By Danny Rust
Before the Euro 2016 draw was made in Paris last month, Wales manager Chris Coleman made it clear that he wanted to avoid England at all costs. He said it would be ‘viewed as a battle of Britain’ and a ‘distraction’.
Unfortunately for Coleman, his side were drawn in Group B along with Roy Hodgson’s England.
However, Wales were in for a tough draw in any case as their other possible pot one opponents were World Cup winners Germany, European champions Spain, hosts France, World no.1 Belgium or Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal.
The former Fulham boss was probably hoping his side would be drawn alongside Portugal, who could be deemed the weakest of the six pot one sides.
But Wales will now face England on June 16 at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens.
England boss Hodgson would probably have wanted to avoid a home nation in the group stages, too.
Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland were also available in pot four, while Hodgson would no doubt have preferred Turkey, Iceland or Albania.
On the other hand, England will be pleased with their group overall as they will also face Russia and Slovakia in Group B. Russia were lucky to qualify for the tournament, as they were hopeless under ex-England head coach Fabio Capello. But a change in management got the Russians to the European Championships.
England could have faced a far more daunting opponent from pot two. Former world champions Italy were the nation Hodgson would have most wanted to avoid.
The Azzurri beat the Three Lions at the 2014 World Cup, and Hodgson would not have wanted to have faced Antonio Conte’s men at the second tournament in succession.
Hodgson would also have been pleased to have drawn Slovakia rather than a Zlatan Ibrahimovic-inspired Sweden or Poland, whose attack is led by the in-form Robert Lewandowski.
Although Coleman wanted to avoid England, he will go to France confident that his side can progress.
In the new 24-strong tournament, the top two in each group plus four of the best third placed teams will advance to the knockout rounds – and Wales will fancy their chances of finishing in at least third place in Group B.
Meanwhile, Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland will have a tough task at Euro 2016. They will face Joachim Low’s Germany, Ukraine and Poland in Group C.
World champions Germany will be overwhelming favourites to top the group.
With Bayern Munich’s Lewandowski in the free-scoring form he is currently in, Poland will be expected to go on and finish as runners-up in Group C.
But O’Neill does have Premier League experienced defenders – such as West Bromwich Albion duo Jonny Evans and Gareth McAuley – that will be confident of being up to the challenge at the tournament.
The big game for Northern Ireland will be their second match against Ukraine. A win would boost confidence going into the final group game against Germany who, depending on other results, could have already qualified for the knockout stages.
O’Neill will be hoping for some information from his Republic of Ireland counterpart Martin O’Neill, as Germany and Poland were the two sides that finished above the Republic in qualifying.
The Republic of Ireland, in contrast, will be less optimistic as they find themselves in what has already been dubbed the Group of Death.
Belgium, who are currently no.1 in the FIFA rankings, Italy and Sweden will be O’Neill’s side’s opponents and the former Aston Villa and Sunderland boss admitted that he was not too happy with the draw.
“It couldn’t get tougher,” admitted O’Neill. “Italy should be in pot one. Sweden is a game to look forward to, so let’s go for it. I thought I was going to enjoy the draw; I’m not sure I have done.”
The draw was not kind to the Republic of Ireland for Euro 2012 either, as they faced Spain and Italy – who went on to contest the final – as well as Croatia. However, O’Neill will be hoping that his side can fair better than Giovanni Trapattoni’s side did, as they returned to Dublin without claiming a single point.
So it’s a sense of déjà vu for the Republic of Ireland as they will face Gianluigi Buffon and co. again. O’Neill will be hoping that Eden Hazard does not get back to his best any time soon at Chelsea as he is instrumental to Belgium, while his defenders will have to find a way of keeping Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic quiet.
All in all, Euro 2016 should be exciting. We have a ‘battle of Britain’ to look forward to, as well as Northern Ireland’s first appearance at the European Championships and the Republic of Ireland having to go toe-to-toe with Ibrahimovic.
Bring it on
