EURO 2016 draw: Defending champions Spain in Group D with Turkey, Czech, Croatia

New Delhi: European champions Spain have been drawn in the Group D with Czech Republic, Turkey and Croatia of the EURO 2016 draw held in Paris on Saturday, even as traditional heavyweights France, Germany, Italy and England avoided each other.

But Italy's group has the FIFA's top-ranked Belgium, Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Sweden and Republic of Ireland, and rightfully can be called the Group of Death.

The draw started after paying tributes to the victim of recent Paris attacks on November 23, with who's who of European football gathered in silence.

Ruud Gullit presented the program in the presence of Antonin Panenka, Oliver Bierhoff, David Trezeguet and Angelos Charisteas. Then, UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino took over, explaining the draw.

Hosts France were drawn in Group A Romania, Albania and Switzerland.

The official result of the #EURO2016 draw... pic.twitter.com/B296dE607r — UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) December 12, 2015

Here are the groups:

Group A: France, Romania, Albania, Switzerland.

Group B: England, Russia, Wales, Slovakia.

Group C: Germany, Ukraine, Poland, Northern Ireland.

Group D: Spain, Czech Republic, Turkey, Croatia.

Group E: Belgium, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Sweden.

Group F: Portugal, Iceland, Austria, Hungary.

This is the first European Championships with 24 teams with the likes of Albania and Iceland making their respective debuts. The tournament to kick off in Paris on June 10, 2016.