Euro 2016: "The decision to expand the finals to 24 teams was right" (Gianni Infantino, UEFA)

"The qualifying competition has shown conclusively that the decision to increase the number of teams to 24 (compared to 16 previously)for the 2016 final tournament was the right decision," said Gianni Infantino, the UEFA general secretary, on 18/10/2015.

"A series of surprising results underlined the unpredictable nature of many of the qualifying groups, and a considerable number of teams - 32, in fact - were still contesting places in the final round when the last two matchdays arrived," added Gianni Infantino in Nyon (SUI), on the sidelines of the draw for the Euro 2016 qualifying play-offs, which will determine the final four teams in the tournament (matches from 12 to 17/11/2015).

Of the 20 countries already qualified for the finals in France from 10/06 to 10/07/2016, five will play in their first Euro tournament: Albania, Iceland, Slovakia, Northern Ireland and Wales. "This provides proof of just how many European national teams have the quality to perform well on the highest stage," said Gianni Infantino.

Results of the draw for the qualifying play-offs

• Norway - Hungary: 12…