Postpublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
Right, it's nearly time to go in Manchester.
How are your nerves, everyone?
Summary
Watch live on Red Button, iPlayer & at top of this page
England and Northern Ireland to face each other - drawn together in Group A
England will open tournament against Austria at Old Trafford on 6 July
Group A: England, Austria, Norway, Northern Ireland; Group B: Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland
Group C: Netherlands, Sweden, Russia, Switzerland; Group D: France, Italy, Belgium, Iceland
Postpublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
Postpublished at 16:59 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland boss Kenny Shiels: "It's a big thing for us. We're the party poopers. We're the only nation ranked outside the first 16 seeds. We've got a lot of work to do.
"To compete against these players is a great attractiobn for us. I'm preparing for the World Cup (qualifiers), it's hard to join the two together. When I see this fanfare it's bigger than I thought it was.
"We're considering going professional for a six-month period going into the Euros, to make those career chasnges partially it's fantastic for the girls to feel people care about us and they want us to do well.
"We don't want to play any of the teams from pot one! It would be great (to draw England) because we're next door neighbours to and it would be great for the UK. England qualified as hosts, so we're the only home nation to achieve qualification!"
Who goes where then?published at 16:57 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
Right, balls are about to start getting pulled out of pots shortly.
This is a crash course in how the mechanics of it works...
The draw starts with the top-seeded teams in Pot 1. We already know hosts England are in group A and the Netherlands, Germany and France will each be placed in one of the other three groups.
After a team's group is decided, the side's position in the group - eg A1, A2, A3 or A4 - is determined by drawing a ball - this position determining the order of who plays when in the group.
The draw continues with Pots 2, 3 and 4 to decide which group each team is in and which position they occupy within that group.
England's chancespublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
As tournament hosts, England got to sit out qualifying.
They will go into Euro 2022 as one of the favourites having reached the semi-final stage in the past three major tournaments, which includes two World Cups and Euro 2017.
Euro 2022 will be the first major tournament under manager Sarina Wiegman who famously guided the Netherlands to European glory at home five years ago.
Can she do the same with the Lionesses?
'To be here is amazing'published at 16:52 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
Northern IrelandQuote MessageJust to be here and take it all in is fantastic. What a moment for our country and women’s football in Northern Ireland. I always hoped that it would happen one day and for it to come this soon is fantastic. The improvement we’ve had these last few years to be here tonight it’s amazing."
Simone Magill, Northern Ireland and Everton striker
Image source, Getty ImagesGetting bigger and biggerpublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
If you needed any evidence as to how much the women's game is growing in England, here are some recently released figures from the Women's Sport Trust on the Women's Super League coverage this season.
- The reach of the WSL on the BBC so far this season is 7.9 million
- 32% of top 10 stories sampled on BBC Sport website from July-Sept 2021 were about women’s sport compared to 23% in same period in 2019
- Free-to-air outlets, like the BBC, bring in a higher proportion of female viewers to watch women’s sport than for the same event on pay-TV
King Kennypublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
Northern Ireland manager Kenny Shiels hits the red carpet before the draw.
After working a miracle with Northern Ireland - mission accomplished - we might have found Daniel Craig's successor as James Bond.
The name's Shiels...
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 16:49 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
Fara Williams
Former England and GB international on BBC Red ButtonThese are the games I miss the most. It was here in 2005 I started my international career in this tournament. I'm hoping for a good draw.
Belgium and Denmark in pot three are tricky. The teans in Europe are so strong now and I think these will be the best Euros yet.
Spain have come on so much, and with Sweden doing so well in the Olympics they're another one.
The Euros and the World Cup are the two major tournamens you look forward to.
Old Trafford opener 'will be special'published at 16:48 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
England
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester United forward Ella Toone bagged herself a hat-trick for England against Latvia on Tuesday and then spoke to media about what it would mean to her to play for their Lionesses at Old Trafford in the Euro 2022 opener next year.
“I’ve played at Old Trafford before and it was amazing so hopefully to play there for England will be really special and we can get loads of fans in there to make it a special occasion," she said.
“My childhood club is Manchester United so playing at Old Trafford is always amazing. I want to keep working hard and improving and hopefully getting picked for England camps.”
