NYON, Switzerland (AP):

FORMER CHAMPIONS Italy, France, Germany and the Netherlands could end up in one group at next year's European Championship, according to the seedings confirmed yesterday by UEFA.

The Netherlands earned the last spot in Pot One, joining defending champions Greece and the two hosts, Switzerland and Austria. The draw for the 16-nation tournament will be held on December 2 in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Determined by coefficient

The seedings were determined according to a coefficient between matches won and lost and goals scored and conceded during qualifying for the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008.

The Dutch had the best coefficient they lost 2-1 at Belarus on Wednesday.

Switzerland will be placed as the top team in Group A and Austria the top team in Group B, even though they are among the outsiders to win the title.

Cannot play one another

Greece and the Netherlands will end up either in Group C or Group D. The four teams from Pot One cannot play against one another in the group stage.

Croatia, who eliminated England with a 3-2 win at Wembley on Wednesday, will be in Pot Two along with World Cup champions Italy, the Czech Republic and Sweden.

Pot Three has Romania, three-time champions Germany, Portugal and Spain. Newcomers Poland, World Cup runners-up France, Turkey and Russia are in Pot Four.

Teams in the same pot will be placed in different groups.