World Cup foes to face off again

From The Times

December 3, 2007

Nick Szczepanik

There will be a repeat of the 2006 World Cup final in the Euro 2008 group stage after Italy and France were placed in the same pool with Holland at yesterday’s draw in Lucerne, Switzerland.

A typically eccentric decision by Uefa meant that three of the top four seeds were Austria and Switzerland, as co-hosts, and Greece as the holders of the trophy. A seeding system based on the qualifying competitions for Euro 2008 and the 2006 World Cup – but not the final stages – meant that Holland, rather than Italy, the World Cup holders, were the other top seeds.

To add to an unsatisfactory sense of déjà vu, France and Italy were also in the same group, along with Scotland, in the qualifying competition, while Holland and Romania, the fourth team in the group, also qualified together. “I am not particularly happy to be playing Italy again,” Raymond Domenech, the France head coach, said. “We have a very high quality group. The Dutch are always difficult to play against and we should not forget that in qualification they were out-performed by Romania, which proves there will be no easy game. Not necessarily all the coaches are happy with the way the draw has turned out.”

Roberto Donadoni, the Italy head coach, said: “It was not an easy qualifying round and now we have not been fortunate with this draw. I had a gut feeling that it would turn out this way. But now we have to cope with what we have been given.”

Marco van Basten, the Holland coach, said: “In the last World Cup we were in the ‘Group of Death’, so I’m curious what they will call this one. We’ll have to prepare very well. It’ll be a heavy job for us. Italy is a real football nation that always gets far in tournaments. The same goes for France in recent years. This will be a very tough job, but we mustn’t be afraid of anyone. We want to show off the Dutch style but it’s all about trying to get a result.”

Croatia, who topped England’s group and beat Steve McClaren’s underachievers at home and away, will play Austria, Germany and Poland, which Slaven Bilic, their head coach, was not unhappy about. “I obviously have great respect for our three opponents, but I believe in my team and we’re full of confidence,” he said. “We’ll be well prepared and ready to come here and play good football. Croatia have always done well. There is continuity in our performances, we always do well because we have a good team with skilful players.”

Russia, who qualified when England lost to Croatia at Wembley, face Greece, Sweden and Spain. Switzerland play the Czech Republic in the opening match in Basle on Saturday, June 7.

Group A
Switzerland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Turkey

Group B
Austria, Croatia, Germany, Poland

Group C
Holland, Italy, Romania, France

Group D
Greece, Sweden, Spain, Russia