England have beaten Spain on penalties to win the UEFA Women’s European Championship, becoming the first English football team – men’s or women’s – to win a major tournament overseas. Sarina Wiegman’s side retained the title they won on home soil in 2022, and it’s the third European Championship on the bounce for the England boss, who also led Netherlands to Euros success in 2017.
The Lionesses certainly didn’t take the easy path to European glory, with each of their three knockout games going to extra time and two – including the final – to penalties. But the resilience and never-say-die attitude of the players got them over the line in the end. So let’s take a look back at how England got the better of world champions Spain and gained revenge for the World Cup final of 2023.
Lionesses Hold Their Nerve to Edge Victory Over Spain
It’s home, again. pic.twitter.com/tng5sR27KJ
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 27, 2025
Ahead of the final, Spain were the favourites to add the European title to their World Cup and Nations League triumphs. But it was England who started the game brighter as they sought an early advantage. Unfortunately for Wiegman’s side, they were unable to force a breakthrough despite some probing attacks down the right through Laura Hemp with support from Lucy Bronze. And it was the World Cup winners who struck first when Mariona Caldentey headed past a stranded Hannah Hampton.
England have shown true grit during the Euros, and even when they were a goal down, they fought for every ball and pushed to find the equaliser. Wiegman had been criticised earlier in the tournament for leaving it too late before making changes, but this time her decision was made for her as Lauren James’s ankle injury meant she had to be replaced after 40 minutes. The player to come on: Chloe Kelly, the scorer of England’s winning goal in the 2022 Euros final and the player behind many of England’s comebacks this time around. England went into the break 1-0 down, but the Lionesses were certainly very much still in the match and came out for the second half with renewed vigour and intent.
England Battled Back in the Second Half
As with the last three games between the sides, Spain had the majority of the possession, but England were largely able to restrict their opponents to half chances, which Hampton dealt with brilliantly. At the other end of the pitch, Kelly caused the Spanish defence all kinds of problems down the left flank and it was her exceptional whipped cross that allowed Alessia Russo to head in the equaliser after 57 minutes.
Both sides created chances to win it within normal time, and although Spain had 22 shots, most were not going to trouble England’s assured keeper. Indeed, England managed the same number of shots on target over the course of the game (five apiece).
As the game went into extra time, England were forced to hang on at times, putting their bodies on the line to block shots and make last-ditch tackles. With every player putting in a proper shift, the Lionesses did enough to make it to the end of extra-time all-square… and the dreaded penalty shootout loomed.
Hampton and Kelly Spotkick Queens
England were very poor at penalties against Sweden in the quarters. Luckily, the Swedes were even worse, and the Lionesses somehow made it through. But there were still plenty of very nervous England fans when Beth Mead stepped up for the first penalty. And even more so when Mead slipped as she took the kick… only for the ball to find the back of the net, before the ref ordered a retake due to a double contact! The Spanish keeper Cata Coll saved the retaken penalty to give her side the early advantage.
Patri Guijarro slotted her kick home to put Spain 1-0 up, but Alex Greenwood powered home to draw England level. Then the brilliant Hampton came to the rescue as she saved Mariona Caldentey’s poor spotkick. And Niamh Charles put England ahead for the first time as she made it 2-1. But up stepped Aitana Bonmati, arguably the best player in the world… only for Hampton to save another!
It was still 2-1 England, but Leah Williamson fluffed her lines as the Spanish keeper made a fine save. Thankfully for the ever-nervous England fans watching on, Salma Paralluelo put Spain’s next penalty wide, which meant if England scored their next, they’d win the Euros. Up stepped the ever-confident Chloe Kelly. Despite missing her last pen for England (though she did score the rebound), she made no mistake this time as she took her time and hammered the ball high into the net. England had retained the Euros!
England’s Special Lionesses
So many of England’s players showed their skill, grit and prowess over the course of the tournament, but a few stood out for us. Firstly, Michelle Agyemang, who came off the bench to score crucial equalisers in both the quarter-final against Sweden and the semi against Italy. She certainly has a bright future – not bad for someone who was a ball girl for England just a few years ago!
The warrior that is Lucy Bronze also showed her usual determination, which she epitomised when she strapped up her own thigh and carried on playing in the game against Sweden. After the final, from which she had to be withdrawn after around an hour, she revealed she’d played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia!
Hannah Hampton had big gloves to fill after Mary Earps had been so brilliant for England over the years. But fill them she did, as the 24-year-old Chelsea player made several crucial saves through the Euros, not least in the penalty shootouts, and also provided excellent distribution from the back to help put her side on the front foot.
And then, of course, there was Chloe Kelly, whose exceptional attitude, fantastic positivity, assists and goals made the difference for England when it really mattered. It was fitting it fell to the Arsenal player to score the winning penalty. And though England were only ahead for around five minutes of their three knockout matches, the sheer will to win and refusal to give up mean the Lionesses are worthy champions. As skipper Williamson said after the game, summing it up perfectly, her side rode their luck, but they were not lucky.
