It's turned out Fab

"Capello will have a nice red tonight and think it could have been a lot worse."
Glenn Hoddle Quotes of the week

England will begin their Group D campaign against France on June 11 before playing Sweden and co-hosts Ukraine, on June 15 in Kiev and on June 19 in Donetsk respectively.

Hoddle, who oversaw England's 1998 World Cup campaign, said Capello's squad will only have themselves to blame if they don't progress from the group - even though they will be based in Poland but will play their games in Ukraine.

"I don't think that's too much of a problem," Hoddle told Sky Sports News HD. "They've got a really good camp where they are [Krakow].

"They've got to go down to Donetsk again for the last game against the co-hosts (Ukraine) which might be a problem if we need something but it's a good group; Capello will have a nice red tonight and think it could have been a lot worse.

Delighted

"On paper you'd say France [are the biggest threats] but they are not the French team of yesteryear - they are rebuilding again, if you like.

"Ukraine as the host nation might possibly have something but Andriy Shevchenko is still in the squad - he's still their talisman - so that tells you something.

"They'll have some youngsters around him but there's nothing threatening there realistically. You've got to look at that and say 'we should be able to qualify'.

"I wasn't that impressed with Sweden although we haven't got the best of records against Sweden in qualifying games and tournaments over the years.

"They do seem to be a bogey team for us but overall Capello will be absolutely delighted. All in all, a very good draw for England."

Decent

Former England striker Alan Smith echoed Hoddle's sentiments, saying 'the footballing gods' have been kind to Capello once more.

"You can't ask for too much more. France, the opening game, brings back memories of Euro 2004 in Portugal when that was our opening game.

"We were 1-0 up and Zinedine Zidane got a couple; we collapsed towards the end but we played well. But that was the last tournament that we did really play well in!

"Sweden were second in their qualifying group - I don't think they are a powerhouse. I don't think Ukraine are either, but with home support who knows?

"We had a decent group in qualifying and in South Africa we had a kind-ish group so the gods have been looking down on us favourably and we've got it again. What more could you ask for?

"We are worried about Wayne Rooney not being there but we're England, we've got good players - we should be able to qualify."

Special

Sweden's presence in England's group reminded Smith of Euro 92, when he was part of Graham Taylor's squad.

England needed to beat Sweden to reach the semi-finals after drawing against Denmark and France, and Smith recalled: "I came on for Gary Lineker that day and hardly got a kick before Tomas Brolin scored the winner so that substitution didn't do much good.

"Zlatan Ibrahimovic is always held out as one of the best centre-forwards in Europe and does ever so well for his clubs - what a CV - but rarely plays well against English clubs. Will he do well against England?

"They were in a tough qualifying group with Holland and 24 points isn't a bad effort. It's always something special for Sweden to play England - a bit like if England were to play the Republic there is a little special atmosphere - because English football is such a big deal over there."