Euro we go... All you need to know about the big draw for Euro 2020
THE Nations League shadow boxing is over, the real business begins for Ryan Giggs as Wales manager as the Euro 2020 qualifying draw takes place this weekend.
After Wales’ stunning march to the semi-finals last time out expectations are high again amongst Welsh fans.
So when is the draw, where does it take place, when do qualifiers start and just who could Wales pull?
This is comprehensive guide Euro 2020...
When and where is the draw?
UEFA’s bigwigs gather at the Convention Centre in Dublin tomorrow to conduct the draw of the 55 competing nations. It is scheduled to start at 11am and you can follow the up to the minute news on our WalesOnline blog.
How does qualification work?
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There will be 10 groups, with the top two teams in each one progressing to the finals. That makes 20 sides, the other four will come from the new Nations League play-off system.
Denmark secured the place from that by topping Wales’ Nations League group, but it could yet be passed down to Giggs’ side if they fail to qualify automatically for the Euros and Denmark do.
There is no automatic qualifying for one host nation this time around as UEFA are taking matches around the continent to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Euros.
How the seedings work and where Wales are ranked
It’s a little different this year because the four teams who have reached the Nations League finals - England, Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland - are prioritised and automatically head up Groups A, B, C and D. There are six other top seeds, but Wales are not amongst them.
Giggs’ men have just made it into the second group of seeds. Interestingly, Germany are also in that section because of a woeful run of recent results. As per normal, Wales cannot draw anybody from their own group of seeds.
So, we could get England?
Yes. Wales met the old enemy, of course, in the Euro finals out in France. It is possible they will pull Gareth Southgate’s resurgent side in the qualifiers. Such a draw would captivate a Welsh nation.
The seeds
UEFA Nations League pot:
England, Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, plus...
Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Poland.
Germany, Iceland, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, Ukraine*, Denmark*, Sweden*, Russia, Austria, Wales, Czech Republic.
Slovakia, Turkey, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland*, Norway*, Serbia*, Finland*, Bulgaria, Israel.
Pot 1: Pot 2: Pot 3:
Hungary, Romania, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Cyprus, Estonia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Georgia*.
FYR Macedonia*, Kosovo*, Belarus*, Luxembourg, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Gibraltar, Faroe Islands.
Latvia, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Malta, San Marino
■■The asterisk denotes teams already ensured of at least a playoff place after winning their Nations League group.
■■Half the groups will have five teams, the other half six countries.
Pot 4: Pot 5: Pot 6: How the seeding pots were formed
This was based upon rankings established from the Nations League tournament. Wales’ two defeats to Denmark affected their position.
It means we could not only end up with England, but also one of Scotland, the Republic of Ireland (again) or Northern Ireland from the third set of seeds.
The Wales dream scenario
We don’t really want to be facing crack teams like France, Belgium or Spain from the top group. England would be brilliant for the FAW commercially and a guarantee of a 74,000 Principality Stadium sell-out if Wales chose to go to the larger venue, but football wise we are better off avoiding them.
Poland, or possibly Switzerland, would be the best option from the top group.