Champions Spain have comfortable draw for Euro 2016

Nice, France: Two-time defending European champion Spain face a seemingly comfortable road to defend their title at Euro 2016 after being drawn in Group C along with Luxembourg, Macedonia, Belarus, Slovakia and Ukraine on Sunday.

The Netherlands were drawn in a tougher-looking Group A and faces the Czech Republic, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Iceland and Latvia.

There will be eight groups of six teams and one of five, each playing home and away. The top two teams and the best third-placed side qualify, while the eight remaining third-placed sides will contest play-offs.

France are the 24th team and automatically qualified. It will play matches in Group I, but no points will be awarded for their matches.

UEFA made the change because host nations can struggle to arrange suitable friendlies while others focus on qualification.