The draw for Euro 2008 on Thursday pitted the continent's traditional powerhouses France up against Italy while England under new management go into unknown territory.

Whoever is named as Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor will have to steer the Euro 2004 quarter-finalists through Group E where they will face Russia for the first time in a competitive international.

Group B features former European champions France and Italy and these two heavyweights were joined by Ukraine, who sailed through their World Cup qualifying group. Also in this group are Scotland, Lithuania, Georgia and the Faroe Islands.

Defending European champions Greece are in Group C where the shock 2004 winners' rivals include 2002 World Cup semi-finalists Turkey along with Norway.

Portugal, beaten in the 2004 final on home turf by Greece are in Group A where the opposition is headed by Poland.

The qualifying matches will get underway in September and run through until November 2007 when a total of 14 teams- champions and runners up from each group- will qualify for the finals joining hosts Austria and Switzerland.