Netherlands draw Germany in pick of Euro 2020 qualifying groups

Germany, the team everyone wanted to avoid after their poor showing in UEFA’s new Nations League competition pushed them into the second pot of seeds, will also play Northern Ireland, Estonia and Belarus in Group C when the qualification competition begins in March.

The Dutch failed to qualify for the last two major tournaments and coach Ronald Koeman said he was not happy about meeting Germany.

“I wasn’t happy because they are strong, they were the strongest team in the second pot, but Germany are also not happy with Holland, I think,” said Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman.

“I think the rest of the draw is acceptable but with the Germans, it will be a good fight. We know it will be tough to beat them. The development of the team is really positive and we look forward.”

Holders Portugal must face Ukraine and Serbia in a tricky five-team Group B which also includes Lithuania and Luxemburg while world champions France drew Iceland and Turkey in Group H.

Elsewhere three-times champions Spain were drawn in Group F with Sweden, Norway and Romania. England, one of the other in-form teams from the Nations League, face the Czech Republic and Bulgaria in Group A.

The top two teams from each group qualify automatically. Unlike previous tournaments, the playoffs to decide the four other spots will be contested between the most successful teams from the four divisions of the Nations League who have not already qualified.

“I would say it’s a group with three candidates for two places, and Portugal are one of them,” said Portugal coach Fernando Santos.

“We escaped playing Germany....or Germany escaped playing us. You could say the group is less difficult because Germany are not there but that would not be true. Ukraine and Serbia are difficult.”

Italy coach Roberto Mancini is hoping to restore his team’s credibility after they failed to qualify for the World Cup.

He was also happy to avoid Germany after his side were drawn in Group J along with teams including Bosnia, Finland and Greece.

“A good draw, the aim was to avoid Germany,” he said. “We need to improve and get back to being among the top teams.”