Nations League draw simulated with England landing nightmare group including France and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal

ENGLAND risk facing France, Portugal and Wales in a nightmare 2022-23 Nations League draw - and nearly got just that in SunSport's simulated draw.

Uefa will be hoping to avoid another embarrassing draw balls-up as the Three Lions' World Cup preparations are confirmed.

Euro chiefs were left red-faced after a catalogue of blunders saw them forced to redraw the Champions league last 16 ties three hours after the original event.

But Uefa is confident there will be no repeat with what should be a more simple draw at least for the top 16 teams where there are no restrictions.

Gareth Southgate, who was due to travel to Montreux before the event was moved behind closed doors, will have a keen eye on the draw as it will determine England’s last six opponents before Qatar.

The first four group games - England’s first home match will be played without fans after the punishment for the Euro 2020 final carnage - will be played in June, with the final two matches in September.

But with no October friendlies next season, it means Southgate and his players have just those six games - plus the two scheduled friendlies in March - before they start their quest for World Cup glory next November.

It is expected the competition will offer a back door qualification route to Euro 2024 in Germany, with up to three places available through a play-off system based on Nations League performances.

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However, this is yet to be confirmed by Uefa.

England, who are in the third League A seeding pot after a disappointing campaign last time, could face Wales, who were promoted to the top 16.

The hardest draw for the three Lions would be world champions - and current Nations League holders - France, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and the Welsh.

In a simulated draw conducted by SunSport, England ended up facing France and Portugal, but were picked alongside Czech Republic rather than Wales.

The nominally 'easiest' group according to the current world rankings - alongside Spain, Germany and Hungary - would still represent serious and competitive opposition.

Scotland are in League B, and could face the Republic of Ireland, with Northern Ireland in League C.

NATIONS LEAGUE 2022-23 POTS

LEAGUE A

Pot 1 - France, Spain, Italy, Belgium.

Pot 2 - Portugal, Holland, Denmark, Germany.

Pot 3 - England, Poland, Switzerland, Croatia.

Pot 4 - Wales, Austria, Czech republic, Hungary.

LEAGUE B

Pot 1 - Ukraine, Sweden, Bosnia, Iceland.

Pot 2 - Finland, Norway, Scotland, Russia.

Pot 3 - Israel, Romania, Serbia, Republic of Ireland.

Pot 4 - Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania, Armenia.

LEAGUE C

Pot 1 - Turkey, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Northern Ireland.

Pot 2 - Greece, Belarus, Luxembourg, North Macedonia.

Pot 3 - Lithuania, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kosovo.

Pot 4 - Kazakhstan or Moldova, Cyprus or Estonia, Gibraltar, Faroe Islands.

LEAGUE D

Pot 1 - Kazakhstan or Moldova, Cyprus or Estonia, Liechtenstein, Malta.

Pot 2 - Latvia, San Marino, Andorra.

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