BASELEngland won another Women’s European Championship title on Sunday, defeating Spain in a penalty shootout while thriving in high drama once more.
After extra time ended in a 1-1 draw, defending champion England won the shootout 3-1 thanks to a spot kick by Chloe Kelly.
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Kelly, whose goal sealed a second consecutive Women’s Euros final, remarked, “I was calm, I knew I was going to hit the back of the net.”
Before replacement Salma Paralluelo pulled her attempt wide of goal, England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton saved penalty kicks from Mariona Caldentey and Spain sensation Aitana Bonmat.
At this exciting Euro 2025, the reigning champion prevailed in the only way it knew how.
Amazing subs
As it had done against Italy and Sweden earlier in the knockout stages, England had fallen behind in the first half, rallied in the second, and depended on its excellent substitutes, especially Kelly.
After Mariona Caldentey gave Spain the lead in the 25th minute with a finishing cross from Ona Battle, England tied the score in the 57th minute by a header from Alessia Russo following a cross by Kelly.
Even though Spain only fell behind England for four minutes during the tournament and not a single second, the defending World Cup champion was unable to win its first European championship.
This team, in my opinion, deserved more. Montse Tom, the coach of Spain, stated in translated remarks, “At least not living with this bitter feeling.”
Three years prior, England defeated Germany 2-1 at Wembley thanks to a goal from Kelly in extra time.
Despite having excellent possession in the England penalty area numerous times during extra time, Spain failed to score a game-winning goal.
After winning the tournament’s best player award, Bonmat told Spanish network La 1 that it was cruel. We performed better and produced more scoring opportunities, but in soccer, sometimes that is insufficient.
Beth Mead’s first and England captain Leah Williamson’s spot kicks were both saved by Spain’s goalkeeper Cata Coll.
Mead’s penalty had to be retaken in England’s historic event because of a new soccer regulation that gives players a second opportunity when they score by slipping and touching the ball twice. Following Hampton’s saves, it made little difference.
Old Arsenal goals
Attackers for Arsenal enjoy scoring with headers that are positioned precisely after appealing crosses are supplied to the right spot.
On a rain-soaked field on a dark, dismal day, Spain took the lead on Sunday with a very English goal, a full back’s cross from the byline hitting the head of an Arsenal player to score.
With a deft pass to find Athenea del Castillo in the penalty area and her vision to recognize Ona Batlle’s direct run into space, Caldentey’s opening goal had a strong Spanish flavor.
Caldentey was a member of the Arsenal squad that defeated a Barcelona squad with six starters, who were also playing for Spain on Sunday, in the May Women’s Champions League final. Three more Barcelona players were substituted by Spain.
Russo and Kelly, the attacking line for Arsenal in that final, joined forces to tie the Euro 2025 final. Russo headed the ball back toward the top corner of the Spain net after Kelly’s right-footed pass from the left was floated near his head.
Wiegman’s hat trick
Sarina Wiegman, the coach of England, has yet to lose in a Women’s Euros competition. Even yet, she got very near three times this month.
After bringing her native Netherlands to the 2017 crown and England to win in 2022, the best female national team coach of her generation has won a hat trick at the Euros.
The host nation team won both of those championships, and neither the men’s nor women’s senior England team had ever won a global or regional championship outside.
Additionally, Wiegman increased the number of women coaches who have won titles to eight Women’s Euros events over a 28-year span. Each time, there were more male coaches than females.
A royal appointment
The heirs to both thrones were among the royalty from both countries in the St. Jacob Park VIP box.
King Charles of Britain’s first son, Prince William, was accompanied by his daughter, Princess Charlotte. He is the English Football Association’s president.
Princess Leonor of Spain and her younger sister, Infanta Sofa, were also in attendance. Sofia and her mother, Queen Letizia, attended the 2023 World Cup final in Sydney, Australia.
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