<!--Article Start--> <h3 style="text-align: justify"><strong>England will renew one of the oldest rivalries in football against Scotland in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia after they were paired together at a lavish ceremony on Saturday.</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify">But both will be glad to have avoided groups that threw together 1998 champions France with the Netherlands and a Sweden side captained by Paris Saint-Germain star Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Former winners Spain and Italy were also paired.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">World champions Germany were put against the Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, Norway, Azerbaijan and San Marino in the draw made in Saint Petersburg's Konstantin palace.</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify"><strong>England last faced Scotland competitively in Euro 2000 qualifying.</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify">England and Scotland have not met competitively since England won a playoff 2-1 on aggregate to qualify for the 2000 European Championships. They will also face Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania and Malta in Group F.</p> . <p style="text-align: justify"><em>"I think it is a good draw. We've got countries we know and we respect,"</em> said England manager Roy Hodgson.</p> <p style="text-align: justify"><em>"Scotland is the standout fixture for everybody because of the fierce rivalry between the two, but when I look at some of the other groups I think the fixtures on paper look harder than our fixtures on paper."</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify">A Wayne Rooney double inspired England to a 3-1 victory when the two sides met in a friendly in November and Scotland boss Gordon Strachan believes that match can serve as a motivation for his side.</p> <p style="text-align: justify"><em>"I can see why the fans are celebrating, it's a fantastic fixture I think the whole of Scotland and England can look forward to,"</em> he told Sky Sports.</p> <p style="text-align: justify"><em>"In saying that, as coaches, we are looking forward to pitting our wits against teams we have not played against for a long time.</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><em>"The last time the two sides met England stepped it up a gear and it was a fantastic lesson - they pressurise you and you make mistakes and that's something that sticks with us - and I hope will stick with us to fire us on."</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>By AFP</strong></p> <!--Article End-->