France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris reacted to Friday's Euro 2012 draw by asserting that England will be favourites to top Group D and that France will have to fight Sweden and the Ukraine for second place.
France, champions in 1984 and 2000, will face England in their opening match in Donetsk on June 11 before tackling co-hosts Ukraine on June 15 and then facing Sweden at Kiev's Olympic Stadium on June 19.
The top two sides will qualify for the quarter-finals.
France beat England 2-1 in a friendly when the sides last met at Wembley in November last year and have not lost to the Three Lions since 1997, but Lloris believes Fabio Capello's side have the upper hand.
"The draw could have been more difficult but now, whether it's England, Sweden or the Ukraine, they're opponents of a very good quality and it's never easy to play the host country," he told Tele Lyon Metropole.
"England are one of the biggest nations in football. They'll start as favourites in the group."
Lloris, who is likely to captain France at next year's tournament, will also come up against his Swedish Lyon team-mate Kim Kallstrom.
"Sweden, with Kim Kallstrom, are a very good team with a good squad that also possesses a huge individual in attack in Zlatan Ibrahimovic," he said.
"Behind England, the Ukraine, Sweden and France will fight for second place. We hoped to avoid teams like Germany, the Netherlands or Spain.
"If that's the case, so much the better, but everything will be decided on the pitch. We'll have the time to prepare properly before the tournament."
Source: AFP
