Easy for England as France and Italy face group of death

THE draw for Euro 2008 made in Switzerland yesterday pitted together two of the continent’s traditional powerhouses, France and Italy, while England, under new management, go into unknown territory.

Whoever is named as Sven-Goran Eriksson’s successor will have to steer the Euro 2004 quarter-finalists through Group E, where they will face Russia for the first time in a competitive international.

In what looks a relatively kind group, England will also be rubbing shoulders with Croatia, first round rivals in Portugal two years ago, Israel, Estonia, and minnows Macedonia and Andorra.