Spain learn from qualifying near-miss

Heartbreak in Zamora
When Verónica Boquete and Sonia Bermúdez put Spain 2-0 up at half-time in their final Group 1 qualifier at home to England, it seemed they would get the two-goal victory needed to win the section and progress straight to next summer's finals in Finland. But after the break in Zamora, goals from Karen Carney and Kelly Smith turned the tide and forced Spain into the play-offs – the route by which they last reached the finals in 1997 at the expense of England.

Disappointment
"The result has obviously affected them," Quereda told uefa.com. "When you're 2-0 up at the break you feel very optimistic but that's the way football goes; it was an important lesson. Our physical level dropped slightly in the second half. We used up a hell of a lot of energy in the first 45 minutes and from about the 65th minute on we couldn't cope with England's pressing."

Netherlands encounter
Quereda's side will welcome the Netherlands to Las Rozas on 25 October before travelling to Volendam five days later as they aim to clinch a place in the finals draw on 18 November. The encounter is the only one of the five ties that matches two teams that finished second in their groups, with the Netherlands having had the misfortune to find themselves with holders Germany in their section.

Recovery
Long-standing coach Quereda, who led Spain to victory in the 2004 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship, has experience of facing the Netherlands in this senior tournament from their qualifying groups in 2001 and 2005 – both times winning away and drawing at home. While feeling the Netherlands were "one of the best sides we could have faced", he is confident that his players will be up for the challenge despite their near-miss in the group. "They'll begin to get over [the disappointment] and of course will have fully recovered in time for the game with the Dutch," he said.