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Nations League draw RECAP: England get blockbuster draw as Scotland face Rep of Ireland
EXPRESS SPORT provided live updates on the UEFA Nations League group stage draw.
Gareth Southgate extends England contract to 2024
Europe's 55 entrants waited patiently to discover their UEFA Nations League fate, as the group stage draw took place in Nyon, Switzerland on Thursday evening. England boss Gareth Southgate will seek a drastic improvement on the Three Lions' last campaign, which saw them fail to get out of the group in 2020, but he will have his work cut out in light of numerous tough assignments.
Each participant will face four quickfire group games between June 2 and June 14 next year, before playing their two final group games in September 2022.
League A group winners will then advance to the finals in June 2023.
Meanwhile, those in lower divisions will fight for promotion and seek to avoid relegation.
With two Nations League campaigns under our belts since it burst onto the international radar, Portugal and France are the only duo to have claimed the title thus far.
KEY EVENTS
That's all for now!
We hope you enjoyed Express Sport's coverage of the UEFA Nations League group stage draw.
Some huge ties on the horizon involving all home nations, and the countdown begins until June 2022 when we will see the groups spring into action.
Until next time...
England reacts to tough draw
Not much given away here!
Perhaps understandably so. There will be plenty of pride on the line when it comes to all three opponents. Emotions are always high when the Three Lions play Germany. Gareth Southgate's men will be eager to prove their point against the Italians. And based on past troubles with Hungary, England are likely to have the bit between their teeth during that match-up as well.
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\u2014 England (@England) December 16, 2021
The #ThreeLions have been drawn in #NationsLeague Group A3! pic.twitter.com/JQu14YM7Eo
League A full draw as England face tough task
Group A1: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, France
Group A2: Czech Republic, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain
Group A3: Hungary, England, Germany, Italy
Group A4: Wales, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium
Wow! Storylines all around for the Three Lions. England vs Germany is always a tasty fixture, while a daunting tie with Italy provides a golden opportunity for revenge after Euro 2020 final heartbreak.
League B full draw including Scotland and Republic of Ireland
Group B1: Armenia, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Ukraine
Group B2: Albania, Israel, Russia, Iceland
Group B3: Montenegro, Romania, Finland, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Group B4: Slovenia, Serbia, Norway, Sweden
In many ways, a dream draw for the Scots who get Republic of Ireland and Euro 2020 quarter-finalists Ukraine. Neither tie will be easy, but fans will surely be eager to sink their teeth into those fixtures.
League C full draw as Northern Ireland discover fate
Group C1: Faroe Islands, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Turkey
Group C2: Cyprus/Estonia*, Kosovo, Greece, Northern Ireland
Group C3: Kazakhstan/Moldova*, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Slovakia
Group C4: Gibraltar, Georgia, North Macedonia, Bulgaria
*Where two teams are named, the winner of their play-out will feature in League C.
Northern Ireland can count themselves unlucky by landing in a tough group. Ian Baraclough's team will certainly have to work for their promotion.
League D full draw
Group D1: Latvia, Andorra, Kazakhstan/Moldova*, Lichtenstein
Group D2: San Marino, Cyprus/Estonia*, Malta
*Where two teams are named, they are yet to complete their play-out to decide who will be relegated from League C.
Lessons learned
UEFA's Pedro Pinto is joined by Arsenal hero Robert Pires and Spaniard Gaizka Mendieta on stage.
Giorgio Marchetti has just entered the fray, and he will be hoping for a smooth draw in light of this week's Champions League mishaps, no doubt.
Key Nations League dates
Matchdays 1, 2, 3 and 4: 2-14 June 2022
Matchdays 5 and 6: 22-27 September 2022
Semi-finals: 14-15 June 2023
Final and third-place match: 18 June 2023
Fasten your seat belts!
The draw will get underway shortly at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
Express Sport will keep you up to date as European football fans wait to discover which enticing match-ups they could have on their hands in 2022.
The danger teams
While England sit down in Pot 3 and Wales Pot 4, the rest of League A will join them in looking up to the fearsome Pot 1.
France, Spain, Italy and Belgium are the chosen quartet, and the hoard of talent in Pot 2, which contains Portugal, Netherlands, Denmark and Germany is not bad either.
Big match-ups may loom for Scotland
Although down in League B, the Scots, lead by Steve Clarke, can count the Republic of Ireland and Euro 2020 quarter-finalists Ukraine among their potential opponents.
Those showdowns are still several months away, but the Tartan Army must be licking their lips in light of an impressive run which has seen them win six matches in a row.
England could draw Wales in home nations showdown
After gaining promotion to League A last time out, Wales have a 25% chance of being drawn in the same group as England.
It would be a mouth-watering opportunity for fans, with their last competitive meeting coming in 2016 when Daniel Sturridge's unforgettable stoppage-time winner bagged England three points at Euro 2016.