Prime Highlights
- England retained their Women’s Euro crown with a 3–1 penalty shootout triumph over Spain after a 1–1 draw.
- Tipping the balance with her winning spot-kick was Chloe Kelly, as Spain’s three crucial spot-kicks all went wide, including a thudded strike from Aitana Bonmati.
Key Facts
- The match was played at St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland.
- Alessia Russo scored England’s equaliser following Mariona Caldentey having given Spain the lead.
Key Background
England entered the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 final looking to hold on to their title against newly crowned Women’s World Cup champions Spain. Spain started well, playing their possession football and scoring with a timely Mariona Caldentey header off an accurate pass. England had to go to work early with the opening goal and played and struggled like defending champions.
England retaliated with attacking prowess and tactical brilliance. Alessia Russo’s composed second-half goal equalized for the Lionesses, flipping the game around. The goal provided England with renewed purpose, and from that point, the game was an all-square battle, both teams fighting for that knockout moment. But neither could breach the other and send the game into extra time and ultimately penalties.
England was both mentally resilient and composed in pressure situations during the penalty shootout. Chloe Kelly also scored the clinching penalty with composure, but Spain collapsed, saving only three of their penalties, one of which was taken by Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati. England’s goalkeeper also arrived with crucial saves to win Lionesses a 3–1 penalty shootout.
It is an England break-through moment, making them a power to be feared in women’s football. Clinging to their Euro title is a testament to much steady improvement and depth of talent. For Spain, considering how they started and with the experience of having won the World Cup, the loss really only speaks volumes about how much more competitive the women’s football is on the continent and adds to their competitive edge against England. The final itself was an entertaining exhibition of best-of-the-best, tactical wizardry, and unyielding desire worthy of the stratospheric rise and global popularity of the women’s game.
