England among top seeds for Euro 2016 qualifying

England have been named as one of the nine top seeds for the qualifying stage of the 2016 European Championship, which will be hosted by France.

The Three Lions' seeding means that they will avoid giants Germany and Spain, but could still draw the hosting French, whose games will serve as friendlies with no points to be awarded, in one of the nine groups to be drawn. France will go into the group which includes just five teams.

As well as England, Germany and Spain, the remaining teams who are top seeds are Italy, Holland, Portugal, Greece, Russia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

It means that England could draw Republic of Ireland from pot two, Scotland or Wales from four and Northern Ireland, who are in pot five.