Euro 2012 draw out, Spain handed easy group
Euro 2012 draw out, Spain handed easy group
Group C arguably the toughest with Italy, Serbia and Slovenia placed together.

The qualifying draw for Euro 2012 was made in Warsaw, Poland with Group C arguably the toughest where Italy, Serbia and Slovenia were placed together.

Group A is also intriguing as Germany, Turkey and Austria were all drawn in the same pool while Portugal once again tackle Denmark in Group H.

Holders Spain have a relatively easy-looking group, although they will have to watch out for the Czech Republic and Scotland. England have an interesting British-derby against Wales in Group G.

Fifty-one of the 53 UEFA member associations took part. Hosts Poland and Ukraine qualify automatically for the tournament.

Poland legend Zbigniew Boniek and Ukrainian heroes Andriy Shevchenko and Oleg Blokhin were some of the luminaries who helped conduct the draw.

The 51 teams were divided into six groups of six teams and three groups of five teams. The teams in each group will play one another on a home and away basis, with qualifying matches scheduled between September 2010 and November 2011.

The sides were classified on the basis of the UEFA national team rankings on completion of the qualifying games for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, meaning that the UEFA rankings on 18 November were decisive. As a result, all the 'big sides' are to be found in pot 1.

Group A: Germany, Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan Group B: Russia, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, FYR Macedonia, Armenia, Andorra

Group C: Italy, Serbia, Northern Ireland, Slovenia, Estonia, Faroe Islands

Group D: France, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belarus, Albania, Luxembourg

Group E: Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Moldova, San Marino

Group F: Croatia, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Georgia, Malta

Group G: England, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Wales, Montenegro

Group H: Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Cyprus, Iceland

Group I: Spain, Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania, Liechtenstein

The winners of the nine groups and the best runner-up qualify directly for the final tournament. The eight remaining runners-up will have to battle it out in play-off matches to decide which teams grab the remaining four tickets for Poland/Ukraine.

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