So the draw for all the nations apart from Asia (which is already taking place), today. The Europe draw starts a 1727BST, with England and Wales (yes really) in the top seed pots. England, Germany, Italy, France and The Netherlands (I think) are all going to be in groups of 6 for Television purposes.

England in Group F with Slovakia, Scotland, Slovenia, Lithuania & Malta.

 

I swear we're magnetic to Slovenia (is this the 3rd qualifying stage in a row we've been draw with them, along with the 2010 WC Group Stage) :lol: match with Scotland will be tasty but otherwise should be no concerns in winning that group.

Overjoyed to see Eurovision's Polina performing the finale of the draw there, loved seeing 'A Million Voices' performed with a massive choir! :wub:

 

Really interesting group for England, with Scotland and Malta in there!

Should be winning it of course, but the Scotland rivalry makes the game so much harder, and Slovakia are no mugs at all.

 

Quite difficult.

England in Group F with Slovakia, Scotland, Slovenia, Lithuania & Malta.

 

I swear we're magnetic to Slovenia (is this the 3rd qualifying stage in a row we've been draw with them, along with the 2010 WC Group Stage) :lol: match with Scotland will be tasty but otherwise should be no concerns in winning that group.

 

OMG England have Malta in their group, I'm half Maltese, as far as I'm aware England have only played once against Malta and that was a friendly match.

 

England should win that group quite easily, with Scotland runners up methinks unless Slovakia or Slovenia sneak in, Slovakia do have a good team actually obviously Malta will finish last in that group unfortunately.

Should be winning it of course, but the Scotland rivalry makes the game so much harder, and Slovakia are no mugs at all.

 

Quite difficult.

 

It's "quite difficult" but if we don't win this group then it's going to be embarrassing. There's nothing like CONSTANTLY getting easy/easyish groups and everyone suddenly thinking we're world beaters.

Yes Scotland and Slovakia will be tricky but unlike the challenge of this which would have interesting:

 

England

France

Sweden

Turkey

Azerbaijan

Georgia

Scotland! :D That'll be an interesting couple of matches. Slovakia will be quite hard actually, not the easiest group but looking at the rest I can't pick out one huge one that looks very easy. Even Wales' group has a few decent teams.

 

Gonna lose myself in looking at the new African and North American matchups, don't mind me. I like this sort of stuff.

Group A looks very difficult.

Jesus lord at the Dutch group (A)

I think Group I looks quite interesting. A group of Croatia, Iceland, Ukraine, Turkey & Finland sees five evenly matched teams. They could almost finish in any order.

 

England get another easy draw and Wales have done decently. Can't see the Northern Irish getting through. France should have the edge on a transitional Holland and Spain will probably narrowly get past Italy, although a lot of football will be played between now and then.

Scotland are always provided with one of the most difficult groups but we should overcome Slovakia and Slovenia. The England game will be incredibly interesting and it wouldn't surprise me if we defeated you at Hampden.

If the final match of the qualifying campaign was between England and Scotland. It could be very intriguing to watch. I'm glad we've got Scotland in our group.

 

Here's a look at the groups:

Group A

 

Netherlands, France, Sweden, Bulgaria, Belarus, Luxembourg

 

Group B

 

Portugal, Switzerland, Hungary, Faroe Islands, Latvia, Andorra

 

Group C

 

Germany, Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, Norway, Azerbaijan, San Marino

Group D

 

Wales , Austria, Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Moldova, Georgia

 

Group E

 

Romania, Denmark, Poland, Montenegro, Armenia, Kazakhstan

Group F

 

England, Slovakia, Scotland, Slovenia, Lithuania, Malta

 

Group G

 

Spain, Italy, Albania, Israel, FYR Macedonia, Liechtenstein

 

Group H

 

Belgium, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Greece, Estonia, Cyprus

 

Group I

 

Croatia, Iceland, Ukraine, Turkey, Finland

 

 

Looking at the groups. Sweden will definitely put a fight for Netherlands and France in Group A. Could very close between those three.

