EURO 2012 Draw: Moldova paired with heavyweights Holland in Group E

Moldova have been placed in Group E with heavyweights Holland, as well as Sweden, Finland, Hungary and San Marino, in a draw held Sunday in Warsaw to determine the qualifying groups for the 2012 European Championships, Info-Prim Neo reports.

Moldova encountered most of their group opponents in previous qualifiers.

In the qualifying campaign for EURO 2004, Holland beat Moldova twice, 2-1 and 5-0. The Orangemen, in their current shape, are by far the favorites of Group E. The squad coached by Bert van Marwijk won all the 10 fixtures in their qualifying group for the 2010 World Cup.

Sweden administered Moldova the most categorical beating in the latter's history: 6-0 in 2001, in Goteborg. Moldova encountered the other Scandinavian team, Finland, in the the EURO 2000 qualifiers.

Last time Moldova met with Hungary – in Chisinau, in the final qualifier for EURO 2008 – the host side, coached by Igor Dobrovolski at that time, surprisingly defeated the Magyars 3-0.

San Marino are the only team Moldova have never encountered before in official matches. Statistics show them as Europe's possibly weakest team. In the previous qualifying campaign they suffered 10 defeats in 10 matches.

Recently appointed Moldova manager Gabi Balint said his side might have some chances in the group only if he manages to summon Moldova's most experienced footballers who are playing in foreign clubs.

The EURO 2012 qualifiers are set to begin in September 2010 and end in October 2011.