Spain kick off bid for another Euro title against Czechs after draw is made in Paris

Spain will begin their bid for an unprecedented third successive European Championship title against Czech Republic while hosts France will open the 2016 tournament against Romania after the draw was made on Saturday.

Delegates were met by tight security at the Palais des Congress but one man notable by his absence was Uefa president Michel Platini, architect of the biggest-ever expanded 24-team finals that will run from June 10 to July 10.

Instead of taking centre stage, the leader of European soccer's ruling organisation was banned under the terms of his provisional 90-day Fifa suspension that forbid him from any involvement in the sport, pending investigations into his financial arrangements with world football's governing body.

Swiss Sepp Blatter, who usually attends these gala events in his position as Fifa president, was another notable absentee, banned under the same terms as Platini while scandal-ridden Fifa probes his financial dealings with the Frenchman.

Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino, who has declared his candidacy for Fifa presidency in February's election, conducted the draw.

Infantino made no reference to Fifa matters but he did talk about the attacks on the French capital by Islamic State on November 13 that killed 130 people.