Coach Del Bosque says Spain placed in 'difficult' Euro 2016 group

Paris, Dec 13: Spain's quest for a third consecutive European Football Championship got more complicated when they were drawn in a challenging group with Croatia, the Czech Republic and Turkey.

La Roja avoided Italy, the dangerous floater that none of the tourment's six highest seeds wanted in the round-robin stage, but it still has no victory assured against its fellow Group D opponents, reports Efe.

Spain will take on the Czech Republic in their opener on June 13 in Toulouse, followed by a clash against Turkey on June 17 in Nice and filly a match versus Croatia in Bordeaux on June 21.

"It's a difficult group," Spain head coach Vicente Del Bosque said.

"We've seen in the past that some of these opponents have made things tough for us. It's a group that's more difficult than I'd expected. I thought it would be easier. I won't rate the other groups, but what concerns me is ours and it doesn't seem like it'll be a smooth ride at all," he told reporters.

Host tion France were drawn with Romania, Albania and Switzerland in Group A, while Group B consists of England, Russia, Slovakia and Wales and Group C is made up of Germany, Ukraine, Poland and Northern Ireland.

Italy were drawn into Group E along with Belgium, Ireland and Sweden, while Group F comprises Portugal, Iceland, Austria and Hungary. IANS