up of Group C will play the second-place team of Group A, likely Switzerland, in the last 16.

Northern Ireland fans could claim to have received an even tougher group, having been drawn against World Champions Germany, Ukraine and Poland in Group C.

The boys in green could be drawn against Roy hodgson’s England.

The worst draw for England would be Italy, Sweden and Wales, with the easiest-looking one being Austria, Hungary and Albania.

Goalkeeper Shay Given (39), defender John O’Shea (34) and Robbie Keane (35), have amassed nearly 400 senior caps between them but the 2018 World Cup in Russian Federation might be beyond them.

England boss Roy Hodgson told BBC Sport: “I feel good about it. There was always a very good chance we would meet one of the home nations”.

“Qualification, the excitement of qualifying, the delight in qualifying, I think is still there”.

“We don’t know a huge amount about Slovakia or Wales because we’ve not come across them in official matches or friendlies”.

So, Michel Platini will not be at the Euro 2016 draw in Paris?

He said: “I will take what comes”.

“We played Ireland in the last EURO qualifiers, and they made it to the final tournament through the play-offs, just like we did. And so we must succeed in making these Euros the best, most powerful response of global solidarity, going against everything that Daesh represents in the world today”, he said.

As part of the terror attacks on 13 November, three suicide bombers targeted the Stade de France in Paris, venue for the opening game and the final next summer.

The field for EURO 2016 is set, as France will kick off the tournament June 10th against Romania.