Euro 2016 Draw: Winners and Losers from Paris Event
The draw for the 2016 UEFA European Championship took place on Saturday afternoon, sorting the 24 qualified nations into six different groups.
While some would simply have been looking to be involved at all—after the expanded format made room for a few teams who wouldn't habitually qualify—now that the tournament is drawing closer, every team involved wanted a favourable draw to have hopes of progressing.
After assessing each group in turn, we have selected our biggest winners and losers, looking at who will be particularly happy—or displeased—with their fortunes for the group stage next summer.
Winners: France
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France already knew they were to be seeds of Group A, but they will be pleased at the names that have been drawn in their group.
Romania, Albania and Switzerland will not provide any real combined blockage to France's path into the knockout stage, and Didier Deschamps will no doubt hope to start with two positive results to allow him to change the side around a little in the final match of the group.
The hosts couldn't have hoped for anything better.
Losers: Republic of Ireland
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At the opposite end of the spectrum, Republic of Ireland had a mammoth struggle to reach the finals—and they have been handed an even bigger problem now that they have qualified.
Sweden will be the opposition they will hope to take something tangible off, but with a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their attack, even that is far from probable. Italy and No. 1-ranked nation Belgium are the other two challengers in the group.
Ireland could well be looking at repeating their last trip to the Euros in 2012—when they picked up no points.
Winners: Portugal
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Portugal were top seeds despite not looking anything like a top-quality side at present, and they have been rewarded with a hugely favourable draw.
Group F pits them against Iceland, Austria and Hungary: tournament debutants, second-time qualifiers and first-time qualifiers since 1972 respectively.
There should be no room for slip-ups for the Iberian nation, and even if they won't be seen as one of the favourites to win, this is essentially a free pass through to the knockouts at least.
Losers: Wales
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Speaking before the draw, Wales manager Chris Coleman said he didn't want to draw England, according to the Guardian—not because he felt his team were inferior, but because he felt the build-up would "make it a distraction."
Naturally, then, Wales and England were drawn together in Group B—but former striker John Hartson told BBC Sport: "I wanted that, it’s a great game for supporters, for television and the players will look forward to it."
Wales are in their first-ever European Championship tournament.
Winners: Germany
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In fairness, there aren't too many nations who would have held fears for Germany, but they'll be pleased with the draw nonetheless.
Poland are their hardest opponents, but having played them twice already in qualifying—one win, one loss—Germany will know what to expect and how to counter their biggest threats, which include Robert Lewandowski who, of course, plays in Germany with Bayern Munich.
Ukraine and Northern Ireland are the other teams in Group C.
