We've also got a piano player, atmospheric smoke and big screens depicting idyllic scenes from France. And the odd football. All very Eurovision so far. Where's Wogan?

Right then. It's time for the draw to start. But first Uefa president Michel Platini is welcoming everyone to Nice.

Joshua Chapman:, external Earliest Euro memory for me is Zidane against England in Portugal. The man was a genius.

What are your outstanding memories of European Championships from yesteryear? Denmark's unlikely triumph in 1992? The classic France-Portugal semi-final in 1984? Panenka's audacious penalty to claim the trophy for Czechoslovakia in 1976?

Get involved via text on 81111 (UK only), with #bbcfootball or on the BBC Sport Facebook, external page.

It's always a travesty when some of the best players in the world are not involved in the major international competitions. Take Zlatan Ibrahimovic for example, after Sweden failed to qualify for the World Cup.

Gareth Bale also falls into the world-class bracket these days, and he's hopeful Wales can end their wait for a crack at the big boys.

"It's frustrating I won't be going [to the World Cup]," said Bale., external "Wales haven't been in for a long while but now we have a really good group of young players who can qualify for major tournaments.

"And it's something I want to achieve in my career, most definitely. We always know it's going to be difficult for us to qualify. And if we are to qualify we have to be hitting our best form every game.

"The only thing we can keep doing is trying our best. And one day we will get that little bit of luck as well and actually qualify."

Image source, Getty Images

We've asked for your favourite European Championship memories ahead of the draw for France 2016:

John Oakes:, external Got to be outclassing a very good Dutch side at Euro '96. But the Scotland game previous goes close, Seaman save and THAT goal!

Scotland have not qualified for a major finals since the 1998 World Cup, and Uefa president Michel Platini is hopeful the new expanded competition will helps the likes of Gordon Strachan's side to qualify.

"It is not far from France, I'm sure they would come in big numbers," said Platini., external "But you have to earn the right to participate - that's up to Scotland.

"It was the idea of Scotland and Ireland to increase the tournament to 24 teams, back in 2007. I admire British fans generally. They have a way of supporting their teams which is very special. It is wonderful to see.

"It was difficult for them to qualify when there was just 16 teams. Now the pressure is on them because there are 24 places."

Ah, Scotland. It's a big campaign for them, their first under new manager Gordon Strachan.

"I'm excited about it," said Strachan. "I'm really not fussed [who Scotland draw]. I enjoy meeting up with the players and playing anybody who is put in front of us.

"I think everyone enjoyed the England game last summer and I suppose most people would like that and I'm no different.

"But there are some exciting teams out there to play who will come to this country, and we'll enjoy that challenge."

James in Inverness: Re favourite Euro memories: The Euro 2000 play-off where Scotland outplayed England over two legs. Despite not qualifying the 1-0 win for Scotland at Wembley was amazing.

If England do qualify for Euro 2016, I wonder what their team will look like? Will skipper Steven Gerrard still be leading the side out?

"He will be 34 in May so he will be getting on for 36 by the start of Euro 2016, so I think a lot will depend on him and how he feels, and depend on how he is playing ,"said Hodgson in the build-up to the draw. "At the moment there has been no slowing down in his play.

"Who knows what the future will bring. I don't have a strong feeling about that one way or another. Time will tell."

Ray Fraser:, external Earliest memory, being allowed to stay up & watching small Czechoslovakia beating the mighty W Germany on pens in 76.

Gareth:, external Euro 88 Netherlands v West Germany, classic semi-final then Van Basten's volley versus USSR in the final.

Thomas Wynne Lewis:, external Favourite qualifying memory has to be Craig Bellamy scoring the winner for Wales against Italy.

Get involved with your favourite European Championship memories via text on 81111 (UK only), with #bbcfootball or on the BBC Sport Facebook, external page.

What does Roy Hodgson think about it all? The England manager admits it is difficult to start thinking about Euro 2016 while he is preparing for a World Cup in Brazil, but he says the Three Lions will not be complacent - whoever they draw.

"Sometimes people just judge teams on names," Hodgson added. "No-one was saying 'blimey Montenegro'. People were tending to suggest they're a piece of cake but it certainly wasn't a piece of cake.

"In pots three, four and five there will be some good teams in there. What about the Home Nations? If we get drawn against Northern Ireland, that is not a gimme."

These are exciting times for Gibraltar's national team, but they also realise they are in danger of becoming whipping boys if they don't adjust to international football quickly.

"We are getting dropped in the middle of the ocean with a massive tidal wave coming our way," Gibraltar manager Allen Bula said. "What we have to do now is work even harder to swim towards the tidal wave and not away from it.

"Liechtenstein are minnows and they are respected. That is my target."

We're asking for your favourite memories of the European Championships in the lead-up to the draw at 1100 GMT.

William Hamilton:, external Ally McCoist scoring against Switzerland at Euro 96.

Callum Jenkins:, external Favourite Euro qualifying memory is David Healy's hat-trick to beat Spain in Belfast before they went on to become champions.

Adam Guthrie:, external Beating France at Hampden on the verge of qualifying for Euro 2008.

Get involved via text on 81111 (UK only), with #bbcfootball or on the BBC Sport Facebook, external page.

It sounds like quite a few of you want your respective nation to be drawn alongside England in qualifying. It would certainly make for some special nights at Wembley, Hampden or even the Estadio Algarve...

Estadio Algarve? Yep, that's the home base for Gibraltar for their qualifiers because their own stadium is not up to the required standard. Needless to say, the new boys are desperate to tackle Roy Hodgson's Three Lions.

"That would be my dream," Gibraltar coach Allen Bula told BBC Sport's Gary Rose. "It would be amazing for the people of Gibraltar to see our team one day walk out at Wembley.

"I have been analysing England for many years now and like any other team they have a few weaknesses. So who knows, we could spring a few surprises."

Michael Garner:, external Hoping Scotland get drawn with England. After a 14-year wait to see them play each other again, it should be a regular game!!

Hopefully you're still with me, because we've almost finished explaining everything. However, perhaps the most important bit is finding out how nations can ensure their place at Euro 2016. Basically, the top two in each group qualify automatically alongside the best third-placed finisher. The remaining eight third-placed teams go into the play-offs in November 2015.

Andrew, Belfast: The expansion of the European Championship to 24 teams is great news for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. There's now a much better chance that nations like these can qualify for a major tournament every four years. It's what the fans deserve after so many years of hurt.

You might have heard a little bit about Gibraltar's national football team in recent months, and that's because they will be entering qualification for the first time since being accepted as a Uefa member last year. They could draw England but they will be kept apart from neighbours Spain to avoid exacerbating political tensions.

Azerbaijan and Armenia will also be kept apart for the same reason, but Russia and Georgia, who do not share diplomatic ties following conflict between the two former Soviet republics in 2008, have agreed to play each other if drawn in the same pot.

Image source, Getty Images

On the subject of France, they last staged the European Championship in 1984, when the host nation's talented side - which included the current Uefa president, Michel Platini - claimed the Henri Delaunay Trophy with a 2-0 win over Spain in the final. It was a very different era, with just eight teams involved in the final tournament, for which the Home Nations and the Republic of Ireland failed to qualify.

Matthew Maine:, external Being only 26 my earliest and also best memory was Gazza's goal against the Scots.

What are your favourite memories of previous European Championships? Get involved via text on 81111 (UK only), with #bbcfootball or on the BBC Sport Facebook, external page.