March D-Day for Euro qualifiers (From Boating Cornwall)

March D-Day for Euro qualifiers

12:57pm Monday 8th February 2010 in

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England and Wales will thrash out their qualifying fixtures for Euro 2012 in Switzerland on March 15.

The meeting date was agreed in Warsaw on Sunday following the qualifying draw and is almost certain to be attended by Fabio Capello and John Toshack, who will be keen to get the schedule they feel suits their sides the best.

Capello stated prior to the draw his preference for a five-team group, which involves only eight fixtures. The England coach got his wish - and Switzerland was the obvious meeting point given Group G also involves the Swiss, plus Eastern European duo Bulgaria and Montenegro.

Capello will doubtless want to play what he regards as the most difficult fixtures during the eight dates available in September and October - 2010 and 2011 - as that is when he feels the English players are at their most productive before an arduous domestic campaign.

He may try to avoid qualifying games in June 2011, for similar reasons, knowing as well that Bulgaria and Montenegro can get uncomfortably warm at that time of year.