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EURO 2016 place secured – but what lies ahead?

Job done. Germany have qualified for the 2016 European Championship in France. Hard work has led to well-earned success, and preparations can now begin for the finals. Who will make the squad and who will have to sweat over their place in the team? In which cities will the team play, when will tickets be available and where will the German team be staying? DFB.de answers all your questions about next summer's tournament.

Who else have qualified?

France, who qualify automatically as hosts, didn't have to play a single qualifying fixture. England have qualified and are yet to drop a single point with one game remaining, whilst Spain, Italy, Portugal and Romania will join Germany's neighbours Belgium, Poland, Switzerland, Austria and the Czech Republic at the European Championship.

There are also a few surprises to be excited about: Wales, Albania, Northern Ireland and Iceland will all be taking part in their first ever European Championship finals. Including Germany, 16 of the 24 finals berths have now been filled.

Who are yet to secure their place?

Holland, for example. They need to win their Group A game against the Czech Republic and hope that Turkey slip up against Iceland. Both countries are battling for the play-off place. In Group C, Ukraine and Slovakia have 19 points each – one side will qualify automatically, whilst the other will have to go through the play-off stage. In Group G, Russia (17 points) and Sweden (15 points) are fighting for second spot, which guarantees progress to the finals in France. Norway, on 19 points, sit in second place in Group H, but Croatia, with 17 points, could yet catch them. The play-off ties will be played midway through November.

When will the draw take place?

In exactly two months, shortly before Christmas. On the 12th December 2015 in the Palais des congrès de Paris, in the middle of the French capital, the draw for the six groups will be made. The 23 teams to have qualified will be split into four pots based on their UEFA coefficients, with each group consisting of one team from each pot. The only exception is France, who as hosts have already been assigned to Group A. The format has changed for the first time since 1996, when the competition was opened up from eight teams to 16, with the teams now being split into six groups of four. All sides to finish in the top two places in their group, along with the four best third-placed sides, will qualify for the last 16. From there, a knock-out system will ensue.

Where will the games be played?

Curiously, the ten host cities are similar to those of the 1998 World Cup, with the exception of Nantes and Montpellier. Nice and Villeneuve-d'Ascq (near Lille) will take their place. The most well-known stadium is the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, serving as the venue for both the opening game on the 10th June 2016 and the final on the 10th July. Along with the Parc des Princes, it will be one of two European Championship venues in Paris. The other six stadiums are: the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, the Stade des Lumières in Lyon, the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, the Nouveau Stade in Bordeaux, the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Étienne and the Stadium Municipal in Toulouse.

When do tickets go on sale?

The first allocation stage has already taken place. From the 10th June to the 10th July 2015, one million tickets were made available by UEFA. Those who were left empty-handed will get a second chance, as the next sale window begins after the group-stage draw, when the Follow My Team Tickets will be available. The entry price begins at 25 Euros and varies according to seat category and the round of the tournament.

Where will Die Mannschaft stay during the tournament?

By Lake Geneva. The German national side will stay at the Hotel Ermitage, built in 1909, during the tournament. The complex lies above the city of Évian-les-Bains on the 'Plateau des Mateirons,' 125 metres above the lake. The hotel was completely refurbished in 2010 and possesses over 80 bedrooms as well as eleven conference rooms. The hotel's own spa, 'Quatre Terres,' will be available for recovery sessions. The hotel is 45 kilometres from Geneva airport and three kilometres from the centre of Évian-les-Bains. During the European Championship, the hotel is to be used exclusively by the DFB.

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Job done. Germany have qualified for the 2016 European Championship in France. Hard work has led to well-earned success, and preparations can now begin for the finals. Who will make the squad and who will have to sweat over their place in the team? In which cities will the team play, when will tickets be available and where will the German team be staying? DFB.de answers all your questions about next summer's tournament.

Who else have qualified?

France, who qualify automatically as hosts, didn't have to play a single qualifying fixture. England have qualified and are yet to drop a single point with one game remaining, whilst Spain, Italy, Portugal and Romania will join Germany's neighbours Belgium, Poland, Switzerland, Austria and the Czech Republic at the European Championship.

There are also a few surprises to be excited about: Wales, Albania, Northern Ireland and Iceland will all be taking part in their first ever European Championship finals. Including Germany, 16 of the 24 finals berths have now been filled.

Who are yet to secure their place?

Holland, for example. They need to win their Group A game against the Czech Republic and hope that Turkey slip up against Iceland. Both countries are battling for the play-off place. In Group C, Ukraine and Slovakia have 19 points each – one side will qualify automatically, whilst the other will have to go through the play-off stage. In Group G, Russia (17 points) and Sweden (15 points) are fighting for second spot, which guarantees progress to the finals in France. Norway, on 19 points, sit in second place in Group H, but Croatia, with 17 points, could yet catch them. The play-off ties will be played midway through November.

When will the draw take place?

In exactly two months, shortly before Christmas. On the 12th December 2015 in the Palais des congrès de Paris, in the middle of the French capital, the draw for the six groups will be made. The 23 teams to have qualified will be split into four pots based on their UEFA coefficients, with each group consisting of one team from each pot. The only exception is France, who as hosts have already been assigned to Group A. The format has changed for the first time since 1996, when the competition was opened up from eight teams to 16, with the teams now being split into six groups of four. All sides to finish in the top two places in their group, along with the four best third-placed sides, will qualify for the last 16. From there, a knock-out system will ensue.

Where will the games be played?

Curiously, the ten host cities are similar to those of the 1998 World Cup, with the exception of Nantes and Montpellier. Nice and Villeneuve-d'Ascq (near Lille) will take their place. The most well-known stadium is the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, serving as the venue for both the opening game on the 10th June 2016 and the final on the 10th July. Along with the Parc des Princes, it will be one of two European Championship venues in Paris. The other six stadiums are: the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, the Stade des Lumières in Lyon, the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, the Nouveau Stade in Bordeaux, the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Étienne and the Stadium Municipal in Toulouse.

When do tickets go on sale?

The first allocation stage has already taken place. From the 10th June to the 10th July 2015, one million tickets were made available by UEFA. Those who were left empty-handed will get a second chance, as the next sale window begins after the group-stage draw, when the Follow My Team Tickets will be available. The entry price begins at 25 Euros and varies according to seat category and the round of the tournament.

Where will Die Mannschaft stay during the tournament?

By Lake Geneva. The German national side will stay at the Hotel Ermitage, built in 1909, during the tournament. The complex lies above the city of Évian-les-Bains on the 'Plateau des Mateirons,' 125 metres above the lake. The hotel was completely refurbished in 2010 and possesses over 80 bedrooms as well as eleven conference rooms. The hotel's own spa, 'Quatre Terres,' will be available for recovery sessions. The hotel is 45 kilometres from Geneva airport and three kilometres from the centre of Évian-les-Bains. During the European Championship, the hotel is to be used exclusively by the DFB.