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Tough Euro 2008 draw in prospect for leading nations
LUCERNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - UEFA president Michel Platini
calls Euro 2008 the toughest competition in world soccer and Sunday's
draw for the finals is likely to bear him out.
Three of the four top seeds for next year's European championship are
co-hosts Austria and Switzerland -- two of the weaker nations of the 16
teams in the draw -- and champions Greece.
That has left the Netherlands, the fourth and final top seeded team, facing
what could be a much tougher group phase than other nations seeded below
them.
The Dutch could, for example, be given a nightmare group phase featuring
matches against world champions Italy from pot two, Germany or Spain from
pot three and France, who are down in pot four despite having reached
the World Cup final last year.
"Wherever the teams are placed it will be an interesting draw because
it is certainly the world's most difficult international competition,"
Platini said.
Germany coach Joachim Loew said he was not too concerned about getting
a difficult group.
"It can be an advantage," Loew told reporters. "Getting
a tough group can set you up for the tournament."
Eight title winners will be in Sunday's draw, with Denmark the only previous
champions not to have qualified.
England are the other notable absentees.
Poland and Austria are the only two countries taking part in the tournament
for the first time.
The draw is due to take place at the end of a 52-minute show, starting
at 1100 GMT and being broadcast to 138 countries.
Euro 2008 takes place from June 7 to 29 with matches in Geneva, Berne,
Basel, Zurich, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Klagenfurt and Vienna.
UK.eurosport.yahoo.com,
02 Dec 2007
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