News

In a ceremony in Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Science Nigel Worthington's side were drawn in Group C and paired with Italy, Serbia, Slovenia, Estonia and Faroe Islands.

The full draw reads:-

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

Joint hosts Poland and Ukraine qualify automatically for the finals to be joined by the nine group winners and the best ranking runner-up (based on results against the top five in their group).

The remaining eight runners-up will contest two-legged play-offs with the four victors completing the line-up of 16 finalists.

The associations now have 30 days to agree a schedule otherwise UEFA will issue a standard fixture list.

The following 12 dates are reserved for group matches:-

• 3rd/4th September and 7th September 2010
• 8th/9th October and 12th October 2010
• 25th/26th March and 29th March 2011
• 3rd/4th June and 7th June 2011
• 2nd/3rd September and 6th September 2011
• 7th/8th October and 11th October 2011

In addition, the following dates are reserved for play-off games between the remaining eight runners-up:-

• 11th/12th November 2011
• 15th November 2011