PARIS — The Euro 2016 draw Saturday pitted England against Wales and Germany against Poland in two spotlight groups at the championships.
The British nations who have never met at an international tournament will clash in Group B — playing each other at Lens on June 16. The group also features Russia and Slovakia.
World Cup winner Germany heads Group C and will have to take on Poland, Northern Ireland and Ukraine.
Defending champion Spain will have to take on Czech Republic, Turkey and Croatia in Group D.
Group E could be the most difficult to get one of the top two places however with Belgium and Italy taking on Republic of Ireland and Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Sweden.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal will take on Iceland, Austria and Hungary in Group F.
Host France plays the tournament's curtain raiser on June 10 against Group A opponent Romania. They will also have to face Albania and Switzerland.
The final is on July 10 at the Stade de France in Paris.
UEFA edging toward
goal-line technology
The Champions League and Europa League could have goal-line technology as soon as next season.
European football's governing body discussed the technology at a meeting Friday of its Executive Committee. Notably absent in Paris was Michel Platini, the banned UEFA president who has been a vocal opponent of soccer technology in the past.
Meeting without him, UEFA's Exco ruled that it will make a final decision on goal-line technology in January.
"It looks pretty positive," said UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino.
There are practical issues to overcome. UEFA would still have to decide which system to use and many more stadiums would need equipping with their technology.
With the Exco's blessing in January, goal-line technology could be used at the European Championships in France next June.
"If it is for the Euro this season, it will be for club competitions as from next season," Infantino said. "Club competitions means Champions League and Europa League."
In other business, the UEFA meeting also:
— Got an update on security planning for Euro 2016, in the wake of the Paris attacks that killed 130 people.
Euro 2016 organizer Jacques Lambert promised all necessary lessons will be drawn from the Nov. 13 attacks. Security will be "at the center" of the June 10-July 10 tournament, Infantino said.
— Approved a big bump in money for Euro 2016 teams. All 24 will get a minimum of 8 million euros ($8.8 million) each, plus prizes for wins. A group-stage win will earn 1 million euros ($1.1 million); a draw 500,000 ($550,000). Reaching the last 16 will earn 1.5 million, with an additional 2.5 million for reaching the quarterfinals and another 4 million for semifinalists.
Victory in the July 10 final will earn 8 million, with 5 million for the runners-up. So the champions could pocket a total of 27 million euros ($29.5 million) in all. — Agencies
