A preview of the Euro 2016 draw

On Saturday, 181 days before Euro 2016 kicks off, the 24 national teams that qualified for the competition will learn their fate as the draw puts the teams into six groups of four.

There will be balls. There will be pots based on UEFA national coefficients. There will be Ruud Gullit and Bixente Lizarazu, who are conducting the draw. There may or may not be a performance from David Guetta, who is "planning something big" for the official song.

Most importantly, however, there will be a clear picture of the groups for Euro 2016.

So, ahead of the draw, which will take place in Paris, France, here's a quick assessment of the teams involved.

Pot 1

France

A combination of the attacks on Paris, the blackmail scandal involving Karim Benzema, and France's underwhelming performances at recent tournaments means the identity of French football is on the line at Euro 2016. Can Les Bleus take advantage of playing on home soil and overcome what will surely be an emotional challenge amid a political backdrop?

Spain

Spain, perennial underachievers until glory at Euro 2008 and again at Euro 2012, will be in tough to defend its title. With a new generation of players and some remnants of its past crop, La Furia Roja is looking just as good ever. Can Spain win a third European Championship in the span of just eight years?

Germany

Germany, the reigning World Cup champion and three-time winner of the European Championship, is arguably the favourite to win Euro 2016 despite a pair of questionable defeats in qualifying. Almost 20 years have passed since DFB-Elf last tasted glory on the European stage. Can the team once again prove its wealth of midfield talent trumps its lack of prolific strikers?

England

The only European team to have won the World Cup, but not the European Championship, England knows its limitations and will be looking to rewrite the script at Euro 2016. Since the Three Lions were eliminated on penalty kicks to West Germany in the semifinals of the 1990 World Cup, the team has been bounced from five further tournaments on spot kicks. Can England finally make the most from 12 yards out?

Portugal

Portugal, the only team to ever lose a European Championship final on home turf, will be hoping Cristiano Ronaldo can help the team go one further than Euro 2004. Unlike many recent competitions, the Seleccao das Quinas qualified for Euro 2016 without the hassle of going through a playoff. Can Ronaldo overcome Portugal's lack of depth?

Belgium

First in the FIFA World Rankings, Belgium is at Euro 2016 following a 16-year absence from the European Competition. From Thibaut Courtois, to Vincent Kompany, to Eden Hazard, to Romelu Lukaku, the Rode Duivels possess a well-rounded squad that should be capable of beating anyone on a given day. Can Belgium return to the European stage with a vengeance?

Pot 2

Italy

As Italy does when qualifying for a major competition, the Azzurri punched its ticket to Euro 2016 with relative ease with a relative lack of excitement. There were questions over the Italy's defense and shyness in front of goal, but seven wins and three draws served as quick answers. Can Europe's most successful team in the World Cup capture its second European Championship crown?

Russia

Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, who won the inaugural edition of the European Championship in 1960, not once has Russia failed to qualify for the competition. Leonid Slutsky was appointed team manager four months ago with the mission of rescuing its qualifying campaign, and rescue it he did. Can Slutsky get the most out of what is clearly an extremely talented squad?

Switzerland

At Euro 2016, Switzerland - somehow a seed at the 2014 World Cup - will be looking to move on from the group stage of a European Championship for the first time. The team has been a staple at major competitions since qualifying for the 1994 World Cup and possesses an absolute gem in Xherdan Shaqiri. Can Switzerland continue to punch above its weight?

Austria

Austrian football isn't quite what is used to be, but under manager Marcel Koller, Austria is offering signs of encouragement. The team is build around one of the sport's most versatile players in David Alaba and only suffered one defeat throughout qualifying. Can Austria resurrect its success from the 1954 World Cup?

Croatia

Ever since seceding from Yugoslavia in 1991, Croatia has been a force in international football, reaching five European Championships in six attempts and capturing third place at the 1998 World Cup. The days of David Suker might be long gone, but the Kockasti are home to two of the sport's top midfielders in Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic. Can Croatia's central midfield produce a run to the knockout phase of Euro 2016?

