England have been drawn to face the Republic of Ireland in League B Group 2 of the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League.
The Three Lions dropped down to the second tier of the continental tournament on account of their dismal fourth-placed finish in League A Group 3 last year and entered the draw in Pot 1 as one of four demoted teams.
Gareth Southgate's men will not have very far to travel for one of their second-tier fixtures, as the Euro 2020 runners-up were paired with near neighbours Ireland, who placed third in League B Group 1 last year.
Euro 2004 winners Greece - promoted from League C - and Finland join England and Ireland in League B Group 2, while Wales were placed into Group 4 of the second tier, where Turkey, Montenegro and Iceland await.
Elsewhere in League B, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Albania and Ukraine were drawn to face each other in Group 1, while Kazakhstan - by default - were placed in Group 3 due to rules regarding excessive travel, and their reward for winning League C Group 3 last year will be ties with Austria, Norway and Slovenia.
While England will vie for promotion to League A this time around, Scotland were involved in the top-tier draw thanks to their promotion in 2022-23, and Steve Clarke's side managed to avoid the group of death.
Stiff opposition in the form of Poland, Portugal and last year's runners-up Croatia still awaits Scotland in Group 1, but a tantalising Group 3 will see Italy, Belgium and France bid to subject Israel to a harsh welcome to life in League A.
© Reuters
Reigning champions Spain have been handed relatively kind fixtures with Denmark, Switzerland and Serbia in Group 4, while Euro 2020 foes Germany and Hungary reunite in Group 3 with the Netherlands and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Northern Ireland were the solitary home nation involved in the League C draw, and the Green and White Army were placed in an intriguing Group 3 with Luxembourg, Bulgaria and Belarus.
League C Group 1 comprises promotion favourites Sweden, alongside Azerbaijan, Slovakia and Estonia, while Romania, Kosovo, Cyprus and the winner of March's relegation playout between Lithuania and Gibraltar will battle for top spot in Group 2; Group 4 of the third tier will see Armenia, North Macedonia, Latvia and the Faroe Islands pit their wits against one another.
Finally, the losers of the upcoming relegation playoff between Lithuania and Gibraltar will enter League D Group 1 with San Marino and Liechtenstein, while Moldova, Malta and Andorra comprise League D Group 2.
League phase matches are due to commence on September 5 of this year, with two rounds of fixtures per month until November, after which the League A quarter-finals and League A/B and B/C relegation/promotion playoffs take place from March 20 to 23 of next year.
The semi-finals will be played on June 4 and 5, 2025, in an as yet undetermined location, before the tournament concludes with the third-placed playoff and finals on June 8.
2024-25 UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE DRAW IN FULL
League A:
Group 1: Croatia, Portugal, Poland, Scotland
Group 2: Italy, Belgium, France, Israel
Group 3: Netherlands, Hungary, Germany, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Group 4: Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Serbia
League B:
Group 1: Czech Republic, Ukraine, Albania, Georgia
Group 2: England, Finland, Republic of Ireland, Greece
Group 3: Austria, Norway, Slovenia, Kazakhstan
Group 4: Wales, Iceland, Montenegro, Turkey
League C:
Group 1: Sweden, Azerbaijan, Slovakia, Estonia
Group 2: Romania, Kosovo, Cyprus, Lithuania/Gibraltar
Group 3: Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Northern Ireland, Belarus
Group 4: Armenia, Faroe Islands, North Macedonia, Latvia
League D:
Group 1: Lithuania/Gibraltar, San Marino, Liechtenstein
Group 2: Moldova, Malta, Andorra
Ben Knapton
