HAMBURG, Germany (AFP) – Reigning champions Italy were placed in the same group as Spain in Saturday’s draw for Euro 2024, while France will come up against the Netherlands and England avoided any of the toughest opponents.

Gareth Southgate’s much-fancied England side will meet Slovenia, Denmark and Serbia, with hosts Germany taking on Scotland in the tournament’s opening game on June 14 in Munich.

Italy and Spain will also face Croatia and Albania in Group B. Spain will take on Croatia in their opening match in Berlin on June 15.

The meeting of France and the Netherlands will be the other heavyweight tie of the opening phase.

The two nations are in Group D along with Austria and a play-off winner, which will be one of Poland, Wales, Finland or Estonia.

England will have few complaints about their opponents in Group C.

Scotland will have the honour of featuring in the tournament’s curtain-raiser when they meet Germany to start in Group A. Hungary and Switzerland complete that section

Germany have been European champions three times, a record shared with Spain, but there are big doubts about their form heading into the tournament.

Euro 2016 winners Portugal were drawn in Group F with Turkey, the Czech Republic and a play-off winner from either Greece, Georgia, Luxembourg or Kazakhstan.

Belgium are in Group E alongside Slovakia, Romania and the winner of the other play-off path, which will be Israel, Iceland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, or Ukraine.