Scotland will play Germany in the opening match of Euro 2024 after being drawn in the same group as the hosts.
Hungary and Switzerland complete Group A, while England are in Group C alongside Denmark, Slovenia and Serbia.
Wales would be in Group D with France, Netherlands and Austria at next summer’s tournament if they qualify through the March play-offs.
Germany will take on Steve Clarke’s Scotland in the opener at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Friday, June 14.
Euro 2020 finalists England start their campaign against Serbia on June 16.
Defending champions Italy, who defeated Gareth Southgate’s side on penalties in the 2020 final, will face three-time winners Spain, Croatia and Albania in Group B.
The Euro 2024 final will take place on July 14 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland
Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania
Group C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England
Group D: Play-off winners A, Netherlands, Austria, France
Group E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Play-off winners B
Group F: Turkey, Play-off winners C, Portugal, Czech Republic
Play-off winners A: Poland, Estonia, Wales, Finland, Estonia
Play-off winners B: Israel, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Iceland
Play-off winners C: Georgia, Greece, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg
Scotland will be ‘extremely confident’
Former Scotland striker James McFadden said Scotland will be “confident that they can get out of the difficult Group A, which features three-time winners Germany.
“It’s a tough group, I’m not going to lie and say I’m very happy with the group,” he told BBC Two.
“The opening game against Germany will be a great occasion and all the pressure will be on Germany to get a result and that should do well for Scotland because they usually do well against the better sides.”
Scotland finished bottom of their group at Euro 2020, losing to Croatia and the Czech Republic, while they played out a goalless draw with England.
McFadden added: “I think Scotland will give a good account of themselves and be a very good side because they have had the experience of playing for this group in the European Championship and the disappointment of those games. They will want to make things right.”
“The players will enter this group stage with the utmost confidence.”
England ‘cannot complain’ about Group C
Southgate led England to the Euro 2020 final at Wembley Italy won 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Former Three Lions striker Alan Shearer said Southgate will be “extremely pleased” with England’s draw, with Serbia and Slovenia outside the world’s top 30, while 1992 champions Denmark are in 19th place.
“I don’t think England can complain with that group,” Shearer said.
“I think it’s quite favorable when you look at some of the teams that have been drawn against each other.”
Ex-England striker Chris Sutton added that it was a “pretty soft” group for England.
Despite not appearing to be the toughest group, Southgate says all the teams in Group C are “more than capable”.
“You can look at it on paper, but the games are not played on paper,” he said.
Analysis
Phil McNulty, Chief Football Writer
England will be very pleased with their draw for the Euro 2024 group stages and although it looks like a tougher path for Scotland, they will feel they can reach the knockout stages.
As for Wales, if they reach Germany via the play-offs they will face a very dangerous task in taking their campaign beyond the group.
England manager Gareth Southgate will ensure there is no complacency, but a group that includes Serbia, Denmark – who they defeated in the Euro 2020 semi-finals at Wembley – and Slovenia will certainly have no fear of a side now in third place is in the latest FIFA rankings. .
Scotland will get the glamor of the opening match and the chance to make an immediate impact against hosts Germany.
They will start that match as underdogs, but manager Steve Clarke will know that Germany are far from the superpower of old and are in full transition under new coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Hungary and Switzerland join the Scots, who have built up into a solid and quietly confident unit under Clarke’s astute leadership. This is a group that will certainly give them a certain amount of optimism.
If Wales make it to Germany, they will have a difficult task ahead of them as they will find themselves in a group with the Netherlands, World Cup winners France and Ralf Rangnick’s Austria. Even if they successfully make it through the playoffs, they will be an outsider.
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