Euro 2016 draw: England and Wales in same group at finals
Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | December 12, 2015
England have been drawn in Group B alongside Russia, fellow Home Nation Wales and Slovakia for the Euro 2016 tournament finals in France.
Home Nations face off in Lens
The Three Lions can feel confident about progressing from this pool, as none of their opponents came top in qualifying. England reached Euro 2016 with a 100 per cent record, while key duo Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey were inevitably influential in the Welsh reaching the France finals.
Tough @UEFAEURO draw but cannot wait to get out to France, all starting to sink in now! #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/pdnAQ3U5cR
— Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) December 12, 2015
Roy Hodgson’s side have their first game against the Russians on June 11th in Marseille, and will play Chris Coleman’s Dragons in Lens five days later. Wales are set to face the Slovaks in Bordeaux in their pool opener.
Coral have shortened their odds for England to win Euro 2016 from 11/1 to 10/1 following the draw. Wales, meanwhile, are in to 66/1 from 80/1, having impressed in qualifying for their first major tournament since 1958.
Two Irish teams have tough tasks
The Republic of Ireland, meanwhile, are in the same pool as Belgium, FIFA’s number one ranked in the world. Group E also contains Italy and Sweden, so that makes it extremely difficult for Martin O’Neill’s men.
Northern Ireland find their assignments no less easy in Group C, which contains World Cup holders Germany (10/3 from 7/2 to follow up with a Euro success), Poland and Ukraine. That latter pair were co-hosts of Euro 2012.
Tournament hosts France have an easy pool on paper and, as a result, have been cut to 11/4 at the head of the betting from 7/2 joint-favourites with the Germans. First-time qualifiers Albania, Romania and Switzerland complete Group A.
Reigning European champions Spain, shortened from 11/2 to 9/2, take on Turkey and clash with the Czech Republic and Croatia in Group D. Vicente del Bosque’s boys beat the Blazers 1-0 in the group stage of Euro 2012, and La Roja have also defeated their other opposition under his guidance.
Portugal are now dark horses at 20/1 (lengthened from 16/1 to give punters real value), with their pool looking straightforward up against new boys Iceland, Hungary and Austria.
Euro 2016 tournament finals draw in full
Group A
France
Romania
Albania
Switzerland
Group B
England
Russia
Wales
Slovakia
Group C
Germany
Ukraine
Poland
Northern Ireland
Group D
Spain
Czech Republic
Turkey
Croatia
Group E
Belgium
Italy
Republic of Ireland
Sweden
Group F
Portugal
Iceland
Austria
Hungary
Related
Visit Coral’s dedicated Euro 2016 section where we’ve provided full coverage of qualifying and now start to look ahead to what promises to be a terrific tournament!
