While Wales know Switzerland, Turkey and Italy, in that order, are their Group A opponents at the Euro 2020 finals this summer other sides are less fortunate, with the composition of Groups C, D, E and F still to be decided.
The only other group already set is B, which is comprised of Belgium, Denmark, Finland and Russia.
In Group D England know they face the Czech Republic and World Cup finalists Croatia, who topped Wales’ qualifying group, but their final opponent will not become clear until after the play-offs are completed next month… when one of four teams could end up in their group.
Likewise for Group E, where Poland, Spain and Sweden are still waiting to learn their final opponent.
But in Group F, the pool of death, the picture is even more cloudy with France, Germany and Portugal facing the possibility of seeing one of seven teams heading their way.
It’s a similar situation in Group C, where the Netherlands, Austria and Ukraine could see any one of five teams in their pool.
The reason for the uncertainty comes down to the structure of next month’s play-offs, which take place between 26-31 March.
There are four play-off paths, A-D, each comprised of four teams… with the semi-finals and final played off over one leg for a place at Euro 2020.
Paths B and C are pretty straightforward, with the winners of each already certain of which group they will go into. For example, England will be up against the winner of path C, which sees Scotland play Israel and Norway take on Serbia in the semi-finals.
Poland, Spain and Sweden, in Group E, know that the final member of their pool will come from path B, where Bosnia and Herzegovina play Northern Ireland and Slovakia take on the Republic of Ireland in the semi-finals.
But here’s where the waters get muddied again… in path A Iceland face Romania, while Bulgaria are up against Hungary in the semi-finals. If Iceland, Bulgaria or Hungary win the path then they will complete Group F, but if Romania win the path they will complete Group C.
Finally path D sees Georgia up against Belarus and North Macedonia taking on Kosovo in the semi-finals, with the destination of the path winner being determined by the outcome of path A.
All pretty clear? Well, wait until it’s time to sort out the round of 16 at the finals themselves.
If Wales top Group A this summer they would face the second-placed team in Group C at Wembley, while finishing as runners-up would send them to Amsterdam to face the runners-up of Group B.
But there’s two more possible scenarios, should Wales miss out on the top two spots in Group A their tournament would not necessarily be over, they could then end up playing the winners of Group F in Bucharest or Group E in Glasgow with four of the six third-placed teams also earning a place in the knockout stages.
PLAY-OFF MATCH SCHEDULE
Semi-finals: Thursday 26 March
Path A: Iceland v Romania, Bulgaria v Hungary
Path B: Bosnia and Herzegovina v Northern Ireland, Slovakia v Republic of Ireland
Path C: Scotland v Israel, Norway v Serbia
Path D: Georgia v Belarus, North Macedonia v Kosovo
Finals: Tuesday 31 March
Path A: Bulgaria/Hungary v Iceland/Romania
Path B: Bosnia and Herzegovina/Northern Ireland v Slovakia/Republic of Ireland
Path C: Norway/Serbia v Scotland/Israel
Path D: Georgia/Belarus v North Macedonia/Kosovo (18:00 CET)
EURO 2020 GROUPS
Group A: Turkey, Italy, Wales, Switzerland
Group B: Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Russia
Group C: Austria, Netherlands, Play-off Winner D (A), Ukraine
Group D: Croatia, Czech Republic, England, Play-off Winner C
Group E: Play-off Winner B, Poland, Spain, Sweden
Group F: France, Germany, Play-off Winner A (D), Portugal
