England face a gaggle of dying to qualify for Euro 2025 with the Lionesses drawn towards France, Sweden and the Republic of Eire.
The reigning champions must end in one of many prime two locations to qualify routinely for the event in Switzerland and keep away from 4 additional play-off video games.
The 51 groups hoping to qualify for the event have been break up into three leagues – A, B and C.
The outcomes of the 2023-2024 Nations League marketing campaign decided which league groups entered, with England in League A, Group 3.
The Lionesses are arguably within the hardest group. England the fourth greatest ranked staff on the earth with France third and Sweden fifth, whereas the Republic of Eire one in every of more durable lower-ranked groups Sarina Wiegman’s facet may have drawn.
England have been drawn towards France, Sweden and the Republic of Eire in Euro 2025 qualifying
England must defend their crown the arduous approach after they have been handed a tricky draw
The qualifying group has been billed ‘the group of dying’ after three of the world’s prime 5 groups have been drawn collectively
‘In fact, all of us went into the draw realizing that Sweden – one of many prime international locations – can be in Pot 3 due to their Nations League efficiency in 2023 so with France, Sweden, and Eire in our group, will probably be very aggressive.
‘It is thrilling and now we simply have to point out up and carry out. For the followers and for soccer, it’s actually good as a result of will probably be so aggressive.’
England beat Sweden within the semi-final of Euro 2022 however are but to face France or the Republic of Eire beneath Wiegman.
‘France have an excellent squad and so they confirmed their qualities by reaching the Nations League last,’ Wiegman added.
‘I am actually excited to play towards France as a result of we haven’t confronted them throughout my time as England head coach, so I am actually wanting ahead to these two video games.
‘Sweden struggled within the Nations League, which is why they have been in Pot 3, however over time, they’ve carried out so nicely. They’re a prime nation with prime gamers of their squad, a lot of whom we all know from the Ladies’s Tremendous League.
‘The video games with the Republic of Eire shall be actually aggressive.
‘The 2 international locations are clearly shut to one another so hopefully a number of followers may have the chance to go to look at these video games.
‘Like with Sweden, the gamers know one another so nicely as a result of plenty of them play within the Ladies’s Tremendous League and a few play alongside our gamers. So I feel they’re one other two video games which shall be aggressive and have some particular components to it too.’
Sarina Wiegman’s facet must end within the prime two groups to qualify routinely
France are one of many kind sides on the earth and misplaced the Nations League last to Spain
In every league, the groups have been break up up into 4 seeding pots. England have been in pot two because of ending second of their Nations League group.
That meant they have been assured to get one in every of France, Spain, Germany, or Netherlands – who completed prime of their League A teams.
The highest two groups within the 4 League A teams will qualify routinely for the event whereas the remaining seven locations shall be taken by the best-ranked sides from all three leagues.
The groups that end third and fourth within the League A teams routinely qualify for the play-offs, as will the highest three groups in every League B group, which means England may end backside of their group and nonetheless have a great probability of qualifying.
If hosts Switzerland end within the prime three of their group, then the perfect ranked fourth-place staff from League B will qualify for the play-offs.
From League C, the 5 group winners and three best-ranked runners-up will attain the play-offs.
The primary spherical of play-offs will see the eight groups from League A drawn towards the eight sides from League C, whereas the six greatest groups from League B will face the six worst groups from League B.
As soon as that spherical is accomplished, the 14 groups remaining shall be break up in seedings. The highest seven ranked nations shall be drawn towards the opposite seven groups, and the winners of these fixtures will take up the ultimate seven qualifying spots.
The qualification stage has been fashioned in a Nations League-style format for the primary time
Scotland, Wales and Northern Eire are all in League B however have been saved aside within the draw.
Scotland have been drawn towards Serbia, Israel and Slovakia whereas Wales will tackle Croatia, Ukraine and Kosovo.
Northern Eire face video games towards Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Malta.
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