Lucerne (Switzerland): World Cup champion Italy were drawn on Sunday with France, the Netherlands and Romania in what appears to be the most difficult group for the 2008 European Championship.
Italy defeated France on penalty kicks in last year's World Cup final, then played the French twice in European Championship qualifying, losing 3-1 at Saint-Denis and drawing 0-0 in Milan. Group C will be based in Switzerland, and Italy and France will meet in their final first-round match, on June 17 in Zurich.
"We didn't have an easy qualification and now we have a very difficult group," Italy coach Roberto Donadoni said. "We were unfortunate in the draw, but I had a gut feeling this morning that it would turn out like this."
Italy and the Netherlands met in the Euro 2000 semi-finals, with the Italians winning a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw. Italy went on to lose to France in the final.
France, whobeat the Dutch team in a shootout after a 0-0 draw in the 1996 quarter-finals, must also meet Romania in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
"I think there are coaches who are happier today than the four here (in Group C)," France coach Raymond Domenech said. "I would have preferred to avoid all of the other three teams in the group, but that's what we got and we have to live with it."
The Netherlands coach Marco van Basten, whose team is struggling for form, also said it was not the draw he wanted.
"A very tough group. Two World Cup finalists," he said. "These are great teams, great players, teams with a lot of experience. It's going to be very difficult for us, we have to play Italy first, then France."
Defending champion Greece were drawn into Group D with Russia, Spain and Sweden, a group based in Austria.
At Euro 2004 in Portugal, the Greeks drew 1-1 with Spain and lost 2-1 to Russia in group play, but beat all their other opponents on the way to a surprise title triumph.
"It is certainly not an easy group," Greece coach Otto Rehhagel said. "We must be careful against Sweden, who have one of the world's best forwards in Zlatan Ibrahimovic."
"There's always lots of talk before games. I am a man of action. The most important thing is to have all players in good condition. As defending champions, we have an obligation to do well in the tournament."
Spain, who have only ever won the 1964 European Championship when they hosted the event, are also in a difficult group, according to their veteran coach Luis Aragones.
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"But there's nothing left to do but play," he said.
Co-host Switzerland, who play all their group games in Basel, are in Group A with Turkey, Portugal and the Czech Republic. The Czechs, who open the tournament against the Swiss on June 7, will be favored to advance to the quarter-finals with Portugal.
"It's a pretty unpredictable group," Czech captain Tomas Rosicky said. "It's fine to open the tournament, but we're in a tough group."
"We don't have to discuss Portugal, that's an excellent team for sure, the Swiss have made a great step forward and they play at home, so for us it will be a classic away match. The Turks have all got speed and the skills. All the matches will be very difficult."
Turkey coach Fatih Terim isn't concerned about playing what is expected to be his team's toughest game first, against Portugal in Geneva.
"It doesn't matter who we are paired with in the first game, we just have to play well," Terim said. "The Czech Republic is a well-known team, Switzerland will use its advantage well."
Austria, the other co-host and making their debut, are in Group B with three-time champion Germany, Poland and Croatia, a group which could pose security problems for organisers. The co-hosts are both based at home.
Previous matches between Germany and Poland have led to fan violence, while UEFA has warned Croatia it would be kicked out if there were any repeats of racist chanting and misbehavior by their fans.
"I wouldn't necessarily say that we had a lucky draw," Germany coach Joachim Loew said. "Austria will be playing with the entire nation behind them, that shouldn't be underestimated. Croatia eliminated England, and how tough it is to play against Poland, we found out at the World Cup."
Poland are looking forward to their Euro debut. They have never beaten Germany, losing 1-0 to the Germans on an extra-time goal at last year's World Cup in Dortmund.
"We could have landed worse, so I'm generally happy with the draw," midfielder Jacek Krzynowek said. "Our opening match with Germany will be great because we will have a chance to extract revenge for our loss at the World Cup."
The draw was held at the Culture and Convention Center with Spanish tenor Jose Carreras making a guest appearance at the hour-long ceremony.
UEFA president Michel Platini, who starred for France as they won at home in 1984, was one of 12 former players to conduct the draw. The final is at the Ernst Happel stadium in Vienna on June 29.
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