WHILE the senior team ponder the six group rivals blocking their path to the European Championship finals, the only definite opponents for the England Under-21 side in their European Championship qualification schedule are Switzerland. The draw placed Peter Taylor’s team in a three-strong group that will also include Kazakhstan or Moldova, who will play off for the right to enter the section.
Scotland, searching for a new under-21 coach after the departure of Rainer Bonhof last November, have been drawn with France and Slovenia. Northern Ireland will meet Liechtenstein for the right to join a group containing Romania and Germany, while Wales will face Estonia in the hope of joining Turkey and Israel. Ireland take on Azerbaijan seeking to join Belgium and Greece.
The winners of the 14 groups will each compete in a play-off to find seven teams who will join Holland, the hosts of the finals in 2007.