Euro 2012 Draw: Nightmare Scenarios for the Top Teams

Managers, respective FA presidents and assorted other dignitaries will assemble in the Ukrainian capital with bated breath, waiting to see which teams they will be drawn with for the group stage.

The teams have already been seeded into four pots, and one team from each pot will be drawn together to form the four groups. The pots are:

Pot 1: Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Ukraine (the latter two as co-hosts)

Pot 2: Germany, Italy, England, Russia

Pot 3: Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Sweden

Pot 4: Denmark, France, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland

After consulting various contacts in some of the main countries expected to compete for the trophy (and England), here are their choices for the worst possible groups they could draw.

(FYI: I could not get hold of a Dutchman or a Portuguese. Anyone from Netherlands or Portugal out there who wants to add their pick, please go ahead.)

Spain

Germany, Portugal, France

Spain have beaten Germany 1-0 in each of the last two major tournaments: the final of Euro 2008 and the semifinal of the last World Cup. However, they will be very wary of drawing the Germans, especially after their blistering from in qualifying for this tournament. 

Like Spain, Germany won every one of their group matches. Joachim Loew's side's achievement was arguably greater, as they had to play 10 matches to Spain's eight.

Spain will be wary of neighbours Portugal, who beat them 4-0 in Lisbon last November, and they only beat France on a penalty shootout in Euro 2008.

La Furia Roja have also lost matches to England and Italy recently, though they still remain top of the FIFA rankings.

Germany

Spain, Portugal, France

Die Mannschaft must be champing at the bit to gain revenge on Spain, and they could hardly be better equipped to do so. 

Young stars such as Mesut Ozil, Thomas Mueller, Mario Goetze and Manuel Neuer have all enjoyed meteoric rises in their short careers, while striker Mario Gomez finally looks to fulfil his potential at a major finals, rather than let down his country yet again.

One of the worst Germany sides in living memory lost to Portugal in 2000, but that was the Iberians' only victory in eight encounters.

As for France, they have beaten Germany's recent record against them is poor, but their last game was six years ago, when most of Loew's current team were still knee-high to a grashuepfer. That's grasshopper in German.

England

Spain, Portugal, France

England's record at major tournaments against any team of quality is, quite frankly, woeful.

They did beat Spain the last time they met at a championship: the quarterfinals of Euro 96. However, on that occasion they were on home turf, playing a Spain team that rivalled England as Europe's biggest underachievers and only prevailed after fluking their way to a penalty shootout. The restraint that greeted their friendly win over the world champions at Wembley a few weeks back was admirable—nobody wants to meet them in a match that matters, least of all England.

The same goes for Portugal, who have done-for England twice in the past decade, at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup.

As for France, that's another sore point. England have not beaten their cross-channel adversaries since a friendly in 1997. Since then, they have lost four of the last five meetings, most famously their opening match of Euro 2004 when they let a 1-0 slip in the closing stages courtesy of a free kick and a penalty from Zinedine Zidane.

It's just as well they are in the same pot as the Germans.

Italy

Spain, Portugal, France

See a pattern emerging here?

The Italians could perhaps feel a little hard done by that they have not been picked ahead of Germany by any of the above sides. After all, they are historically heavyweights in the international arena, and have won one and been finalists in another of the last six tournaments.

Cesare Prandelli has led a real revival with the Azzurri since their own World Cup nadir in South Africa last year. After culling much of the old guard retained or recalled by Marcelo Lippi last year, the former Fiorentina boss has a great record. They were unbeaten in qualifying, winning eight and drawing two of their group games, and they beat Spain 2-1 in a friendly last August.

Like France, Italy have not lost to Portugal since the 1970s, but any team that contains Cristiano Ronaldo is sure to be seen as a threat.

Speaking of the French, Italy have enjoyed a real ding-dong of a rivalry in recent years. Their results over the last two decades read (Italy first): 2-0, 0-0 (Italy won on pens), 1-3, 1-1, 1-2, 0-0, 2-2, 0-1.  

And there was also that small matter of a certain head-butt.

No wonder they don't fancy playing them.

France

Spain, Germany, Portugal

The same "Group of Death" was selected by the French. Because of the presence of Poland and Ukraine among the top seeds as co-hosts, that means Germany, the most in-form side in world football, are a rogue threat in Pot 2.

France lost out to Spain in Euro 2008, and their embarrassing meltdown at the last World Cup has contributed to their place among the bottom sides.

However, Les Bleus have beaten Portugal in each of their last eight meetings, since a friendly in Paris in 1975.

They have also won three of their last four matches against the Germans, although their last meeting ended in a goalless draw.