England’s Leah Williamson, center left, and Keira Walsh lift the trophy after winning the Women’s Euro 2025 final soccer match between England and Spain at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
BASEL, Switzerland — More drama, one other penalty shootout and never giving up.
England successfully defended its Women’s European Championship title on Sunday in its own special way, thriving in high tension yet again to take down world champion Spain in a shootout in the ultimate.
READ: Spain beats England to win thrilling Euro 2024 final
Chloe Kelly lashed in her spot kick to provide England a 3-1 win on penalties after a 1-1 draw after overtime.
“I used to be cool, I used to be composed, and I knew I used to be going to hit the back of the online,” said Kelly, whose goals decided a second straight Women’s Euros final, and in addition the semifinal five days earlier.
England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton saved spot kicks from Mariona Caldentey and Spain superstar Aitana Bonmatí, before substitute Salma Paralluelo dragged her shot wide of goal.
The defending champion won the one way it knew how at this thrilling Euro 2025.
“It was essentially the most chaotic tournament we played,” said England coach Sarina Wiegman, who has now won three straight Women’s Euros titles.
READ: Heartache but pride for England fans after Women’s World Cup defeat
Super subs
England had fallen behind in the primary half, fought back within the second and relied on its superb substitutes — including Kelly – just because it did against Italy and beating Sweden on penalties previously within the knockout rounds.
“I actually can’t consider it myself,” Wiegman said. “How can this occur? But it surely happens. We’re just going to party tonight.”
England leveled the rating within the 57th on Alessia Russo’s header from a cross by Kelly after Caldentey had given Spain the lead within the twenty fifth ending Ona Batlle’s cross.
Spain trailed for less than 4 minutes in your complete tournament — and never for one second against England — yet couldn’t seal its first European title against the team it beat within the World Cup final two years ago.
“I believe this team deserved more. At the least not living with this bitter feeling,” Spain coach Montse Tomé said in translated comments.
READ: Spain defeats England to win Women’s World Cup for first time
Kelly had scored an extra-time winning goal for England at Wembley three years ago to beat Germany 2-1.
Spain’s missed likelihood
In overtime Spain had good possession within the England penalty area so again and again yet didn’t force a decisive goal.
“It was cruel,” Bonmatí told Spanish broadcaster La 1, after being named best player of the tournament. “We played higher, created more scoring probabilities, but in soccer sometimes that’s not enough.”
Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll saved spot kicks from England captain Leah Williamson and the primary by Beth Mead.
It was appropriate in England’s memorable tournament that Mead’s penalty needed to be retaken under a brand new soccer rule that enables a second likelihood when a player scores by slipping and touching the ball twice. It didn’t matter after Hampton’s saves.
Classic Arsenal goals
Arsenal attackers like scoring with perfectly placed headers from inviting crosses sent to the best spot.
Spain took the lead Sunday with a really English goal – a full back’s cross from the byline finding the top of an Arsenal player to attain, on a rain-slicked field on an overcast, cloudy day.
READ: History beckons with England, Spain one win from Women’s World Cup glory
The strong Spanish flavor resulting in Caldentey’s opener was within the neat passing to seek out Athenea del Castillo within the penalty area and her vision to see Ona Batlle’s direct run into space.
Caldentey was within the Arsenal team that won the Women’s Champions League final in May beating a Barcelona side with six starters who also lined up for Spain on Sunday. Spain used three more Barcelona players as substitutes.
The Arsenal forward line in that final, Russo and Kelly, combined to tie the Euro 2025 final. Kelly’s right-foot cross from the left was floated toward the top of Russo who guided the ball back toward the highest corner of the Spain net.
Wiegman’s hat trick
England coach Wiegman has still never before been eliminated from a Women’s Euros tournament. Despite how close she got here 3 times this month, she acknowledged after the ultimate whistle Sunday.
The highest female national team coach of her generation has a Euros hat trick after leading England to victory in 2022 and her native Netherlands to the 2017 title.
READ: England tops Australia to establish Women’s World Cup final vs Spain
Each those titles were won because the host nation team and no England senior team, men or women, had previously won a world or continental title abroad.
Wiegman also prolonged the run of title-winning women coaches to eight Women’s Euros editions across 28 years. Women were outnumbered by male coaches every time.
Royal appointment
There was royalty from each nations within the VIP box at St-Jakob Park including heirs to every throne.
Prince William, the primary son of Britain’s King Charles, was together with his daughter Princess Charlotte. He’s president of the English Football Association.
Also present were Princess Leonor of Spain and her younger sister, Infanta Sofía. On the 2023 World Cup final Sofia was at the sport along with her mother Queen Letizia in Sydney, Australia.
After the sport King Charles congratulated the Lionesses team on their “sporting skill and awesome teamwork.”
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“For this,” the king wrote, “you have got my whole family’s warmest appreciation and admiration.”