SCOTLAND manager Gordon Strachan is relishing the forthcoming European Championship qualifiers following the draw in Nice.

Strachan's team have been paired with Germany, Republic of Ireland, Poland, Georgia and tournament debutants Gibraltar in Group D.

The Scots hope to return to the finals of a major tournament for the first time since the 1998 World Cup, which took place in France, the venue of the Euro 2016 finals.

Strachan will come up against his predecessor at Celtic Martin O'Neill and former Hoops midfielder Roy Keane, who are at the head of the Ireland coaching staff.

And the Scotland boss is thrilled at the prospect of facing the Irish. "It is exciting," Strachan said. "We're definitely in an exciting group that should excite everybody. The two people I walked into the room with were Martin and Roy for the draw, and I just saw them just now and they're excited as well.

"We're excited but we're competitive as well. We're all smiling just now but we know fine well that the gloves will come off.

"We've got a hard group. And I think the teams in our group will be saying 'this is going to be hard' and you never know how it's going to fluctuate over the next couple of years - the form of a team, the form of individual players, the injuries, so it's very hard to predict at this moment.

"If we can keep all of our players fit then we'll have a chance and the Republic, Poland will be thinking the same, Georgia will be thinking the same.

"This is a real good level that the players have got to play at. I think if we play to the level we can play, and where we want to go to, we can definitely qualify."

Scotland get their hardest match out of the way first - away to Germany on September 7. They finish with Germany at home, Poland at home - which could well be the critical match of the campaign - and finally minnows Gibraltar away.

REACTION FROM OUR RIVALS

Joachim Löw (Germany)

"From a sporting point of view it is an interesting group, with Germany, Georgia, Scotland, Ireland and Poland. It's an even group, and from the atmosphere point of view, a good group. There are some Polish players playing in the Bundesliga, and then with Scotland or Ireland, wherever you play there is always a great atmosphere."

Martin O'Neill (Rep of Ireland)

"It's a difficult group but exciting nevertheless. The matches against Scotland will be great occasions and I'm sure Gordon Strachan will be as excited as I am. It's great, it's tough - there's other groups we might have preferred to be in but let's get on with it."

Adam NawaBka (Poland)

"It's not my group of dreams. My first thought is that, of course, Germany are the favourites, but other teams have equal chances to qualify. It is interesting that we will fight to reach the Euro 2016 finals with teams we will face in upcoming friendlies, against Scotland in March and Germany in May."

Guram Kashia (Georgia defender)

"Germany are clear favourites who have chances to take 100% of points from every opponent. Other teams, including Ireland, Scotland, Poland and us, will fight for second place."

Allen Bula (Gibraltar)

"It's definitely been a long road [to get here]. Finally here, it looked a bit surreal, but now it's reality. I did get one of my wishes: I got Germany."

GROUP D FIXTURES

2014

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

Georgia v Rep of Ireland (5.0)

Germany v SCOTLAND (7.45)

Gibraltar v Poland (7.45)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11

Rep of Ireland v Gibraltar (5.0)

Scotland v Georgia (5.0)

Poland v Germany (7.45)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14

Geermany v Rep of Ireland (7.45)

Gibraltar v Georgia (7.45)

Poland v Scotland (7.45)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14

Georgia v Poland (5.0)

Germany v Gibraltar (7.45)

Scotland v Rep of Ireland (7.45)

2015

SUNDAY, MARCH 29

Georgia v Germany (5.0)

Scotland v Gibraltar (5.0)

Rep of Ireland v Poland (7.45)

SATURDAY, JUNE 13

Poland v Georgia (5.0)

Rep of Ireland v Scotland (5.0)

Gibraltar v Germany (7.45)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

Georgia v Scotland (5.0)

Germany v Poland (7.45)

Gibraltar v Rep of Ireland (7.45)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

Poland v Gibraltar (7.45)

Rep of Ireland v Georgia (7.45)

Scotland v Germany (7.45)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8

Georgia v Gibraltar (5.0)

Rep of Ireland v Germany (7.45)

Scotland v Poland (7.45)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11

Germany v Georgia (7.45)

Gibraltar v Scotland (7.45)

Poland v Rep of Ireland (7.45)

Kick-off times subject to change

THE GROUPS

Group A: Holland, Czech Republic, Turkey, Latvia, Iceland, Kazakhstan

Group B: Bosnia-Herz, Belgium, Israel, Wales, Cyprus, Andorra

Group C: Spain, Ukraine, Slovakia, Belarus, Macedonia, Luxembourg

Group D: Germany, Rep of Ireland, Poland, Scotland, Georgia, Gibraltar

Group E: England, Switzerland, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania, San Marino

Group F: Greece, Hungary, Romania, Finland, Northern Ireland, Faroes

Group G: Russia, Sweden, Austria, Montenegro, Moldova, Liechtenstein

Group H: Italy, Croatia, Norway, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Malta

Group I: Portugal, Denmark, Serbia, Armenia, Albania

France*

*France qualify as hosts, but will play friendlies against teams in Group I. There will be no points awarded for games in which France figure, so these will have no effect on the Group I table.

:: The top two teams from each group plus the third-placed team with the best record qualify automatically for the finals. The remaining eight third-placed teams will contest play-offs.

:: Qualifiers to be played between September 7, 2014 and October 13, 2015. Play-off matches to be played in November, 2015.