The Lionesses beat La Roja 3-1 on penalties after drawing 1-1 in further time to retain the European Championship.
Chloe Kelly scored the decisive spot kick as England beat Spain 3-1 in a penalty shootout to win Euro 2025, efficiently defending the title they gained three years in the past after an enthralling encounter that ended 1-1 after further time.
Spain dominated possession in Basel, Switzerland on Sunday and made the breakthrough within the twenty fifth minute as Ona Batlle crossed and the England defence was caught flat-footed, permitting Mariona Caldentey to go the ball previous Hannah Hampton.
With Lauren James faltering on account of an ankle inury, England have been struggling, however Kelly got here off the bench to switch her simply earlier than the break, and it proved an impressed substitution from England supervisor Sarina Wiegman.
Kelly helped shut down England’s porous left flank and offered the cross for Alessia Russo to degree within the 57th minute, the ahead heading residence her inch-perfect help.
Spain continued to monopolise the ball however couldn’t discover one other objective earlier than the tip of regular time. The story continued by means of further time as they probed and probed however couldn’t break by means of the English defence as the sport completed 1-1.
The Spaniards bought the shootout off to an excellent begin when Catalina Coll saved Beth Mead’s effort, however England keeper Hannah Hampton stepped up and saved from Caldentey after which from Aitana Bonmati to place England within the driving seat.
Coll bought Spain again into it with one other one-handed cease to dam Leah Williamson, however Spain substitute Salma Paralluelo then fired her kick vast of the goal.
That set the stage for Kelly to repeat her 2022 heroics, when she scored the extra-time winner over Germany that gained her workforce the title at Wembley.
England’s Chloe Kelly celebrates after scoring the profitable penalty (Denis Balibouse/Reuters)
Kelly made her trademark prancing run-up earlier than smashing the ball into the online and peeling away in ecstasy to have a good time with the remainder of the gamers in entrance of the England followers.
“I’m so proud, so happy with this workforce, so grateful to put on this badge, and I’m so proud to be English … I used to be cool, I used to be composed and I knew I used to be going to hit the again of the online,” Kelly stated.
Spain trailed for under 4 minutes in the complete match – and never for one second in opposition to England – but couldn’t seal their first European title.
The ultimate was the primary time because the inaugural version in 1984 that the sport was determined by a penalty shootout – a match wherein England have been overwhelmed by Sweden.
Talking to the BBC, England goalkeeper Hampton stated: “This workforce is simply unbelievable, unimaginable.
“We’ve proven all through this match (that) we will come again after we go a objective down. Now we have that grit. We by no means say die – we simply preserve going, and we did that right this moment.”
