Risk of Swedish nightmare when the European Championship draw

Janne Andersson's national team belongs to seed group 3 - and can therefore be drawn into all groups in the football European Championship next summer. Except for Group B.

This is because Denmark, in the same seed group as Sweden, is already placed in that group as a host nation. Sweden may thus be placed against any of the giants Italy, England, Spain or Germany from seed group 1.

With the reigning world champion France, the World Cup silver medalist Croatia and the resurrected giant Netherlands in the second seeding group, the risks of a sweaty draw are great.

A Swedish nightmare lottery could be: Italy, France, Sweden and Finland in group A. Partly tough opposition in the world champion France, reborn Italy at home in Rome, and the upstart Finland making its first championship. Partly a tedious journey between Rome and Baku in Azerbaijan, playgrounds in the group.

Or how about Spain, France and Ireland (playing the playoffs in March) in Group E? As Bilbao and Dublin are the host cities of the group, this draw would thus mean two pure away matches - against a gold favorite in Spain and recognized home-strong Ireland - in addition to meeting with France.

A Swedish dream draw could otherwise be: England, Switzerland, Sweden and Norway (who play the playoff) in group D. Sure, England is strong at the moment - but probably "Blue Yellow" could challenge for a second place in the group, or at least reach the eighth final as one of the top four group trips? In addition, the distance between the London and Glasgow venues is manageable - for both national teams and supporting supporters.

The draw as such, then?

24 teams will be placed in six four-team groups, which sounds like a fairly formal procedure. And in ordinary cases when a big football championship is drawn there are not many different parameters to take into account.

But the European Championship 2020 is no ordinary championship, and the draw that starts at 18.00 in Romexpo in Bucharest is no ordinary draw.

Sure, the recently concluded European Championship qualifiers and two teams (a total of 20 countries) are included in the draw procedure. These are divided into four seed groups based on the results in the qualification. And each EM group should consist of one team from each seed group.

So far no major problems.

But for the first time in European history, as is well known, the championship is played in twelve different host cities in as many countries. Group A in Rome and Baku, group B in St. Petersburg and Copenhagen, group C in Amsterdam and Bucharest, group D in London and Glasgow, group E in Bilbao and Dublin and group F in Munich and Budapest.

The host nations that have qualified for the European Championships are guaranteed to play group games at home - and are thus already placed in the right groups: Italy in group A, Russia and Denmark in group B, the Netherlands in group C, England in group D, Spain in Group E and Germany in Group F. All of these countries are allowed to play all three group games at home - except Russia. After the draw, it was decided that Denmark will receive the advantage in Group B of three matches in the Park in Copenhagen, while Russia will settle for two matches at Krestovsky Stadium in St. Petersburg.

Does it sound fancy? Sorry, but it doesn't get any easier.

To make a now somewhat complicated lottery story even more tedious it will be added that there are four places left to fill the championship, since the playoff game is decided first in March. On the one hand, host nations Romania, Scotland, Ireland and Hungary have the chance to reach the European Championships through this playoff (whose ranking was based on last year's Nations League efforts). If any of these countries qualify for the European Championships, they are guaranteed a place in their dedicated group and then receive the benefit of two home matches in the group play.

In addition, the European Football Association (UEFA) has ruled that Ukraine cannot be included in Russia's political group.

Based on the aforementioned factors, Group B to three-quarters is already predetermined before the draw even took place. It consists of Belgium, Russia and Denmark. The only Saturday draw will determine whether that group is Wales or Finland, from the fourth seeding group, which takes the fourth spot. At the same time, Ukraine has already been placed in Group C together with the Netherlands.