Holders Spain and 1968 winners Italy will clash in Group C of Euro 2012 after the draw for next year’s finals in Poland and the Ukraine was made yesterday.
Ireland and Croatia make up the pool, with the top two sides progressing to the quarter-finals.
England were drawn in Group D with co-hosts Ukraine, Sweden and two-time winners France.
In a mouth-watering Group B, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and Portugal were all drawn together, while co-hosts Poland will face Greece, Russia and the Czech Republic in Group A.
Spain will tackle Italy in their opening group game in the Polish city of Gdansk on June 10.
Vicente del Bosque’s side overcame the Italians on their way to victory at Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland, with Cesc Fabregas netting the winning penalty in a quarter-final shoot-out following a 0-0 draw.
Group B appears to be the most finely balanced on paper.
Portugal and the Netherlands famously shared an ill-tempered last-16 match at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, which Portugal won 1-0 in a game that featured a record 16 yellow cards and four dismissals.
Denmark, champions in 1992, last crossed swords with Portugal in qualifying, with their 2-1 victory in Copenhagen in October obliging Cristiano Ronaldo and his team-mates to qualify through the play-offs.
The opening Group D clash between England and France at Donetsk’s Donbass Arena on June 11 will probably go a long way towards determining which side finishes top of their pool.
The teams previously met in their opening group match at Euro 2004, when two late strikes from Zinedine Zidane gave France a 2-1 victory after Frank Lampard had headed England in front.
“England are one of the biggest nations in football,” France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris said. “They’ll start as favourites in the group... Behind England, Ukraine, Sweden and France will fight for second.”
Draw and fixtures
Group A
Poland
Greece
Russia
Czech Rep.
June 8: Poland vs Greece
June 8: Russia vs Czech Rep.
June 12: Greece vs Czech Rep.
June 12: Poland vs Russia
June 16: Greece vs Russia
June 16: Czech Rep. vs Poland
Group B
Holland
Denmark
Germany
Portugal
June 9: Holland vs Denmark
June 9: Germany vs Portugal
June 13: Denmark vs Portugal
June 13: Holland vs Germany
June 17: Portugal vs Holland
June 17: Denmark vs Germany
Group C
Spain
Italy
Ireland
Croatia
June 10: Spain vs Italy
June 10: Ireland vs Croatia
June 14: Italy vs Croatia
June 14: Spain vs Ireland
June 18: Croatia vs Spain
June 18: Italy vs Ireland
Group D
France
England
Ukraine
Sweden
June 11 France vs England
June 11: Ukraine vs Sweden
June 15: Sweden vs England
June 15: Ukraine vs France
June 19: Sweden vs France
June 19: England vs Ukraine
Quarter-Finals
June 21 Winner Group A vs Runner-up Group B (1)
June 22 Winner Group B vs Runner-up Group A (2)
June 23 Winner Group C vs Runner-up Group D (3)
June 24 Winner Group D vs Runner-up Group C (4)
Semi-Finals
June 27 Winner Match QF1 vs Winner QF3
June 28 Winner Match QF2 vs Winner QF4
Final
July 1 Winner SF1 vs Winner SF 2