Azerbaijan stand in Spain's way

Holders Spain have been placed in a group with 2010 semi-finalists Azerbaijan after the UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 preliminary and qualifying round draws were made in Nyon.

A record 42 teams are competing for 11 places in the finals early in 2012 alongside hosts Croatia. Of those, 18 have been given a bye to the six qualifying round groups played from 24 to 27 February 2011, with section winners to go through to the finals alongside the five best runners-up.

While Spain will travel to Azerbaijan and also have Kazakhstan in their section, the runners-up in January's finals in Hungary, Portugal, are rematched with opponents they drew 5-5 with in the group stage, Belarus, in a mini-tournament staged by Poland. Three of the 2010 finalists – Ukraine, Hungary and Belgium – are in Group 5 while bronze-medallists the Czech Republic play neighbours Slovakia in Romania.

The six remaining qualifying round slots, one in each group, will be filled by the winners of the preliminary round mini-tournaments played from 20 to 24 January, which feature the four competition debutants: Iceland, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland.

UEFA Futsal EURO 2012
Preliminary round draw
Matches 20-24 January 2011, winners to qualifying round

Group A: Moldova,Turkey (hosts),Montenegro, Switzerland

Group B: Greece, Latvia, Armenia,Iceland (hosts)

Group C: Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (hosts), Georgia, England, Estonia

Group D: Lithuania, France, Bulgaria,Malta(hosts)

Group E: Finland (hosts), Cyprus, Albania, San Marino

Group F: Israel, Andorra,Republic of Ireland (hosts), Norway

Qualifying round draw
Matches 24-27 February 2011, winners and five best runners-up to finals with hosts Croatia

Group 1: Spain,Azerbaijan (hosts),Kazakhstan, Winner preliminary round Group D

Group 2: Russia, Serbia,Netherlands (hosts), Winner preliminary round Group E

Group 3: Portugal, Belarus,Poland (hosts),Winner preliminary round Group C

Group 4: Czech Republic,Romania (hosts),Slovakia, Winner preliminary round Group F

Group 5: Ukraine (hosts), Hungary, Belgium, Winner preliminary round Group A

Group 6: Italy,Slovenia (hosts), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Winner preliminary round Group B