There was no automatic qualifying berth, and all 55 UEFA national teams, including the twelve national teams whose countries were selected to stage matches, had to compete in the qualifiers for the 24 places at the finals tournament. The Three Lions, who have not missed the global tournament since 1994, will be favourites to top a group that also contains Hungary, Albania, england football top Andorra and San Marino. Scotland will also fancy their chances of progress, with Denmark and Austria among the weaker sides from the top two pots of seeds featuring in their group, as well as Israel, england football shirt the Faroe Islands and Moldova.