Roy Hodgson admitted he is “satisfied” with England’s group stage draw for next summer’s Euro 2016 Finals after being pulled out of the hat alongside Wales, Russia and Slovakia.
The Three Lions, semi-finalists in 1996, will kick-off Group B against Russia in Marseille on Saturday 11 June, before taking on Chris Coleman’s Wales in Lens five days later.
England’s final match sees them go head-to-head with Slovakia in St-Etienne on 20 June.
But it is their pairing with neighbours Wales that will draw most attention in the build-up to the trip across the Channel and Hodgson is relishing the occasion.
“As far as I’m concerned it has been a very satisfactory day,” he said.
“We are very pleased Chris Coleman and Wales have done so well, it has been exciting following their progress.
"There were a few teams in that pot that we could have got that would have been a tough one, so why not have a tough one close to home?
“All of their players play in England, but what we know most of all is their team is very well organised, they play very well together, have a fantastic team spirit and a very strong spine.
The Henri Delauney trophy
“In Ashley Williams, Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale, you’re talking about three top-class European players right through the spine of the team and Chris has done a good job moulding the rest of the players around that strong spine.
“We have a lot of respect for Wales and the others as well.”
England have not lost to Wales since 1984, winning all four matches without conceding a goal. Russia are relatively unfamiliar opponents, with the nations having not met since 2007, while England have won all three meetings with Slovakia, most recently a 4-0 victory at Wembley in 2009.
But Hodgson has promised no stone will be left unturned to ensure England are well prepared.
“It’s two newcomers on my CV to play against,” he added.
“But we respect them and we will do plenty of research between now and June to make sure we know as much about them as we think we know about Wales.”
How to watch England at Euro 2016
England fans’ best chance of being at matches at France 2016 is by becoming an England Supporters Travel Club member, and applying for tickets through The FA.
For full FAQs detailing how you can get to watch the Three Lions next summer, click here.
England's next home game is against Holland at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday 29 March 2016. Tickets are available to buy online, visit www.TheFA.com/tickets.
