Didier Deschamps, the coach of unseeded France, was desperate to avoid facing seeded Portugal who were paired with Sweden.
Iceland, who have never reached the finals of a major tournament, will meet Croatia while 2004 European champions Greece take on Romania.
The eight were the best runners-up from the nine European groups and the four qualifiers will complete Europe's 13-team representation at the finals.
The first legs will be played on November 15 with the return legs on November 19.
(Reporting by Mike Collett, editing by Justin Palmer)
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