Spain have been handed a relatively easy to add to the Euro 2016 qualifying stages. They will come into the tournament as the current holders after having won the Euro 2012 with an emphatic victory over Italy in the final.

They have managed to win the last two editions of the European championships. Even more surprising is the fact that the current world champions have managed to do it without breaking a sweat. After having learnt about their group opponents in the Euro 2016 qualifying stages, there is relief in Spain since they avoided many big teams.

However, manager Vicente del Bosque agrees to the assertion that none of the group matches are easy. The nation recently emerged successful in a friendly against Italy. They will prepare to defend the World Cup title in a few months time. Del Bosque also has the task of concentrating on other aspects like starting the Euro 2016 qualifying stages in the best possible manner. He says that the team should not relaxing at the prospect of an easy qualifying stage since their group opponents will be the likes of Ukraine, Belarus, Slovakia, Luxembourg, and Macedonia.

Del Bosque says that this is indeed a tough group and nothing should be decided on paper. The likes of Luxembourg have lost against top teams by more than five goals in recent years.

“The group is not as easy as it might look. Some of them are young teams and emerging football powers. The cold could be a factor in the group because a lot of the trips will be to countries in eastern Europe. Ukraine could be the most dangerous opponent and we hope the political situation the country is going through now will not affect the football and is resolved as soon as possible,” said the former Real Madrid coach.