Spain

Spain reached the 1997 semi-finals but had not qualified since until their dramatic play-off defeat of Scotland 15 years later.

For UEFA Women's EURO 2009, they were fancied to beat the Netherlands to clinch a finals berth but lost both legs 2-0, having only just been pipped to an automatic place by England when they came back from two down to draw 2-2, the same country getting the same outcome the same way in 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying.

This time, Spain had hopes of first place in their group after they recovered from two down to draw 2-2 with a late goal at home to Germany, who had not dropped a qualifying point since 1999. But away losses to Germany and then Switzerland left Spain having to make do with the play-offs.

Away to Scotland at Hampden Park, they came from behind thanks to Adriana's goal, but she then had a penalty saved. In the home return, another Adriana goal pegged back Scotland for extra-time in Madrid, where the visitors scored first. With seven minutes left, Silvia Meseguer levelled the aggregate scoreline but Scotland still led on away goals, and when Verónica Boquete's late penalty was saved all seemed lost. However, she was to score with the very last kick to send Spain through.

Qualifying round: Group 2 runners-up, P10 W6 D2 L2 F43 A14 Pts20

Play-offs: v Scotland D1-1(a), W3-2aet(h), agg: 4-3

Key players
Silvia Meseguer (midfielder, RCD Espanyol), Sonia (forward, FC Barcelona), Verónica Boquete (forward, Tyresö FF)

Coach: Ignacio Quereda

Date of birth: 24 July 1950

Club career: Real Madrid (youth)

Coaching career: CD Móstoles, Spain women, Spain Under-19 women

A Real Madrid CF youth product who won University Games gold with Spain in 1973 and 1975, Quereda went on to be assistant coach of that national side and also led lower-division Móstoles. But it is Spain's women that he has coached since 1988, making him easily the longest-serving trainer in the tournament, indeed in charge longer than some of his squad have been alive.

At one point, he also led the youth squad and it was they he led to victory at the 2004 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship in Finland with a shock final win against Germany, who went to become world champions at that level. At senior level, their outstanding display was reaching the 1997 Women's EURO semi-finals but they have been moving back towards that peak, and Quereda is a respected technician, part of the UEFA technical team at UEFA Women's EURO 2009.

Qualifying top scorer
Verónica Boquete 11

Tournament record
2009: qualifying play-off
2005: did not qualify
2001: qualifying play-off
1997: semi-finals
1995: quarter-finals
1993: quarter-finals
1991: did not qualify
1989: did not qualify
1987: did not qualify
1984: did not enter

Other honours
2004 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship
2010, 2011 UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship