( CNN ) -- With more teams than ever playing at football 's Euro 2016 , the chances of a powerhouse not qualifying are even slimmer than before . But the expanded field -- from 16 to 24 -- means there could be a few debutants in France in two years . Sunday 's qualifying draw did n't produce a group of death , and the likes of two-time reigning champions Spain , the consistent Germans and always dangerous Italy should n't be sweating it out come the end of qualifying . Spain landed in a group with Ukraine , Luxembourg , Belarus , Macedonia and Slovakia -- and of the latter quintet , only Ukraine features in the top 50 in the FIFA world rankings . Instead of simply the group winner and best second-place finisher automatically qualifying , now the top two in the nine groups and best third-place finisher will automatically progress . The playoffs decide the final four places . Gibraltar , population 30,000 and about to embark on its first qualifying campaign , drew the mighty Germans along with Ireland , Poland , Scotland and Georgia . England was paired with , among others , Switzerland -- the nation England boss Roy Hodgson used to guide . As host , France is guaranteed a berth in the tournament but will be placed in a group where it will essentially play friendlies . In this case , Les Bleus can look forward to facing Cristiano Ronaldo 's Portugal . `` Now we know the 10 games we have to play , '' France coach Didier Deschamps was quoted as saying by UEFA . `` It 's pretty good to play a team like Portugal , as they will be prestigious matches . '' UEFA president Michel Platini said Germany and England were two of the three member associations who opposed increasing the Euro 2016 field but the Frenchman was n't fussed . He did n't name the other member association against the move . `` In any democracy , when the vast majority are in favor , you go forward with it even if England or Germany are n't for it , '' he told reporters this week . `` The five or six biggest teams do n't have much to worry about , but for the others it will be very competitive . `` So 24 teams will be as good as 16 teams . '' In another change , teams contesting two matches in one qualifying round will either play on a Thursday and Sunday , Friday and Monday or Saturday and Tuesday as part of UEFA 's `` week of football '' initiative . Currently , international matches are mostly played on Fridays and Tuesdays . `` It was a political decision , '' Platini , a former European footballer of the year , said . `` We took it to try and promote the football of national teams . `` Clubs play on almost every day of the week and as a result , international football has been pushed out of the limelight and we would like to see it take that limelight again . '' Qualifying starts in September , two months after the World Cup in Brazil concludes . Full 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 , FYR Macedonia , Luxembourg . Group D : Germany , Ireland , Poland , Scotland , Georgia , Gibraltar . Group E : England , Switzerland , Slovenia , Estonia , San Marino , Lithuania . 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 , France ( host )
UEFA conducts the draw for Euro 2016 qualifying in Nice on Sunday . The tournament in France will expand to 24 from the usual 16 teams . Defending champion Spain in a group that includes Ukraine and Slovakia . Michel Platini says Germany and England did n't want to increase the field .