SWITZERLAND: SOCCER - Italy, France and the Netherlands drawn together in "hammer group" C for Euro 2008 finals

World champion Italy face major challenge in "hammer group" C, grouped with France, the Netherlands and Romania. World champions Italy face a major challenge to add the European title to their victories, as they are grouped in what FIFA president Sepp Blatter called the "hammer-group" along with France, the Netherlands and Romania. "There are only good teams left, there are no weak teams, and when I see the group called the 'hammer group', well yes, but lots of football will be played", FIFA president Sepp Blatter told Reuters Television, leaving the draw. "Group C is wonderful, everybody says it's the death group, but it's the group of happiness, of beautiful football. So good, I'm happy," UEFA president Michel Platini said. Italy, who beat France on penalties to win the World Cup final last year and also faced France in the qualifying competition, will meet in their last Group C match in Zurich on June 17. "It's a very difficult group, but we expected it, we were in pot number 4, so it was obvious the group was going to be difficult. It's the benjamins' cup final, it's the Euro 2008 final, so we're running to be in the two best," Jean-Pierre Escalettes, the president of the French Football Federation said. Italy and France have met three times in the Euro finals -- with France winning twice, including the 2000 final in Rotterdam which they won 2-1, with one match drawn. Italy, who beat France on penalties to win the World Cup final last year and also faced France in the qualifying competition, will meet in their last Group C match in Zurich on June 17. Italy last won the European title in 1968 when they hosted a four-team finals. The group will see at least one major title hopeful eliminated as it also contains the Netherlands and Romania who also met each other in the qualifying round. The draw, made at Lucerne's Congress and Culture Centre, was not particularly kind to either of the co-hosts either with Switzerland facing the Czech Republic, Portugal and Turkey in group A while Austria meet Croatia, Germany and Poland in group B. Switzerland opens the tournament against the Czechs in Basel on June 7 with the final taking place in Vienna on June 29. They will then face Turkey on June 11 in Basel, a game that recalls one of the uglier incidents in the World Cup qualifying campaign of two years ago when Turkish players attacked the Swiss in Istanbul. Fellow hosts Austria will meet highly-fancied Croatia in their opening match in Vienna on June 8 and then meet Poland in Vienna on June 12 before a match against their old rivals and friends Germany on June 16. Of more immediate concern might be the fact that Germany will play two matches in Klagenfurt, with thousands of their fans descending on the smallest of the eight venues hosting matches. Holders Greece kick-off the defence of their title in group B, against Sweden and also face Spain and Russia. They will start against Sweden in Salzburg on June 10 and then play Russia there four days later and Spain in the same venue on June 18. Euro 2008 takes place from June 7 to 29 with matches in Geneva, Berne, Basel, Zurich, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Klagenfurt and Vienna. Group A: Switzerland Czech Republic Portugal Turkey Group B: Austria Croatia Germany Poland Group C: Netherlands Italy Romania France Group D: Greece Sweden Spain Russia Fixtures for Euro 2008 (all kickoff times GMT): Group A June 7 Basel 1600 Switzerland v Czech Republic June 7 Geneva 1845 Portugal v Turkey June 11 Basel 1845 Switzerland v Turkey June 11 Geneva 1600 Czech Republic v Portugal June 15 Basel 1845 Switzerland v Portugal June 15 Geneva 1845 Turkey v Czech Republic Group B June 8 Vienna 1600 Austria v Croatia June 8 Klagenfurt 1845 Germany v Poland June 12 Klagenfurt 1600 Croatia v Germany June 12 Vienna 1845 Austria v Poland June 16 Klagenfurt 1845 Poland v Croatia June 16 Vienna 1845 Austria v Germany Group C June 9 Zurich 1600 Romania v France June 9 Berne 1845 Netherlands v Italy June 13 Zurich 1600 Italy v Romania June 13 Berne 1845 Netherlands v France June 17 Zurich 1845 France v Italy June 17 Berne 1845 Netherlands v Romania Group D June 10 Innsbruck 1600 Greece v Sweden June 10 Salzburg 1845 Spain v Russia June 14 Innsbruck 1600 Greece v Russia June 14 Salzburg 1845 Sweden v Spain June 18 Salzburg 1845 Greece v Spain June 18 Innsbruck 1845 Russia v Sweden Quarterfinals June 19 Basel 1845 Winner Grp A v Runner-up Grp B June 20 Vienna 1845 Winner Grp B v Runner-up Grp A June 21 Basel 1845 Winner Grp C v Runner-up Grp D June 22 Vienna 1845 Winner Grp D v Runner-up Grp C Semifinals June 25 Basel 1845 Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2 June 26 Vienna 1845 Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4 Final June 29 Vienna 1845 Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2

ITN Source | December 3, 2007

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