Euro 2012 draw: England to meet France, Sweden and Ukraine in group

 

An ice sculpture of the European Championship trophy sits on display outside the Palace of Arts in Kiev, Ukraine, the venue for the Euro 2012 finals' group stage draw. Photograph: Gleb Garnich/Reuters

England have been handed France, Sweden and the co-hosts Ukraine as group opponents after the draw for the Euro 2012 finals was made in Kiev on Friday.

Fabio Capello's side will play France in their opening game in the 51,000 Donbass Arena in Donetsk on 11 June, and will remain in Ukraine for the group stage, facing Sweden in Kiev on 15 June and then completing their group against Ukraine back in Donetsk on 19 June.

"The best group was Group A, but we are happy with Group D," said Capello. "It's a tough group but it's better than Group B. Group B is very difficult because Portugal, Germany and Holland is really tough.

"More difficult will be [England's] first game against France because of the pressure and the importance of the result."

Capello ruled out England swapping their tournament base in the Polish city of Krakow, given that all three of their group games are in Ukraine.

"Absolutely not because we have found a really good place," said the Italian. "I am happy with the facilities and we will stay in the same place in Krakow."

Meanwhile Giovanni Trapattoni's Republic of Ireland side will meet the reigning European and world champions Spain, as well as Italy and Croatia in what looks a challenging Group C.

Ireland's opening game will be in Poznan against Croatia on 10 June. They then face Spain up on the Baltic coast in Gdansk on 14 June before finishing the group back in Poznan against Italy on 18 June.

"We have to think in football that all is possible. We have to play with the same mentality – obviously all the teams are very difficult," said Trapattoni. "But I am confident."

The "group of death" certainly looks to be Group B which pits former winners Holland, Germany and Denmark alongside Portugal. Holland will face their great rivals Germany on 13 June in Kharkiv.

Co-hosts Poland will be delighted with Group A, which sees them face the 2004 winners Greece, Russia and the Czech Republic. The opening game of the tournament will be Poland against Greece on 8 June.