Phil Sumbler
It seems a strange one to be talking about the qualifying fixtures for Euro 2024 a month before the World Cup of 2022 starts but that is just where we are when there is a winter world cup as we see this year.
As Wales prepare for an appearance at their first finals since 1958,Robert Page and his side will have eyes on Frankfurt on Sunday as the draw for the Euros take place.
Wales will find themselves in the second pot of balls for the draw along with France, Austria, Czech Republic, England, Israel, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Scotland and Finland.
The 55 UEFA countries – of which 53 are in the draw will be drawn into 7 groups of 5 teams and 3 of 6 with the top two in each of the ten groups qualifying for the finals in German in two years time.
Add to that hosts Germany and the three winners of the Nations League play offs and you have the 24 teams that will compete in the tournament that of course was won by Italy at Wembley last year.
Nations League pot (top seeds that have to go in smaller groups): Netherlands, Croatia, Spain, Italy.
Pot 1 (the other top seeds): Denmark, Portugal, Belgium, Hungary, Switzerland, Poland.
Pot 2: France, Austria, Czech Republic, England, Wales, Israel, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Scotland, Finland.
Pot 3: Ukraine, Iceland, Norway, Slovenia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, Montenegro, Romania, Sweden, Armenia.
Pot 4: Georgia, Greece, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Faroe Islands, North Macedonia.
Pot 5: Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Belarus, Lithuania, Gibraltar, Estonia, Latvia, Moldova, Malta.
Pot 6: Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein.
There are several restrictions that prevent some countries from being paired together.
For political reasons, Armenia and Azerbaijan will be kept apart, as will Belarus and Ukraine and Gibraltar and Spain. Kosovo cannot be in a group with Bosnia-Herzegovina or Serbia.
Only two Nordic or Baltic countries can be drawn together because of severe winter conditions.
Because of the locations of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Iceland on the far edges of Europe – they can only be drawn with one team from the opposite side of the continent.
The draw takes place at 11am Sunday.
