World champions Italy were pitted against old foes France in the draw for the Euro 2008 finals made here on Sunday. The pair, who clashed in last year's World Cup final and again in qualifying for next year's European championships, were joined by the Netherlands and Romania in Group C, inevitably handed the tag of the dreaded group of death.
France manager Raymond Domenech's face dropped when Italy's name was drawn while Italian manager Roberto Donadoni sported a resigned smile. "It hasn't been easy to qualify for this Euro and now this," said the Italy coach.
"I had a feeling it might happen, I don't know if that's positive or negative for what lies ahead."
Domenech for his part remarked: "I don't think I'm happier than the other managers in the group, we can't rejoice at being put together, but now the draw's been made we have to live with it, it's like that."
The Italians, who failed to make it past the group stages at Euro 2004, open their campaign against the Dutch in Bern on June 9, with the French waiting for them in Zurich four days later.
France and Italy have proved virtually inseperable recently, the pair's paths crossing in Berlin in June 2006 with the World Cup final which the Azzurri won on penalties after Zinedane Zidane's sending off.
Then again in Euro 2008 qualifying where the pair edged through their group at the main expense of Scotland.
And as far as this competition is concerned at least Italy have some unfinished business with Les Bleus after losing out to them with David Trezeguet's golden goal in the Euro 2000 final. The top seeds in the group however will be the Dutch, European champions in 1988, and manager Marco Van Basten said it could not have been a tougher draw for his side.
"That really is a hard one," he said. "We will go back up against The Romanians who posed us so many problems in the qualifiers and before that we will have to open against Italy and then have France. At least we know what we are up against."
Sunday's draw was preceded by a ceremony featuring the Vienna Boys Choir and Jose Carreras but for Romania, having the three European superpowers as company was hardly music to their ears.
Quarter-finalists in 2000 they will not thank UEFA's balls for pitting them against three teams that have won four European titles between them.
"It's an easy group," Romania manager Victor Piturca said playfully before adding in a more serious vein: "It's the hardest group, but also the most attractive.
"Romania has already proved against tough opponents that we can win. I hope we'll be in the best psychological and physical form and make it through the group stage. I'm sure we can do that."
There was a Christmas mood on the streets outside the conference hall where the draw was staged and that festive spirit was present inside too - at least as far as Germany were concerned.
Joachim Loew's side avoided all the big guns and the Mannschaft will be hardly quaking in their boots at the prospect of facing debutants Poland and Austria, the co-hosts who at 91st are rated below St Vincent and the Grenadines (population 121,000) in FIFA's world rankings.
Croatia though, the fourth members of Group B, will demand respect after their impressive showing in qualifying as their group leaders, knocking out England in the process.
Germany's general manager Oliver Bierhoff said that he was happy with the draw.
"They are three good teams and they have won the right to play in the finals," he said.
"It will be tough for us to play the hosts Austria but we are happy because we have avoided the group of death. "Our opening game against Poland will be tough. We played against them in the 2006 World Cup and we must not underestimate them. But it is Croatia who are the biggest threat to us."
Greece, who turned the formbook upside down by beating hosts Portugal to lift the crown in 2004, will come up against Spain, Russia and Sweden with their manager, Otto Rehhagel, saying: "All these teams are first class, they've all proved their strength in qualifying."
Luis Aragones, Spain's veteran coach, was typically playing his cards close to his chest, simply saying: "There's nothing for it but to compete."
The June 7-29 competition is co-hosted in Austria and Switzerland with matches being staged in eight cities - Basel, Zurich, Berne and Geneva, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, and Vienna's Ernst-Happel stadium where the final will be played.
The official motto for Euro 2008, which opens with Switzerland and 1976 winners the Czech Republic in Basel, is 'Expect Emotions' - and after Sunday's draw that now looks guaranteed. Euro 2008 draw.
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Group A Group B
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Switzerland Austria
Czech Republic Croatia
Portugal Germany
Turkey Poland
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Group C Group D
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Netherlands Greece
Italy Sweden
Romania Spain
France Russia
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-- Euro 2008 schedule of matches
-- PRELIMINARY GROUP STAGE
-- Saturday June 7
-- Match N.1: at Basel (18h00) Switzerland v Czech Republic
-- Match N.2: at Geneva (20h45) Portugal v Turkey
-- Sunday June 8
-- Match N.3: at Vienna (18h00) Austria v Croatia
-- Match N.4: at Klagenfurt (20h45) Germany v Poland
-- Monday June 9
-- Match N.5: at Zurich (18h00) Romania v France
-- Match N.6: at Berne (20h45) Netherlands v Italy
-- Tuesday June 10
-- Match N.7: at Innsbruck (18h00) Spain v Russia
-- Match N.8: at Salzburg (20h45) Greece v Sweden
-- Wednesday June 11
-- Match N.9: at Geneva (18h00) Czech Republic v Portugal
-- Match N.10: at Basel (20h45) Switzerland v Turkey
-- Thursday June 12
-- Match N.11: at Klagenfurt (18h00) Croatia v Germany
-- Match N.12: at Vienna (20h45) Austria v Poland
-- Friday June 13
-- Match N.13: at Zurich (18h00) Italy v Romania
-- Match N.14: at Berne (20h45) Netherlands v France
-- Saturday June 14
-- Match N.15: at Innsbruck (18h00) Sweden v Spain
-- Match N.16: at Salzburg (20h45): Greece v Russia
-- Sunday June 15
-- Match N.17: at Basel (20h45) Switzerland v Portugal
-- Match N.18: at Geneva (20h45) Turkey v Czech Republic
-- Monday June 16
-- Match N.19: at Klagenfurt (20h45) Poland v Croatia
-- Match N.20: at Vienna (20h45): Austria v Germany
-- Tuesday June 17
-- Match N.21: at Berne (20h45) Netherlands v Romania
-- Match N.22: à Zurich (20h45): France v Italy
-- Wednesday June 18
-- Match N.23: at Salzburg (20h45) Greece v Spain
-- Match N.24: at Innsbruck (20h45) Russia v Sweden
-- QUARTER-FINALS
-- Thursday June 19
-- Match N.25: at Basel (20h45) Winner of Group A v Second in Group B
-- Friday June 20
-- Match N.26: at Vienna (20h45) Winner of Group B v Second in Group A
-- Saturday June 21
-- Match N.27: at Basel (20h45) Winner of Group C v Second in Group D
-- Sunday June 22
-- Match N.28: at Vienna (20h45) Winner of Group D v Second in Group C
-- Rest-Days - June 23 and 24
-- SEMI-FINALS
-- Wednesday June 25
-- Match N.29: at Basel (20h45) Winner of Match 25 v Winner of Match 26
-- Thursday June 26
-- Match N.30: at Vienna (20h45) Winner of Match 27 v Winner of Match 28
-- Rest-Days - June 27 and 28
-- FINAL
-- Match N.31: at Vienna (20h45) Winner of Match 29 v Winner of Match 30.
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