Despite not qualifying for 2010 World Cup, Russia
and Croatia, are seeded in the top group for the Euro 2012 draw whilst
Denmark, Greece, Serbia, Slovakia and Switzerland, who all qualified for
the premier event this summer, are in the second pot.
Guus Hiddink Photo SPORT EXPRESS
The qualifying, which commences in September 2010 through
November the following, features fifty one nations divided in six groups
of six and a further three groups made up of five sides. Along with Euro
2012 co-hosts Poland and Ukraine, winners of their group and the top second-place
side will directly qualify for the competition with the other eight runners-up
taking part in a two-match playoff for the remaining four spots.
The draw, held at Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Sciences, will commemorate
the fiftieth anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory in the 1960 Euro
competition. Recently appointed Russian Football Union president Sergey
Fursenko will attend the festivities with Guus Hiddink.
Pot 1: Croatia, England, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Portugal, Russia,
Spain
