UEFA Women's Euro 2009
Qualifying Group Draw
1pm, Wednesday 13 December 2006
Nyon

England have learned today that they will come up against Czech Republic, Spain, Belarus and Northern Ireland in their bid to qualify for the UEFA Women's Euro 2009, after the draw was made at UEFA Headquarters in Nyon.

Talking to TheFA.com following the draw Hope said: "I am very happy with the draw and there are a couple of groups which you'd have to say are tougher.

"It's a bit strange to be looking ahead to another tournament when we're still nine months away from the World Cup, but it was great to see our name amongst the top seeds.

"The girls will go into this campaign for the first time ever as favourites to win the group and that will bring a different level of expectation, and perhaps pressure which we'll have to deal with too.

"We'll treat every qualifier as professionally as we treated each of our World Cup qualfiers and only be looking ahead to the next game, and no further."

Finland are hosting the tournament and they will be joined by eleven teams from the qualifying stage, with the winners of each group assured of their place at the finals.

England last played Northern Ireland at the Algarve Cup in the build-up to Euro 2005, when a brace from Vicky Exley and goals from Karen Carney and Rachel McArthur sealed a 4-0 victory.

It is likely that the Irish will provide England's first game of the qualifiers, with a tie in England pencilled in for May 2007.

The Czech Republic will be no pushovers either, as Hope was quick to point out.

"At Walsall in May 2005 we found ourselves a goal down and it wasn't until the second-half that we turned things around. In their World Cup Qualifying group they finished second behind Sweden and gave them two very close games, so we will definitely not be underestimating them."

Spain last played The Three Lions at Luton Town in 2001 when England recorded a 4-2 win, and as European U19 Champions in 2004, are a side growing in stature in the women's game. Belarus meanwhile have not played against England since The FA took over the running of the Senior side back in 1993.

The six runners-up and four third-placed teams with the best record against the nations finishing first, second and fourth in their groups will be drawn into five two-legged play-offs for the remaining spots in the summer 2009 finals. While Germany are going for a fifth straight title since 1995 - and seventh overall - 2005 runners-up Norway are hoping for a third European crown.

Czech Republic are currently 19th in the FIFA World rankings, Spain are ranked 20th, Belarus 41st and Northern Ireland currently 77th. The next rankings are due out  on Friday 22 December.

The Draw in Full:

Group 1

Group 2

England

Sweden

Czech Republic

 Italy

Spain

Hungary

Belarus

Republic of Ireland

Northern Ireland

Romania

Group 3

Group 4

France

Germany

Iceland

Holland

Serbia

Switzerland

Greece

Belgium

Slovenia

Wales

Group 5

Group 6

Denmark

Norway

Ukraine

Russia

Scotland

Poland

Portugal

Austria

Slovakia

Israel