Fabio Capello discovered last night that France, Sweden and co-hosts Ukraine will be England's opponents in Group D.

Senior FA staff held a meeting immediately afterwards to thrash out the details, which will include resolving a travel issue given that Capello, like Holland and Germany, is happy to travel to the Ukraine from a base in Poland.

Acutely aware that his star men may be tired after an arduous season, Capello has vowed to learn a few lessons from the debacle that unfolded in South Africa last year.

That is likely to mean a reduction in preparation time ahead of the opening game against France on June 11.

However, Club England managing director Adrian Bevington has confirmed this morning that England will have two friendlies.

"Two games at end of season being finalised - away and home before euros," Bevington wrote on his official Twitter site.

It has previously been claimed England would make a momentous return to Dublin for an encounter with the Republic of Ireland if the pair were not drawn together.

England have not visited the Irish capital since 1995, when a friendly had to be abandoned after 27 minutes due to extensive trouble involving the visiting supporters.

However, there has been no official announcement on this.

It was confirmed last night that England will face Holland at Wembley on Wednesday, February 29.