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Soccer-European qualifying draw for 2018 World Cup

ST PETERSBURG, July 25 (Reuters) - European qualifying competition draw for 2018 World Cup in Russia. GROUP A Netherlands France Sweden Bulgaria Belarus Luxembourg GROUP B Portugal Switzerland Hungary Faroe Islands Latvia Andorra GROUP C Germany Czech Republic Northern Ireland Norway Azerbaijan San Marino GROUP D Wales Austria Serbia Ireland Moldova Georgia GROUP E Romania Denmark Poland Montenegro Armenia Kazakhstan GROUP F England Slovakia Scotland Slovenia Lithuania Malta GROUP G Spain Italy Albania Israel FYR Macedonia Liechtenstein GROUP H Belgium Bosnia Greece Estonia Cyprus GROUP I Croatia Iceland Ukraine Turkey Finland The nine group winners advance directly to the World Cup finals. The eight runners-up with the best record against the teams first, third, fourth and fifth in their groups proceed to playoffs to decide the remaining four European berths. Tournament hosts Russia are given a bye to the finals. (Editing by Toby Davis)