Spain buoyed by Sonia Bermúdez's belief

Spain kick off their UEFA Women's EURO 2013 challenge against England at the Linköping Arena on 12 July and follow that encounter with Group C games with France and Russia.

Following a solid qualifying campaign that culminated in a dramatic play-off victory against Scotland, Ignacio Quereda's side will be taking to the finals "full of hope" according to Barça's recent Liga winner Bermúdez who spoke with UEFA.com ahead of the showpiece.

UEFA.com: How would you sum up Spain's qualifying campaign?

Sonia Bermúdez: We had both good and bad moments but in general I would describe it as a positive experience. We matured a lot this past year and it was about time that Spain qualified for a EURO because we are at a good enough level to do well there. Having achieved our primary goal of qualifying, we must now look to go as far as possible. 



UEFA.com: What are you memories from that dramatic play-off against Scotland, especially the emotionally charged second-leg when Spain qualified with the last kick of the game?



Sonia: To be honest, the return leg helped us to grow a lot because we began the encounter in a very nervous manner. We knew that we couldn't fail. We fought until the very end and never dropped our heads. Even going into the last seconds we felt we could get through. And that's how it was; [Verónica Boquete] got that last-second goal which qualified us. I remember it fondly. Without doubt it brought the team even closer together.

UEFA.com: At the finals you are in a tough section with England, France and Russia. How far can Spain go?



Sonia: We will be going step by step and game by game, all the while keeping a close watch on how our first match turns out. I think that we will also need a bit of luck when it comes to our rivals' games against each other. We will look to win the first match and from there see how things go. The main objectives are to enjoy the finals and to go as far as we can.



UEFA.com: Who will be the teams to beat in Sweden?



Sonia: Everybody knows the potential France and Germany have; they are a step above the rest. Nevertheless, we are going to Sweden full of hope and who knows? If we do things well and get a rub of the green, we could go far.



UEFA.com: How would you define the type of game Spain play and what is the main quality of the team? 



Sonia: Our main objective is to keep hold of the ball while we have a lot of quality players who play both at home and abroad within our side. We look to play a similar style to the senior Spain men's team.



UEFA.com: Who are key players in the Spanish side?



Sonia: The group itself is the most important. For me, individuals in this setup don't exist. If you don't have a solid, strong group, individual quality won't get you very far. 

UEFA.com: In what way does having a player of the quality of Verónica Boquete – considered by many as one of the best in the world – aid the team?



Sonia: Vero Boquete's quality is known the world over. Furthermore, she has a really big personality both on the pitch and off it and she brings us a lot of things. I think it's crucial to have her with us for everything she transmits to the team.

UEFA.com: Finally, what message would you give to the fans ahead of UEFA Women's EURO?



Sonia: I would tell them to bank on seeing this Women's EURO because those who watch us always leave feeling happy. It will be a beautiful tournament and one in which we want to give a good account of ourselves. We will be doing everything in our power to do that.