Easy for England as France and Italy face group of death
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.