UEFA Euro 2012 in October 2011, the nine group winners qualified automatically, along with the highest ranked second placed team. The remaining eight-second placed teams contested two-legged play-offs, and the four winners qualified for the finals. Twelve of the sixteen finalists participated at the previous tournament in 2008. England and Denmark made their return to the Euro, having last participated in 2004, while Republic of Ireland returned after a twenty-four-year absence to make their second appearance at a European Championship. One of the co-hosts, Ukraine, made their debut as an independent nation (before 1992 Ukraine participated as part of the Soviet Union). With
UEFA Futsal Euro 2012 winners progressed to join the other 18 entrants in the next phase. In the main qualifying round, which was taking place between 24–27 February 2011, 24 teams were split in 6 groups of 4 teams. The winners and best five second-placed teams joined Croatia in the finals. UEFA announced the seedings on Monday, 28 February 2011, one day after the qualification was concluded. Croatia was automatically seeded as A1. The Draw was scheduled for 9 September 2011 in the Croatian capital Zagreb. UEFA Futsal Euro 2012 The UEFA Futsal Euro 2012 was the eighth official edition of the UEFA European