In a thrilling encounter, England emerged victorious against Spain in a penalty shootout to clinch another Women’s European Championship title. The match ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time, with England winning 3-1 on penalties, thanks to a decisive kick from Chloe Kelly.
Kelly displayed impressive composure as she took the final penalty, stating, “I was cool, I was composed, and I knew I was going to hit the back of the net.” This victory marks a second consecutive triumph for England in the Women’s Euros.
The match saw its fair share of excitement, with England overcoming an initial deficit. Spain’s Mariona Caldentey scored first in the 25th minute, capitalising on a cross from Ona Batlle. However, England equalised in the 57th minute through Alessia Russo’s header, assisted by Kelly’s cross.
England’s goalkeeper, Hannah Hampton, played a crucial role in the penalty shootout, saving attempts from both Caldentey and Spanish star Aitana Bonmatí. A substitute for Spain, Salma Paralluelo, then missed her shot, sealing the win for England.
Despite holding a strong record throughout the tournament, with Spain trailing only briefly, they could not secure their first European title, a disappointment highlighted by coach Montse Tomé. “I think this team deserved more. At least not living with this bitter feeling,” she remarked.
In the tournament, England continued to rely on their effective substitutes, which had been instrumental in previous knockout rounds against Italy and Sweden. Notably, Kelly had also scored the winning goal in the previous Euros final at Wembley against Germany.
Despite their dominance in terms of possession and scoring chances during the match, particularly in extra time, Spain could not convert their opportunities into goals. Bonmatí, recognised as the tournament’s best player, reflected on the match saying, “It was cruel. We played better, created more scoring chances, but in soccer sometimes that’s not enough.”
The penalty shootout was further complicated by a new rule, which allowed England’s Beth Mead to retake her shot after her initial attempt was deemed illegal due to slipping and touching the ball twice. Nevertheless, England’s success was secured through Hampton’s outstanding performance, ultimately leading them to this memorable win in Euro 2025.