England learn Euro 2016 qualifying fate at draw in Nice

Sunday 23 Feb 2014
The draw was made in Nice

England have been drawn in Group E for UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying alongside Switzerland, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania and San Marino.

The draw was made in the French city of Nice and the teams were picked by 13 legendary goalkeepers, including Peter Schmeichel, Pat Jennings and Dino Zoff - and the stoppers paired England with a couple of familiar opponents, as well as one or two less known to the Three Lions.

Switzerland, who Roy Hodgson took to the World Cup in 1994, will be known to England fans.

Draw in full

  • Group A: Netherlands, Czech Republic, Turkey, Latvia, Iceland, Kazakhstan
  • Group B: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Belgium, Israel, Wales, Cyprus, Andorra
  • Group C: Spain, Ukraine, Slovakia, Belarus, FYR Macedonia, Luxembourg
  • Group D: Germany, Republic of Ireland, Poland, Scotland, Georgia, Gibraltar
  • Group E: ENGLAND, Switzerland, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania, San Marino
  • Group F: Greece, Hungary, Romania, Finland, Northern Ireland, Faroe Islands
  • Group G: Russia, Sweden, Austria, Montenegro, Moldova, Liechtenstein
  • Group H: Italy, Croatia, Norway, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Malta
  • Group I: Portugal, Denmark, Serbia, Armenia, Albania, France (hosts)

The Three Lions have faced the Swiss on 22 occasions - including twice in the qualifying campaign for Euro 2012 - and have a good record against them - winning 14, drawing three and only losing three times.

Lithuania, meanwhile will be more on an unknown entity for Hodgson's men as the country's have never previously met at senior level.

The two countries have, however, met at Under-21 level on a number of occasions. They are currently battling it out in the same group in the qualifying round for Euro 2015 in Czech Republic.

Meanwhile, Jack Wilshere, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Tom Cleverley, Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck were all in the squad when the two countries met at Under-21 level in September 2010.

England's only experience of taking on Slovenia came in the group stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, when a Jermain Defoe goal proved the difference between the two.

The top two teams will progress automatically - as well as the best third-placed team from the nine groups.

The remaining four places will be decided by play-off among the eight other third-placed finishers.

England’s UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign starts in September and The FA is launching a brand new official membership scheme to coincide with the tournament’s big kick-off.

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By Jamie Reid Senior Writer