Happy birthday, Lucy!published at 16:46 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
Lucy Bronze is in the house!
The England and Man City defender turns 30 today, and this isn't a bad location to spend your birthday.
She'll be hoping for a good draw as the perfect present.
Image source, Getty Images'The day we've all been waiting for'published at 16:45 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
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End of twitter post'Every team will be tough' - NI's Wadepublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
Northern IrelandIt's a moment many will have dreamed about when 'Northern Ireland' is pulled out of the famous Uefa balls and Lauren Wade believes it is a moment NI have earned the right to savour.
Realistically, with Northern Ireland ranked just inside the top 50, every one of the 15 teams will want Kenny Shiels' side in their group.
However, as the play-off with Ukraine and Tuesday's draw with Austria has showcased, this Northern Ireland side show little regard for any reputations.
"We are looking forward to see who we are going to get," said winger Wade.
"Obviously, it's the first time but we are really excited and we want to kick on. Every team will be tough in the draw but it gives us confidence that we are going to be able to compete."
Image source, Press EyePostpublished at 16:42 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
EnglandEngland boss Sarina Wiegman, who won Euro 2017 with the Netherlands, speaking on BBC Red Button: "It's so nice to work with this group. We haven't been exposed defensively but I hope we get that in February or maybe next month against Austria.
"Winning is very very hard. You have to make sure everything you can control you do well. You have to be the best you can be when the tournament starts. I think we have a very good squad and we can be successful.
"I don't look at teams to avoid. You have to make sure you're at the highest level you can be."
A winning formula?published at 16:40 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
A belated happy birthday to England manager Sarina Wiegman!
A winner with her native Netherlands at the last Euros in 2017, is she the manager to help England become European champions on home turf?
Image source, Getty ImagesBBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2021 shortlist revealed - vote for your favouritepublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
The shortlist for the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2021 has been revealed - and you can now vote for your winner.
The five contenders for the BBC World Service accolade were chosen by a panel of experts, including coaches, players, administrators and journalists.
The nominees are:
- Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway and Barcelona)
- Sam Kerr -(Australia and Chelsea)
- Ashley Lawrence (Canada and Paris St-Germain)
- Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands and Arsenal)
- Alexia Putellas (Spain and Barcelona)
Voting closes at 09:00 GMT on Monday, 8 November and the winner of the award will be announced on Monday, 29 November on BBC World Service and the BBC Sport website.
Media caption, BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2021: Meet the nominees
The part-time underdogs taking on Europepublished at 16:37 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
Northern IrelandA large part of the magic of Northern Ireland's journey to Euro 2022 is the fact they are largely part-time players, mixing international duty with their day jobs as teachers, retail workers and students, and taking it to some of the best professionals in Europe.
In Kerry Beattie's case, the teenager is now a regular in Kenny Shiels' squad despite just finishing her A Levels in the summer.
That's not a bad few months.
Media caption, Watch: From A Levels to Wembley - NI striker Beattie's 'unbelievable' year
Wiegman 'excited' for drawpublished at 16:36 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
England
Image source, ReutersAfter England put 10 past Latvia on Tuesday, Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman was able to turn her attention to the Euro 2022 draw.
“It’s very exciting. Then it really starts to live and you know who you are playing in the group stages and where you have to go," she said.
“You can make plans then so I am really looking forward to it.”
Postpublished at 16:35 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
Alex Scott
Former England defender on BBC Red ButtonThis tournament is all about legacy. For England and Northern Ireland to be involved is going to be special.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 16:34 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard message rates apply)
As we prepare to bring you the draw for Euro 2022, get in touch to tell us who you would love to see England and Northern Ireland come up against in next year's tournament?
How Northern Ireland got here?published at 16:33 British Summer Time 28 October 2021
Media caption, Highlights: Northern Ireland 2-0 Ukraine
Northern Ireland made history when they beat Ukraine at Seaview in April to reach the finals of Euro 2022.
But this is not a story of a sensational qualifying play-off victory, no this is a tale that spans almost two decades.
The European Championships in England will be Northern Ireland's first major tournament.
It caps a remarkable 17-year journey for Northern Ireland, whose women's national team only reformed in 2004.