Euro 2008 qualifying draw

England have been handed a favourable draw in the qualifying stages for the 2008 European Championship.

But the other home countries and the Republic of Ireland face tougher tests to reach the finals in Austria and Switzerland after the draw was made in Montreux on Friday.

England - under Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor - will face Croatia, Russia, Israel, Estonia, Macedonia and Andorra in Group E.

Scotland face a major battle to qualify from one of the hardest groups alongside France, Italy, Ukraine, Lithuania, Georgia and the Faroe Islands.

Wales and the Republic of Ireland face the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Cyprus and San Marino.

Northern Ireland boss Lawrie Sanchez must also plot a difficult course to the finals after being drawn with Sweden, Spain, Denmark, Latvia, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Group A Portugal Poland Serbia & Mont Belgium Finland Armenia Azerbaijan Kazakhstan

Group B France Italy Ukraine SCOTLAND Lithuania Georgia Faroe Islands

Group C Greece Turkey Norway Bosnia Hungary Moldova Malta

Group D Czech Republic Germany Slovakia REP OF IRELAND WALES Cyprus San Marino

Group E ENGLAND Croatia Russia Israel Estonia Macedonia Andorra

Group F Sweden Spain Denmark Latvia Iceland NORTHERN IRELAND Liechtenstein

Group G Holland Romania Bulgaria Slovenia Albania Belarus Luxembourg