Gareth Southgate says he doesn’t mind his England team playing more fixtures against their Euro 2020 usurpers Italy after the two nations were matched in Euro 2024 qualifying Group C on Sunday.
England have failed to beat Italy on the four occasions they have faced the Azzurri under Southgate’s reign.
The Three Lions famously lost the Euro 2020 final to Roberto Mancini’s side via a shootout at Wembley, and then played them twice this year – most recently losing 1-0 at the San Siro thanks to Giacomo Raspadori’s winner.
“It’s ironic when you’ve had a fixture like we’ve had and then played them again already again so recently [in the Nations League] that you seem to have these sort of things,” Southgate said.
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How Euro 2024 qualifying works
There are multiple ways teams can qualify for Euro 2024 as part of Uefa’s efforts to make the Nations League as competitive as possible.
There are 24 teams in the European Championships, and the top two teams from each of the 10 qualifying groups will earn their place automatically, plus hosts Germany, who are guaranteed to spot.
That means there are three more spots to fill. They come not via the qualifying rounds, but the 2022/23 Uefa Nations League final standings. The top-12 teams in the Nations League not already qualified for the European Championships will go into a knockout bracket that will decide the three remaining teams.
So, were England to fail to qualify automatically for Euro 2024, they would likely get another chance via the Nations League playoffs.
The qualifying campaigns begins on 23-25 March next year, and concludes on 19-21 November.
Southgate added: “But it actually makes the qualification more interesting, there’s a bit more jeopardy than in the past which is good for the competition I think.”
Also in England’s group are Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta.
Euro 2024 qualifying groups
- Group A: Spain, Scotland, Norway, Georgia, Cyprus
- Group B: Netherlands, France, Republic of Ireland, Greece, Gibraltar
- Group C: Italy, England, Ukraine, North Macedonia, Malta
- Group D: Croatia, Wales, Armenia, Turkey, Latvia
- Group E: Poland, Czech Rep, Albania, Faroe Islands, Moldova
- Group F: Belgium, Austria, Sweden, Azerbaijan, Estonia
- Group G: Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Lithuania
- Group H: Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland, San Marino
- Group I: Switzerland. Israel, Romania, Kosovo, Belarus, Andorra
- Group J: Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Liechtenstein
“I knew that we’d get either England or France, but that’s OK,” said Mancini. “It’s a decent five-team group, no easy matches, all ones we can have a go at.”
The qualifying rounds kick off in mid-March, and as yet there is no certainty England will play their away game against Ukraine in the country, due to Russia’s invasion.
Russia themselves are banned from the tournament.
“We know the quality of a lot of [Ukraine’s] players,” Southgate said. “We had a good result against them at Euro 2020 but the scoreline did not reflect the quality of their team. They will be difficult games.”
England Euro 2024 qualifying fixtures
- Italy vs England – Thursday 23 March at 7.45pm
- England vs Ukraine – Sunday 26 March at 5pm
- Malta vs England – Friday 16 June at 7.45pm
- England vs North Macedonia – Monday 19 June at 7.45pm
- Ukraine vs England – Saturday 9 September at 5pm
- England vs Italy – Tuesday 17 October at 7.45pm
- England vs Malta – Friday 17 November at 7.45pm
- North Macedonia vs England – Monday 20 November at 7.45pm
Scotland’s tricky path
Scotland, meanwhile, have been drawn in Group A alongside Spain, Norway, Georgia and Cyprus. Boss Steve Clarke failed to get Scotland to the World Cup this winter, but can take hart form the fact his side has already beaten Cyprus twice during his tenure.
Scotland are likely to target second-place in the group behind Spain, but that means taking on a resurgent Norway who, armed with Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, are a much deadlier force to be reckoned with compared to the nations’ last meeting in 2013.
“It’s going to be competitive. There are five good teams, and hopefully, we can be the best,” Clarke said.
“Cyprus was my first game as head coach, so I’ve got good memories of that one. The games aren’t won yet. You have to go there, and you have to be competitive. We think that we’re confident enough to try and continue that through to the groups.”
Wales ‘pleased’ with group
Meanwhile, things are looking up for Wales after they were put into Group D alongside Croatia, Armenia, Turkey and Latvia. Croatia and Turkey recently won their Nations League groups but boss Rob Page is confident Wales can deliver.
“We’re pretty pleased with the group,” boss Rob Page said.
“We’ve avoided some teams like Belgium, who we’ve played quite a bit in recent years. If you try to forecast what teams you’d prefer compared to others we’re not far from it. Overall, pretty pleased.”
Wales Euro 2024 qualifying fixtures
- Croatia vs Wales – Saturday 25 March at 7.45pm
- Wales vs Latvia – Tuesday 28 March at 7.45pm
- Wales vs Armenia – Friday 16 June at 7.45pm
- Turkey vs Wales – Monday 19 June at 7.45pm
- Latvia vs Wales – Monday 11 September at 7.45pm
- Wales vs Croatia – Sunday 15 October at 7.45pm
- Armenia vs Wales – Saturday 18 November at 2pm
- Wales vs Turkey – Tuesday 21 November at 7.45pm
As for Northern Ireland, they were drawn in a six-team group that includes Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Kazakhstan and San Marino.
“It gives us a chance to spring a surprise,” said Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough.
“As a Pot 5 team, as we were for the qualifiers for Euro 2016, this group gives us a fighting chance to make a good fist of qualifying.
“I think being in a group of six nations is good for us. It means we don’t have to play friendlies and therefore every game is a qualifier and there’s something on the game.”
Northern Ireland Euro 2024 qualifying fixtures
- San Marino vs Northern Ireland – Thursday 23 March
- Northern Ireland vs Finland – Sunday 26 March
- Denmark vs Northern Ireland – Friday 16 June
- Northern Ireland vs Kazakhstan – Monday 19 June
- Slovenia vs Northern Ireland – Thursday 7 September
- Kazakhstan vs Northern Ireland – Sunday 10 September
- Northern Ireland vs San Marino – Saturday 14 October
- Northern Ireland vs Slovenia – Tuesday 17 October
- Finland vs Northern Ireland – Friday 17 November
- Northern Ireland vs Denmark – Monday 20 November
Euro 2024 qualifying match dates
- 23-25 March 2023 – Matchday 1
- 26-28 March 2023 – Matchday 2
- 16-17 June 2023 – Matchday 3
- 19-20 June 2023 – Matchday 4
- 07-09 September 2023 – Matchday 5
- 10-12 September 2023 – Matchday 6
- 12-14 October 2023 – Matchday 7
- 15-17 October 2023 – Matchday 8
- 16-18 November 2023 – Matchday 9
- 19-21 November 2023 – Matchday 10
Play-off match dates
- 21 March 2024 – Play-off semi-finals
- 26 March 2024 – Play-off finals
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