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France face early Azzurri test

France were handed an early meeting with fellow heavyweights Italy after the qualifying schedule for UEFA EURO 2008™ Group B was decided by a draw.

After the seven teams in UEFA EURO 2008™ Group B failed to agree on a qualifying schedule at a previous meeting in Paris, a draw conducted at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland today threw up an early meeting between heavyweights France and Italy.

Memorable final
The countries that contested a memorable final in Rotterdam six years ago will clash in the French capital on Wednesday 6 September, four days after the group gets under way with three ties: Georgia-France, Italy-Lithuania, and Scotland-Faroe Islands. Ukraine miss out that day, but are at home to Georgia on the 6th, when Scotland travel to Lithuania.

Interesting tussles
The third round of games on 7 October also throws up some interesting tussles as Italy entertain Ukraine and Les Bleus face Scotland in a match likely to take place at a sold-out Hampden Park. Italy welcome France on 8 September 2007, and conclude their campaign with the visit of the Faroes on 21 November 2007. France's final fixture is far more testing as they head to Ukraine.

'Trepidation'
Scottish Football Association chief executive David Taylor said of the draw: "We went into this process with some trepidation but I think we have come out of the draw fairly well. The games against the major countries are reasonably well spread out, as we negotiated at the original fixture-planning meeting, and it is a big bonus for the fans that all our home games are on Saturdays."

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