While defending champions Spain were handed an easy-looking path to the finals in Poland and Ukraine in Sunday's qualifying draw, although coach Vicente Del Bosque said afterwards he was taking nothing for granted.
Spain, who won Euro 2008 with a series of superb performances culminating in their victory over Germany in the final, are ranked number one in the world and were grouped with Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania and Liechtenstein.
They were the last of the 51 teams drawn at the ceremony at Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Science and Del Bosque was cautious about the challenge ahead.
"We face a strong test and will have to be at our best in every match so we do not want to make any mistakes; we are taking nothing for granted," he told reporters immediately after the draw.
"Italy's group is balanced, with Serbia and Slovenia - two teams who will play in the World Cup," Italy coach Marcello Lippi, who was not present at the draw, was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
"There's an advantage in being in a group of six. Of the other groups, England's is the most difficult."
Political tensions between the two ex-Soviet states meant that UEFA's executive committee had ruled they would not be allowed to be in the same group.
England coach Fabio Capello's first match in charge of England was a 2-1 win over Switzerland in February 2008 and he said he was looking forward to playing them again.
"We have improved as a team since that first match," he said. "Although it will be tough it will be good to play them again."
