Ireland handed difficult Euro 2024 draw with…

Ireland handed difficult Euro 2024 draw with Netherlands and France among opponents

The Republic of Ireland have been handed one of the toughest groups possible to qualify for Euro 2024.

The Boys in Green were paired alongside the Netherlands, world champions France, Greece and Gibraltar during Sunday's draw in Frankfurt.

Stephen Kenny's men were drawn in Group B alongside France, who have won the tournament twice, as well as the Netherlands and Greece, who have both won it once.

Speaking ahead of the draw, Kenny said: “We’ll see what the draw brings. I think our rate of improvement and the potential that exists, and the bond we have that’s growing, and the connection with the support behind the team in such an emphatic way.

“That’s our absolute objective to qualify for the top two. We’ll see what the draw brings and take it from there.

“The fourth seeds as well, there are one or two strong fourth seeds as well. I don’t mind that as then other teams will take points off each other.”

Meanwhile, England have been drawn to face European champions Italy.

Italy beat Gareth Southgate’s team on penalties in the Euro 2020 final last summer and conquered them again 1-0 in the Nations League last month.

The Three Lions will also face Ukraine, who they beat in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020, along with North Macedonia and Malta.

Scotland, aiming to qualify for a second successive Euros, have been drawn against three-time European champions Spain in Group A, along with Erling Haaland’s Norway, Georgia and Cyprus.

Wales will feel they have a good chance of reaching a third consecutive major tournament, with 2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia their toughest opponents in Group D.

Rob Page’s team will also face Armenia, Turkey and Latvia.

Northern Ireland were in the fifth pot of seeds and will take on Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Kazakhstan and San Marino in Group H.

GROUP A
Spain
Scotland
Norway
Georgia
Cyprus

GROUP B
Netherlands
France
Republic of Ireland
Greece
Gibraltar

GROUP C
Italy
England
Ukraine
North Macedonia
Malta

GROUP D
Croatia
Wales
Armenia
Turkey
Latvia

GROUP E
Poland
Czech Republic
Albania
Faroe islands
Moldova

GROUP F
Belgium
Austria
Sweden
Azerbaijan
Estonia

GROUP G
Hungary
Serbia
Montenegro
Bulgaria
Lithuania

GROUP H
Denmark
Finland
Slovenia
Kazakhstan
Northern Ireland
San Marino

GROUP I
Switzerland
Israel
Romania
Kosovo
Belarus
Andorra

GROUP J
Portugal
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Iceland
Luxembourg
Slovakia
Liechtenstein