This is not the real draw. It looks real – it might even smell real – but it is not.
This article originally appeared on VICE Sports UK.As a kid, did you ever simulate the draw for a major football tournament ahead of the actual event by writing names on bits of paper and drawing them from separate pots? You did? That's really, really weird. We're scared to ask what else you got up to pre-puberty. And even more concerned by what happened afterwards.And anyway, such a process would take ages. Writing all the countries' names, stealing bowls from the kitchen to put them in, gathering together your Action Men to play the part of dignitaries and former players (we really never did this, honest).But now, in 2015, you need not go through such compilations. The UEFA EURO 2016 Final Draw Simulator does pretty much what the name suggests: simulates the draw for next summer's tournament by randomly assigning teams to groups via the four pots. Which is, we think you will agree, totally pointless. It tells us nothing about how the actual draw will go down. And yet, through gritted teeth, we must admit that it's quite fun.Take this draw we simulated in a lavish ceremony at VICE Sports HQ…There are some pretty tasty match-ups in there. Hosts France play neighbours Switzerland in Group A. Group B sees a clash of the titans between World Champions Germany and perennial contenders Italy. The Republic of Ireland face a tricky path to the last 16 with games against Portugal, Russia and the Czech Republic. England and Wales are paired in another tricky group with Croatia and Romania. And there's a deceptively tough Group F that features Belgium, Ukraine, Sweden, and Northern Ireland.All of which means nothing – absolutely nothing at all – because the draw itself will be entirely different from this.And yet, in a depressing world, it gave us five minutes of joy. You can simulate once and get that real-life 'shit, this is the draw' feeling. Or you can keep simulating until your team gets a comfy route to the knockout stages. What's wrong with such simple pleasures? We feel no shame for enjoying the UEFA EURO 2016 Final Draw Simulator in all its glory.The real draw takes place in Paris on December 12, at which point all of your simulations will be pointless.
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