Football
Dale Johnson, General Editor, ESPN FC 4y

Ukraine shock Euro 2020 draw seeds ahead of France and Portugal

Ukraine will be one of the six top seeds for the Euro 2020 finals draw on Nov. 30, leaving world champions France and holders Portugal unseeded.

Seeding for the draw, which is being held in Bucharest, is based purely on performance in qualifying for this tournament. 

Ukraine won six of their eight qualifiers, only drawing their away matches in Portugal and Serbia, to secure their place. They are joined by hosts England, Germany, Italy, and Spain, with the final place taken by Belgium.

France missed out on a place among the seeds by one point, with Artem Biesiedin's 93rd-minute equaliser for Ukraine in Serbia on Sunday proving to be the difference. 

But it's worse for Portugal, who dropped seven points in qualifying and finished runners-up to Ukraine, which is only good enough for a place in Pot 3.

Pot 1: Belgium, Italy, England, Germany, Spain, Ukraine
Pot 2: France, Switzerland, Croatia, Poland, Netherlands, Russia
Pot 3: Portugal, Turkey, Denmark, Austria, Sweden, Czech Republic
Pot 4: Wales, Finland, Playoff A, Playoff B, Playoff C, Playoff D

It means France will definitely be drawn into a group with one of Italy, England, Germany or Spain -- and Portugal could be in the same group. The only other seeded nation available to the 2016 winners and UEFA Nations League champions is Ukraine's. 

Much of the draw is predetermined, because nations must play in the group of their host city. In addition, Belgium have to go into Group B because Ukraine cannot play in Russia, and that means the only group available to Ukraine is Group C, hosted by Netherlands. 

Group possibilities

Group A
Italy
One of France/Poland/Switzerland/Croatia
One of Portugal/Turkey/Austria/Sweden/Czech Republic
Wales or Finland

Group B
Belgium
Russia
Denmark
Wales or Finland

Group C
Ukraine
Netherlands
One of Portugal/Turkey/Austria/Sweden/Czech Republic
Winners of playoff path A, C or D

Group D
England
One of France/Poland/Switzerland/Croatia
One of Portugal/Turkey/Austria/Sweden/Czech Republic
Winners of playoff Path C or D

Group E
Spain
One of France/Poland/Switzerland/Croatia
One of Portugal/Turkey/Austria/Sweden/Czech Republic
Winners of playoff Path B

Group F
Germany
One of France/Poland/Switzerland/Croatia
One of Portugal/Turkey/Austria/Sweden/Czech Republic
Winners of playoff Path A, C or D

The final four places will decided through the playoffs, with the draw taking place on Friday, Nov. 22. 

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