FCBARCELONA.CAT

07.02.2010 14:46

Euro 2012: tough group for Ibra, pretty easy for the rest

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Barca’s European players learnt their country’s fate in the Euro 2012 draw made earlier this morning: Spain and France will start favourites in their groups, whilst Sweden have a tougher draw.

The draw, made in Warsaw, was for the qualifying rounds of the tournament with the finals to be held in Poland and Ukraine in 2012. Barca’s only European player not affected was Dmitro Txigrinski whose Ukraine team are automatically through as co-hosts.

Easy looking group for Spain

Puyol, Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets and Piqué look to have a clear route to the finals. The reigning champions Spain were drawn in Group I, a group with just five teams, alongside the Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania and Lichtenstein.

Abidal and Henry, favourites

France will also start favourites in Group D where they face Rumania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belorussia, Albania and Luxemburg. With only the winners and the best runners up going through automatically, Henry and Abidal look a safe bet for the finals too.

Ibra, could face Holland

Although Ibra has retired from international football, Sweden may well need to try and coax him back if they are to get through the difficult Group E where they are up against Holland, Finland, Hungary, Moldavia and San Marino.