Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill keen to face France
Friday 11 December 2015 11:24, UK
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill would be happy to face host nation France in the opening game of Euro 2016 but does not fancy having to play England.
The draw for next year's European Championships takes place in Paris on Saturday, with O'Neill's men in Pot Four alongside the Republic of Ireland and Wales for their first major finals since they qualified for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
O'Neill conceded that while featuring in the opening night against the hosts would be something special, there are some teams he would rather avoid.
"Playing France in the opening game would be a special experience," he told the Guardian.
"I suppose you would look to avoid Italy from pot two and probably an England game as well, simply because the attention around that could overshadow everything else."
Although they could face Roy Hodgson's England in the group stages of next year's tournament, they cannot play Wales or Republic of Ireland, who join them in Pot Four.
Hosts France have already been guaranteed their place as the seeded team in Group A, meaning if they win the group they will play one of two third-placed teams in the next round.
Watch the draw for Euro 2016 on Soccer Saturday, which is due to take place from 5pm.