Ukraine

Ukraine, whose co-hosting of Euro 2012 marked its first appearance at the European Championship as an independent nation, qualified for Euro 2016 by virtue of a playoff after surviving a tough group. Yevhen Konoplyanka and Andriy Yarmolenko are two phenomenal wingers, but the Synyo-Zhotvi will need other players to step up come June. Can Ukraine replicate its form from the 2006 World Cup?

Pot 3

Czech Republic

Czech Republic benefited from "an odd group in which Holland self-destructed and everybody else took points off each other," explains Jonathan Wilson of the Guardian. That being said, its qualification comes as no surprise, as the team has qualified for every European Championship since first competing as an independent nation in 1994. Can Czech Republic do what Czechoslovakia did at Euro 1976?

Sweden

Sweden, the only World Cup host to be defeated in the final, is an aging side, but one that thrives if Zlatan Ibrahimovic is in top form. It's hard to envision the Blagult going far at Euro 2016, but it's worth noting the team has qualified for the last five European Championships and reached the semifinals of Euro 1992. Can Ibrahimovic guide Sweden to unexpected heights?

Poland

After qualifying for Euro 2008, marking its first appearance at a European Championship, Poland has reason to be confident entering Euro 2016. Robert Lewandowski scored a record-equalling 13 goals in qualifying as the Bialo-czerwoni emerged from a tough group while defeating Germany along the way. Can Poland finally do better than finishing bottom of its group?

Romania

Romania, one of only four teams to participate in each of the first three World Cups, was a powerhouse some 25 to 15 years ago, reaching the quarterfinals of the 1994 World Cup before making it to the quarterfinals of Euro 2000. Of course, that was when players like Gheorghe Hagi were still kicking it. Can Romania throw it back to 1990s?

Slovakia

Qualifying for a European Championship for the first time as an independent nation, Slovakia will be at Euro 2016 with the intention of showing just how integral its football was to the Czechoslovakia side that won Euro 1976. The team won its first six qualifiers but ended up only taking four points from its final four, barely clinching a spot at the competition. Which Slovakia will show up?

Hungary

Back on the big stage, Hungary's Euro 2016 journey will mark its first showing at a major competition since the 1986 World Cup. Long gone are the 1950s, when Ferenc Puskas, Sandor Kocsis, and Nandor Hidegkuti comprised one of the greatest teams on the planet and defeated England in the Match of the Century, but the Mighty Magyars have reason to be optimistic for the first time in about 30 years. Can Hungary make its golden generation proud?

Pot 4

Turkey

Turkey qualified for Euro 2016 as the best third-place team after not managing a win its its two previous qualifying campaigns. Since reaching Euro '96, its first appearance at a European Championship, the Ay-Yidizilar has gone from strength to strength, with the pinnacle of Turkish football coming at the 2002 World Cup, when the team finished third. Can Turkey's performance on the pitch match the displays of its supporters in the stands?

Ireland

Having lost all three games at Euro 2012 in a tough group, Ireland will be looking for redemption at Euro 2016. The Boys in Green are known for their phenomenal support, but it's tough to imagine them manufacturing the type of drama that defined its 2002 World Cup campaign. Will Ireland find itself with zero points at the end of the group stage once again?

Iceland

With a population of 329,000, Iceland represents the smallest nation to ever qualify for a major competition. The team - which is the product of a phenomenal youth system and narrowly missed out on qualifying for last year's World Cup - is well-balanced and should be a joy to watch at Euro 2016. Can Iceland make one hell of a first impression?

Wales

Wales, who will be playing in its first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup, is finally reaching its final form. The Dreigiau can draw inspiration from a successful qualifying campaign and from the exploits of Gareth Bale, who helped the team do what Ian Rush and Ryan Giggs never could. Will a 58-year drought be worth the wait?

Albania

Albania, whose football association was a founding member of UEFA in 1954, never had much to cheer about until qualifying for Euro 2016. Its first major competition will be an uphill battle, but the team has been improving steadily since the qualifying campaign for last year's World Cup. Can Albania trigger righteous scenes at Euro 2016?

Northern Ireland

Perhaps the most unexpected team to qualify for Euro 2016, Northern Ireland, like many others, will be competing in its first European Championship. A brilliant qualify campaign even allowed the Norn Norn to top its group and avoid a playoff. Can Northern Ireland fuel memories of the 1958 World Cup?