Spain face Ukraine and Slovakia in Euro 2016 qualifying

Spain will start their campaign for a third successive European title in a group with Ukraine, Slovakia, Belarus, Macedonia and Luxembourg following the draw for the Euro 2016 qualifying competition made on Sunday.

Italy, runners-up to Spain in 2012, will meet Croatia, Norway, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan and Malta in their section.

Gibraltar, UEFA’s newest association, will face Germany, Ireland, Poland, Scotland and Georgia. They were originally drawn in the same group as Spain but moved to another one because of political tensions between the two countries.

The nine group winners and runners-up will qualify automatically for the finals, along with the best third-placed team. The eight other third-placed teams will meet in playoffs to decide the final four teams to take part in the finals in France in 2016.

The qualifying competition, which lasts for 13 months, begins in September.

EURO 2016 qualifying draw

GROUP A
Netherlands
Czech Republic
Turkey
Latvia
Iceland
Kazakhstan

GROUP B
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Belgium
Israel
Wales
Cyprus
Andorra

GROUP C
Spain
Ukraine
Slovakia
Belarus
Macedonia
Luxembourg

GROUP D
Germany
Ireland
Poland
Scotland
Georgia
Gibraltar

GROUP E
England
Switzerland
Slovenia
Estonia
Lithuania
San Marino

GROUP F
Greece
Hungary
Romania
Finland
Northern Ireland
Faroe Islands

GROUP G
Russia
Sweden
Austria
Montenegro
Moldova
Liechtenstein

GROUP H
Italy
Croatia
Norway
Bulgaria
Azerbaijan
Malta

GROUP I
Portugal
Denmark
Serbia
Armenia
Albania