England pitted against Italy in Euro 2024 qualifiers

As fate would have it, England were pitted in the same group as Italy for the Euro 2024 qualification phase, the team they lost to in the 2020 final.

Euro 2024 is the 17th edition of the tournament and the return to the single-host format in Germany, and it has already taken shape with the group stage draw that took place on Sunday.

Twenty teams will qualify through the draw, three through the play-offs based on the Nations League and Germany, as hosts, will be the 24th team.

The draw took place at the hands of the Italian duo Zambrotta and Albertini, as representatives of the winners of Euro 2020.

Two legendary German strikers, Jurgen Klinsmann and Karl-Heinz Riedle, represented the hosts.

England meet Italy

Gareth Southgate's men will once again face Roberto Mancini's side after their final defeat last summer at Wembley on penalties.

England went all the way to the final in front of their own fans last time out, and took the lead early on, only to suffer heartbreak in a shootout.

Joining them are Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta.

Spain meet Haaland

Spain's group was completed by the appearance of Cyprus. It would have been Gibraltar, but as they are vetoed by Spain, they went directly to Group B.

The Cypriots were a regular opponent of Spain in the qualifying stages years ago, but had not appeared since a 3-2 defeat on Cypriot soil on the way to Euro 2000 that ended Javier Clemente's tenure.

In total, Spain have faced Cyprus on eight occasions: seven wins and that defeat with Luis Enrique on the pitch. In Euro qualifiers, this is the fifth time Spain and Cyprus have met, which places the Cypriots as the most common opponent along with Romania.

Norway will also face Spain, which means a meeting with Erling Haaland. Georgia and Scotland complete the group.