Qualifying draw for Euro 2016 France has been carried out and led to some interesting groups . Take for example in Group E where England are in a group with a country that has a power that far below them , except of course Switzerland . England drawn in Group E alongside Switzerland , Slovenia , Estonia , Lithuania , and San Marino . The two countries last course could be a barn goals for England and Switzerland are expected to easily qualify for the finals .

Defending champions Spain are also in the group of relatively mild . They joined with Ukraine , Slovakia , Belarus , Macedonia , and Luxembourg in Group C. The new Gibraltar joining UEFA had to be a group with Germany in the qualifying round .

While opponents Spain in the 2012 European Cup final , Italy , also in an easy group . Cesare Prandelli 's men are in Group H along with Croatia , Norway , Bulgaria , Azerbaijan , and Malta .

Large countries do have a greater chance to escape because of the new format in the 2016 European Cup . Michel Platini's decision to lump sum final round participants from 16 to 24 countries make the elite team need not worry anymore . If previously they had to be group winners qualify automatically for , so this time just by being runner - up was they had already qualified for the finals .

Yes , from the nine existing group , 18 countries will qualify for the finals with the status as the champion and runner - up group . The three best ranked countries also qualify automatically by applying the head to head rule which has been prepared UEFA .

Eight nations that inhabit the rest of the top three will compete for four tickets again via the play - offs . While the remaining tickets have certainly belonged to France 's status as host .

Here is the draw for the European Cup Qualifying 2016: 

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 , Republic of Ireland , Poland , Scotland , Georgia , Gibraltar
Group E : England , Switzerland , Slovenia , Estonia , Lithuania , San Marino
Group F : Greece , Hungary , Romania , Finland , Northern Ireland , Kep . Faroe
Group G : Russia , Sweden , Austria , Montenegro , Moldova , Liechtenstein
Group H : Italy , Croatia , Norway , Bulgaria , Azerbaijan , Malta
Group I : Portugal , Denmark , Serbia , Armenia , Albania