The draw for the qualifying stages for the 2016 European Championships in France has taken place.
Ireland have been drawn against Germany, Poland, Scotland, Georgia and Gibraltar in one of the tougher qualifying groups.
England have been given a handy group, and will expect to qualify from a line-up that also includes San Marino, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovenia and Switzerland.
Northern Ireland take on Greece, the Faroes, Finland, Romania and Hungary, while Wales were drawn against Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Andorra, Cyprus and Israel.
Martin O’Neill, speaking after the draw, said: “It’s a difficult group but exciting nevertheless. I’m sure Gordon will be as excited as we are. There are other groups we’d have preferred to be but we’ll get on with it. There’s plenty to fight for.
“Let us go positively into the group.”
Here’s the draw:
Group A: Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Iceland, Latvia, Turkey, Czech Republic.
Group B: Bosnia Herzegovina, Andorra, Cyprus, Wales, Israel, Belgium.
Group C: Spain, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Belarus, Slovakia, Ukraine.
Group D: Germany, Gibraltar, Georgia, Scotland, Poland, Republic of Ireland.
Group E: England, San Marino, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovenia, Switzerland.
Group F: Greece, Faroe Islands, Northern Ireland, Finland, Romania, Hungary.
Group G: Russia, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, Austria, Sweden.
Group H: Italy, Malta, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Norway, Croatia.
Group I: Portugal, France*, Albania, Armenia, Serbia, Denmark.
*Matches involving France will count as friendlies, given the fact that France are the hosts.
