Giovanni Trapattoni wants to avoid England in Friday night’s draw for the European Championship finals in Poland and the Ukraine next summer.

The Italian is in Kiev along with the coaches from the other 15 teams ahead of the draw ceremony at the city’s Palace of the Arts.

Ireland are the lowest seeds of the 14 qualifiers and will be in pot four for Friday’s draw along with France, Denmark and the Czech Republic.

Co-hosts Poland and the Ukraine are joined in Pool One by World Cup winners and reigning European champions Spain and Holland.

England feature in Pool Two with Germany, Italy and Russia while Portugal, Greece, Sweden and Croatia make up Pool Three.

“I have no wish list for the draw but I would prefer not to play England, Spain and Germany,” said Trapattoni.

“My fingers are crossed only for Pool One, after that I will take whatever the draw gives us and look forward to the games.

“No matter who we play, it’s 90 minutes of football and we have trust. It’s just three games of 90 minutes and, with our mentality, there is no reason to have fear.”

England boss Fabio Capello is also anxious to avoid his compatriot Trapattoni in tonight’s Euro draw.

Capello said: “I spoke with Giovanni Trapattoni and Marco Tardelli after they got through. They were both really happy. I think it’s a real success for Ireland and for this manager. It is a great thing.

“I hope we are not drawn against them. The countries are close and also it would be two Italian managers, so I’d prefer not to be drawn with them. We cannot draw Italy as we are in the same pot, but this would be the same for me to face another Italian manager.”

Asked if Ireland can emulate Greece at Euro 2004 in Portugal and win the European title, Trapattoni added: “It’s a dream at the moment.

“But in football, there is the moment when the wind takes you on the back and helps. It’s not about the first three games, the team will be tired after the group.”

Trapattoni and FAI officials want to land one of the eight places available in Poland in tonight’s draw and are likely to base themselves there even if they have to play in the Ukraine.