 

In Group B. Should be between Portugal & Switzerland for the top two.

 

C

 

Germany should ease through that group. It will be all about the second place spot between Czech Republic and possibly Norway and Northern Ireland although it will most likely be Czech Republic going through to the play-offs.

 

D:

 

This where Wales have to show why they were picked as the first seeds in a group. I can definitely see Austria, Serbia and Rep of Ireland challenging for those two spots with Wales.

 

E:

 

A intriguing group which could be between five teams depending how they do with Romania, Denmark, Poland, Montenegro and possibly Armenia. I think will be Denmark and Poland in that order.

 

F:

Should be no trouble for England. Only a group England could mess up.

 

G:

 

It will be all about the first spot between Spain and Italy also who will be the victor when these two meet.

 

H:

 

Could be between three teams but I can see Belgium winning that group with Greece/Bosnia battling for the second spot.

 

I:

 

Can't call this one. Any of four could qualify although don't rule out Finland possibly.

England Fixtures:

 

2016:

Sept 4: Slovakia (A)

Oct 8: Malta (H)

Oct 11: Slovenia (A)

Nov 11: Scotland (H)

 

 

2017:

Mar 26 Lithuania (H)

Jun 10: Scotland (A)

Sept 1: Malta (A)

Sept 4: Slovakia (H)

Oct 5: Slovenia (H)

Oct 8: Lithuania (A)

 

 

Scotland Fixtures:

 

2016:

Sept 4: Malta (A)

Oct 8: Lithuania (H)

Ovt 11: Slovakia (A)

Nov 11: England (A)

 

2017:

Mar 26: Slovenia (H)

Jun 10: England (H)

Sept 1: Lithuania (A)

Sept 4: Malta (H)

Oct 5: Slovakia (H)

Oct 8: Slovenia (A)

 

 

 

 

Northern Ireland Fixtures:

 

2016:

Sept 4: Czech Republic (A)

Oct 8: San Marino (H)

Oct 11: Germany (A)

Nov 11: Azerbaijan (H)

 

2017:

Mar 26: Norway (H)

Jun 10: Azerbaijan (A)

Sept 1: San Marino (A)

Sept 4: Czech Republic (H)

Oct 5: Germany (H)

Oct 8: Norway (A)

 

 

Wales Fixtures:

 

2016:

Sept 5: Moldova (H)

Oct 6: Austria (A)

Oct 9: Georgia (H)

Nov 12: Serbia (H)

 

2017:

Mar 24: Rep of Ireland (A)

Jun 11: Serbia (A)

Sept 2: Austria (H)

Sept 5: Moldova (A)

Oct 6: Georgia (A)

Oct 9: Rep of Ireland (H)

 

Republic of Ireland Fixtures:

 

2016:

Sept 5: Serbia (A)

Oct 6: Georgia (H)

Oct 9: Moldova (A)

Nov 12: Austria (A)

 

2017:

Mar 24: Wales (H)

Jun 11: Austria (H)

Sept 2: Georgia (A)

Sept 5: Serbia (H)

Oct 6: Moldova (H)

Oct 9: Wales (A)

Very good fixture list for Scotland! :D

Wales coming out as the pot 1 side in Ireland's group really turned things on its head after the tough Austrians and Serbia. Austria could be favs IMO!

Wales have somehow moved up one place to 9th in the latest FIFA World Rankings. They are now above the Netherlands who dropped down to 12th. England have also climbed up to 8th.

 

Here's a look at the Top20:

 

1st Argentina

2nd Belgium

3rd Germany

4th Colombia

5th Brazil

6th Portugal

7th Romania

8th England

9th Wales

10th Chile

11th Spain

12th Netherlands

13th Croatia

14th Slovakia

15th Austria

16th Italy

17th Switzerland

18th Uruguay

19th Algeria

20th Czech Republic

Crying at the fact Romania Vs Wales is a top ten clash now but Netherlands Vs Spain isn't :rofl: