BASEL, Switzerland — England defended their Euro 2025 crown as they beat Spain 3-1 on penalties in Basel.
Spain had one of the best of the primary half and Mariona Caldentey struck the opener with a strong header. However Chloe Kelly modified the sport for the Lionesses when she changed an injured Lauren James within the fortieth minute and despatched in an ideal cross for Alessia Russo to go dwelling the equalizer on 57 minutes.
England had gone behind to each opponent within the knockout rounds, however could not discover a winner regardless of the arrival of super-sub Michelle Agyemang. Spain’s personal sub Salma Paralluelo had two great probabilities to attain in further time, however the sport went to penalties.
Beth Mead slipped and scored the primary within the shootout, however VAR intervened as she was adjudged to have touched the ball twice and Cata Coll saved her re-taken effort. Caldentey then missed Spain’s second effort, as Hannah Hampton pushed it away to stage issues, and he or she then stopped Aitana Bonmatí’s shot to offer England the benefit.
Leah Williamson then noticed hers saved, however Salma blazed hers vast of the publish earlier than Kelly stepped confidently as much as hand England the trophy.
– Ladies’s Euro 2025 bracket, outcomes and fixtures schedule
England get their film ending, however it defies logic
There’ll by no means be one other match win like this. It appeared just like the Lionesses had used up all 9 of their lives after the Sweden quarterfinal penalty shootout. However then got here Italy, as Agyemang popped up within the 96th minute to take the match to further time, and Kelly scored a late winner. This England crew have lived probably the most exceptional existence in Switzerland; from the depths of concern after the opening France efficiency, to the dominance of Netherlands and Wales, then the bonkers knockout matches.
Spain have been a distinct story although; England have been underdogs in opposition to the reigning world champions. However there was one thing about this “film,” as supervisor Sarina Wiegman referred to as it, as England bounced from spherical to spherical. It felt just like the match was pre-destined to finish up in English arms as they produced miracle after miracle
And there was yet another to return in opposition to Spain. This was a efficiency primarily based on grit, willpower, some good defending from Jess Carter, and sheer combat as England held off the Spanish onslaught in further time. England had been second greatest for a lot of the match, however this crew do not know after they’re overwhelmed.
And the heroine? Kelly. The Euro 2022 match-winner, the 119th minute winner within the Italy match, after which the profitable penalty in Basel.
England led their knockout matches for 4 minutes and 52 seconds in whole. Typically soccer defies logic. This match is one among them. — Tom Hamilton
Spain curse continues
Spain’s seek for their first Euros crown goes on after this painful defeat. The world champions made historical past in Switzerland, reaching the ultimate for the primary time of their historical past, however couldn’t covert their possession into victory.
After an entertaining opening, Spain took management after Caldentey’s Twenty fifth-minute opener. Montse Tomé’s choice to shift the Arsenal participant again on to the left, having used her on the fitting within the earlier knockout rounds, paid off. She was allowed freedom to roam inside, linking nicely with Alexia Putellas and Bonmatí as La Roja exerted their dominance.
Nevertheless, after scoring 14 objectives within the group stage, Spain have did not hit the online with the identical frequency since. They could not discover the second objective to take the sport away from England and as soon as the Lionesses levelled within the second half in addition they struggled to create probabilities. It took an injection of youth in Clàudia Pina, Salma and Vicky López to swing the momentum again in Spain’s favor in opposition to a tiring England.
For all their possession in further time, although, they lacked a presence within the field, having eliminated Esther González and opted in opposition to turning to Cristina Martín-Prieto. They ended the sport with 22 pictures to England’s eight and had one other 4 within the shootout. However with three missed, they missed their probability to make extra historical past. Questions will comply with for Tomé. — Sam Marsden
Kelly the gamechanger, as James gamble backfires
If unsure, break the glass and name for Kelly and Agyemang. They’re the 2025 model of Toone and Russo from three years in the past.
Within the closing, we noticed Kelly lots sooner than in earlier matches. England had considerations over Lauren James’ health heading into the match as she picked up an ankle damage and was pressured off in opposition to Italy at half-time, and did not look absolutely match in opposition to Spain. She struggled to impose herself on the match as England gambled on her health and acquired that roll of the cube improper.
However Kelly’s influence was once more unbelievable. Enjoying off the left wing, it was her cross which dropped superbly on Russo’s head for England’s equalizer — not unhealthy for a participant who was informed at college that her heading wasn’t as much as scratch — and although Agyemang precipitated havoc on the sector she did not get the prospect to increase her unbelievable document off the bench.
Wiegman’s different modifications have been nicely judged: Beth Mead on for Ella Toone after 87 minutes, Lucy Bronze had run herself into the bottom and was changed by Niamh Charles whereas Georgia Stanway was additionally exhausted with Grace Clinton changing her.
And naturally Kelly wrote herself into historical past as soon as once more, as she slotted the profitable penalty. By way of clutch subs — there isn’t a one like her. — Hamilton
Spain’s Salma struggles
Having received the 2023 World Cup Younger Participant of the Match, beginning most of that victorious marketing campaign, it was a distinct story for Salma at these Euros.
Confined to the bench and failing to essentially make an influence, the 21-year-old ahead was subbed on within the 89th minute for González, hoping to interrupt the 1-1 impasse, however missed three key probabilities that would have received Spain the sport by the top of additional time.
There’s a possible trigger for her decline, although. In October, she introduced she was stepping away from soccer citing psychological and bodily exhaustion and it has been a battle to get her again to her outdated type ever since. She didn’t rating at Euro 2025 and of her six substitutions — averaging 33 minutes per sport — had solely eight objective makes an attempt, with a mean passing accuracy of 75.6%.
Having as soon as been tipped to be the following star participant in an already star-studded Spain lineup, it was a disappointing match for the teenager and summed up by her key missed penalty within the shootout. — Keogh
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England followers go wild because the Lionesses win Euro 2025 on penalties
England followers at Boxpark, Wembley have a good time Chloe Kelly’s profitable penalty vs. Spain.
Arsenal vs. Barcelona, anybody?
At half-time, England have been 1-0 down and shedding the battle in midfield. The often dependable trio of Stanway, Keira Walsh and Toone have been being overrun and outclassed by arguably one of the best engine room in membership and worldwide soccer with Patricia Guijarro, Putellas and Bonmati inflicting all kinds of points.
It took a tactical tweak from Wiegman to drop Bronze into midfield when England had the ball to offer another choice and create an overload. And if it look familar it is as a result of it is precisely that Arsenal supervisor Renee Slegers did to cramp that very same midfield when the Gunners defeated Barcelona within the UEFA Champions League closing.
The tweak allowed England to play by the midfield within the second half and labored in tandem to arrange their equalizer, with Walsh selecting out Stanway to make the run earlier than passing to Kelly to cross for Russo.
Putellas had been marking Walsh all sport, a tactic used throughout the 2023 World Cup and by each Sweden and Italy this match because it voided one among England’s most precious gamers and nullified the power to play by the middle, the place the facet are so harmful.
Within the first half, Spain had 284 touches within the attacking half, however a big drop to 153 within the second confirmed that England’s techniques not solely labored to enhance their very own attacking menace but additionally countermanded Spain’s skill to play by theirs, one thing that has made them so dominant since their rise in 2023. — Emily Keogh
Carter steps up below large strain
After a turbulent match, Carter proved to be one among England’s greatest gamers within the closing. It has been something however a simple match for the defender, having struggled throughout England’s opening 2-1 loss to France, she had a dire sport in opposition to Sweden and was at fault for each objectives.
Off the again of the win, secured by way of penalties, Carter spoke out concerning the racial abuse she confronted on-line because the begin of the Euros. The crew determined to cease taking the knee to try to drive change, in addition to writing statements on-line, and a few even restricted their social media use in solidarity with the Gotham FC centre again.
However she was dropped for the semifinal in opposition to Italy, approaching as an alternative within the 121st minute, and it wasn’t sure she would begin the ultimate. She did, and was fast to foil Spain’s assaults all sport lengthy, as she did extremely nicely to outmuscle gamers and maintain calm when coping with the press from Spain’s entrance line.
Her relationship with Williamson blossomed and so they stored Spain out for a lot of the sport, forcing the often punishing facet into errors and skewed probabilities. Carter’s emphatic celebration after stopping Bonmati’s probability within the closing levels of additional time encapsulated how a lot her unbelievable efficiency meant to her. — Keogh
Coll deserved higher
Coll was not rewarded for a fantastic efficiency in Spain’s objective. She sat out the primary three video games at these Euros as she recovered from tonsillitis, ultimately returning for the quarterfinal in opposition to Switzerland. She had a giant position to play in Spain’s run to the ultimate, together with a sensational late double save in opposition to Germany within the semifinal, however her heroics couldn’t assist them over the road in opposition to England.
She needed to be alert to make a low cease to her proper to maintain out Russo early on after which made a shocking save together with her outstretched leg from Lauren Hemp — admittedly after giving the ball away making an attempt to play out from the again. One other save adopted from Kelly within the second half and he or she did sufficient to win most shootouts: saving from Mead and Williamson. Sadly, her teammates could not convert.
She’d stated earlier than the ultimate she wished to take a penalty and there was a suggestion she might have taken the fifth. It will have been a becoming finale for her efficiency, however it by no means acquired that far. — Marsden