EURO draw throws up fascinating group tests

Holders Spain will face Italy, Republic of Ireland and Croatia in Group C of UEFA EURO 2012 after Friday's final tournament draw at the Palace of Arts in Kyiv, Ukraine.

The draw also threw up a tournament-opening game for Poland against the UEFA EURO 2004 winners Greece at the National Stadium Warsaw on 8 June. Poland, pre-designated the seeded team in Group A, also have the prospect of central and eastern European derbies with the Czech Republic and Russia respectively.

For the other co-host nation, who were seeded first in Group D, there are equally enticing challenges in store in six months' time: Ukraine will take on the might of Sweden, France and England. There also promises to be no quarter given in Group B where three former European champions – the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany – will come up against Portugal, the runners-up in 2004, in what is the toughest-looking section.

Full match schedule

Draw
Group A (Warsaw/Wroclaw)
Poland (co-hosts)
Greece
Russia
Czech Republic

Group B (Kharkiv/Lviv)
Netherlands
Denmark
Germany
Portugal

Group C (Gdansk/Poznan)
Spain (holders)
Italy
Republic of Ireland
Croatia

Group D (Kyiv/Donetsk)
Ukraine (co-hosts)
Sweden
France
England