Defending Champions England Defeat Spain On Penalties To Win 2025 Women’s Euro

Last Updated:July 28, 2025, 07:47 is

Chloe Kelly’s decisive penalty helped England defeat Spain 3-1 in a shootout to win the 2025 Women’s Euro, avenging their 2023 World Cup loss.

Star England forward Chloe Kelly converted the decisive kick as England beat Spain 3-1 on penalties to win the 2025 Women’s Euro after Sunday’s final had finished 1-1 at the end of extra time. This win against Spain allowed the Lionesses to avenge their loss in the 2023 World Cup final and retain their continental crown.

Spain seemed poised to replicate their win against England in Sydney in 2023, dominating the match at St Jakob-Park in Basel and leading through Mariona Caldentey’s first-half header.

However, England didn’t panic, having already come from behind against Sweden in the quarters and Italy in the semis before bagging wins.

Alessia Russo headed in the equaliser just before the hour mark and with no further goals, the game went to a shoot-out. Kelly, who had a significant impact off the bench, netted the winning penalty.

It was an agonising defeat for Spain, who couldn’t convert three of their spot-kicks, with reigning Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati seeing her effort saved.

Sarina Wiegman’s England are now consecutive European champions, this win coming three years after they beat Germany in extra time at Wembley to win their first women’s major tournament.

This win against Spain helps to offset the pain of losing the World Cup final in 2023 and solidifies Wiegman’s status among the coaching elite as well. She has now won three successive European Championships, having led her native Netherlands to a win in 2017 before repeating the feat with England.

Spain, meanwhile, fell short in their quest to add a maiden European Championship title to the World Cup they won in Australia.

La Roja dominated possession as expected, but paid the price for not bagging the victory over an England team that never gives up.

Wiegman’s side had come from 2-0 down against Sweden in the last eight, scoring twice to force extra time and winning on penalties. Substitute Michelle Agyemang’s 96th-minute equaliser denied Italy in the semis in Geneva, with Kelly scoring the winner in extra time.

Despite not playing well for much of their run to the final, England’s resilience prevailed. Wiegman had gambled on the fitness of Lauren James, which paid off, but not as planned.

James, having suffered an ankle injury against Italy, didn’t last until half-time and was replaced by Kelly.

By that point, Spain were already ahead, scoring when Bonmati and Athenea del Castillo combined to set up Ona Battle, whose cross from the right was headed in by Caldentey.

Montse Tome’s Spain, featuring seven Barcelona footballers in their starting line-up, had been in control before that and England’s best hope seemed to rely on potential complacency from their opponents.

An example of this occurred when the match was still goalless, and Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll played a careless short pass to Laia Aleixandri in her area. Lauren Hemp seized the chance, but Coll reacted well to make the save.

Even at 1-0, England remained in the match, capitalising on their opportunity in the 57th minute when Kelly crossed from the left for her Arsenal teammate Russo to equalise.

England, supported by a majority of fans in the crowd of 34,203, sensed yet another comeback victory over Spain. Coll’s fingertips prevented a Kelly effort from finding the far corner midway through the second half.

Agyemang then replaced Russo, hoping to play the super-sub role, while Salma Paralluelo was among Spain’s substitutes.

Paralluelo found herself in promising positions as the match progressed into extra time and the tension-filled penalty shoot-out.

Beth Mead’s first kick for England was saved after she was forced to retake and skipper Leah Williamson had her effort stopped by Coll as well. However, Alex Greenwood and Niamh Charles both scored, while Patri Guijarro was the only successful taker for Spain before Kelly stepped up to win it.

(With AFP Inputs)

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