England avenged their 2023 Women’s World Cup final defeat against Spain by beating the Spanish on penalties in the 2025 Women’s European Championship final.
With the victory, they successfully defended their Euro crown.
The Euro final was a familiar stage for England, who were in this very position in the last edition and came through successfully.
Perhaps that big-game experience helped them in their search to make a fast start for the first time in the knockout stages, but Alessia Russo’s low early drive was well beaten away by Cata Coll in the Spain goal.
Coll almost became the villain 20 minutes in when her loose pass inside the area was pounced upon in the area by Lauren Hemp. The Spanish stopper redeemed herself instantly by repelling the winger’s effort from six yards out to ensure the deadlock remained intact.
Yet for all their early domination, the Lionesses were hit with the ultimate sucker punch.
England knew the calibre Spain had within their ranks having lost the 2023 World Cup against this very opponent, but in case they’d forgotten, they were given a harsh reminder when Ona Batlle’s cross was headed into the top corner by Mariona Caldentey.
England’s misery was compounded shortly after when Lauren James, who was a doubt before kick-off, hit the deck with what looked like a repeat of her ankle injury.
Her replacement was equally able in Chloe Kelly, but Arsenal’s new recruit could only flash an effort well wide of the post as she failed to get the Lionesses back on level terms before the half-time whistle sounded.
Although far from planned, Sarina Wiegman’s first-half substitute paid dividends 10 minutes into the second half, when Kelly’s cross was expertly headed back across goal and into the far corner by Russo.
Spain were visibly shell-shocked after conceding, and it took them 15 minutes to truly regain their composure. But when they did they created a great opportunity when Clàudia Pina dragged the ball onto her left foot and unleashed a wicked drive towards goal which required a strong hand from Hannah Hampton to keep it out.
Despite both sides slogging it out, 90 minutes weren’t enough to separate the pair, and the game went into extra time.
The additional 30 minutes were largely a non-event, with the two nations seemingly petrified of losing the game, so it was little surprise to see the game go all the way to penalties.
The first Euro final to do so since 1984! Salma Paralluelo put Spain’s fourth penalty wide, and up stepped Kelly with an opportunity to win the Euros for England.
She won the 2023 edition for them, and dispatched her spot kick this time around too to ensure the Lionesses won became the first side since Germany in 2013 to win back-to-back Euro crowns.
