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England beat Spain 3-1 on penalties to win the Women’s Euro 2025 and retain their title after Sunday’s final had finished 1-1 at the end of extra time.
Chloe Kelly scored the decisive kick in a shoot-out which saw three Spain players, including reigning Ballon d’Or Aitana Bonmati, all fail to convert.
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Mariona Caldentey had earlier headed Spain — who beat England 1-0 in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final — into the lead at St Jakob-Park in Basel, but Alessia Russo equalised early in the second half.
Just as she was when the Lionesses beat Germany to win this tournament in 2022, Chloe Kelly was the hero, scoring the decisive penalty after a 1-1 draw to avenge the memory of England’s defeat to Spain in the 2023 World Cup final.
But, in truth, there were stories all throughout Sarina Wiegman’s team, one which has come to be defined by its resilience and strength of character.
Alessia Russo, whose 57th-minute header cancelled out Mariona Caldentey’s opening goal, has established herself as an elite goalscorer.
Lucy Bronze, who revealed after the game that she had played the entire tournament with a fractured tibia, still somehow played almost two hours of Sunday’s final.
Kelly, who had turned England’s fortunes around with winners in Tuesday’s semifinal and 2022’s final, did so once again.
But, just as Russo, Bronze and Kelly provided a reminder of the greatness that has come before, a couple of relatively new faces proved that there may well still be so much more to come from this England team.
Hannah Hampton has emerged from the shadow of legendary England goalkeeper Mary Earps and saved two penalties in the shootout, just as she did in the quarterfinal against Sweden.
Michelle Agyemang has been equally impressive, winning the Young Player of the Tournament award after crucial goals in both the quarterfinal and semifinal.
That accolade, though, won’t mean nearly as much as the medal around her neck.
