Spain captain Irene Paredes claims her team ‘deserved’ to win the Euro 2025 final greater than ‘lucky’ England.
The Lionesses cemented their place in history by retaining their European title with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Spain.
Sarina Wiegman’s side were second best for much of the ultimate and were forced to return from behind yet again after Mariona Caldentey’s first-half header broke the deadlock.
But England have made a habit of comebacks during a turbulent Euros campaign and equalised on the hour mark through Alessia Russo.
Pre-tournament favourites Spain pressed for a winner late on and in extra-time but England resolutely took them to penalties before winning the shootout 3-1.
Chloe Kelly, who scored the winner within the Euro 2022 final at Wembley, converted the decisive spot-kick after England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton saved two Spain penalties.
Victory represented the primary time an England team has won a significant trophy on foreign soil and gave Wiegman her third successive European title.
Spain captain Paredes felt her team ‘deserved it more’ after the heartbreaking defeat and accused England of being ‘lucky throughout the entire tournament’.
England also won via penalties of their quarter-final against Sweden before scoring two late goals to return from behind within the semi against Italy.
‘I don’t really know what to say,’ Paredes told Spanish TV station RTVE. ‘It’s a really hard moment.
‘We tried all the pieces, all the several ways, after which the penalties didn’t go our way. I believed we deserved it more but in the long run it will not be about who deserves it.
‘It’s about having that little bit of luck and England had that throughout the entire tournament. We thought we could overcome that but we weren’t in a position to.
‘I feel we had more control of the sport than they did, we created more clear possibilities, we had more possession… But yeah, nothing else.’
Spain manager Montse Tome, meanwhile, expressed ‘pride’ in her team while bemoaning the very fact they were unable to ‘close out’ the win.
Spain are the World Cup holders following their triumph in Australia in 2023 and might be one among the favourites for the 2027 tournament in Brazil.
‘It’s a final and we’re sad because we weren’t in a position to win,’ Tome said. ‘I feel the hassle from all the players was excellent, they tried until the very end to attempt to win but then we arrived at a penalty shootout and we weren’t in a position to do it.
‘I believed overall we were excellent on the ball. They’re a team that play lots on the second balls and so they managed to harm us a bit in these situations.
‘I feel in additional time we got the momentum back, got on the ball and were in a position to attack, but we weren’t in a position to avoid a penalty shootout and in the long run we weren’t in a position to do this higher.
‘Now we’ve a wierd feeling because we desired to win a lot. You have got it so close and also you should not in a position to do it. But I’m all the time pleased with the hassle of the team and the staff that has been really positive.’
England heroes react to Euro 2025 win
While Spain felt slightly aggrieved by their defeat in Basel, there have been joyous scenes within the stadium and across the country as England celebrated back-to-back Euros wins.
‘The primary time was so nice, we needed to do it twice,’ England hero Kelly said as she strolled across the pitch with one other winner’s medal round her neck.
England captain Leah Williamson added: ‘The ladies put in a defensive performance for the ages. I don’t have the words.
‘This was hard fought, three years ago was a fairytale, all the pieces went our way but this yr it didn’t.’
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to an internet
browser that
supports HTML5
video
On three-time winning Euros coach Wiegman, Williamson added: ‘I believed two [Euros titles] was good but she’s doing well with three. She’s just an incredible woman.
‘She stands by us on and off the pitch. But when she comes to a decision, and it’s an indication of a very good coach, I never query it.
‘If she tells me to leap, I say how high? I feel that’s an indication of someone well-respected.’
An elated Wiegman, meanwhile, said: ‘I can’t consider it! We said we will win by any means and that’s what we’ve shown again today.
‘I’m so pleased with the team and the staff. It’s incredible. I just can’t consider it. I even have a medal around my neck and we’ve a trophy.
‘It has been essentially the most chaotic tournament on the pitch – all of the challenges we had on the pitch against our opponent.
‘From the primary game it was chaos. Losing your first game and becoming European Champions is incredible. Football is chaos.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the most recent news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Chloe Kelly’s proud husband joins sweet tributes after Women’s Euros win
MORE: Spain manager and star player emotionally speak out on ‘cruel’ England loss
MORE: Sir David Beckham and Amanda Holden lead rowdy celebrations after Lionesses’ Euros triumph