In a night destined for the history books, England’s Lionesses showed nerves of steel and hearts of champions as they claimed their second consecutive European title with a dramatic penalty shootout win over Spain in the Euro 2025 final.
In a dramatic final packed with tension, drama, and pure resilience, it was that woman again — Chloe Kelly — who delivered under pressure. Just as she did at Wembley in 2022, Kelly stepped up when it mattered most, burying the decisive penalty to seal back-to-back European titles for Sarina Wiegman’s side, after Spain missed three of their penalties and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton produced two crucial saves.
It’s a win that not only seals England’s first major trophy on foreign soil but also cements Sarina Wiegman’s legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats. The Dutch tactician has now won three consecutive European titles—two with England and one with the Netherlands.
Trailing once again at halftime, England stared down the barrel of defeat for the fourth time this tournament. Mariona Caldentey’s powerful header gave Spain a deserved first-half lead and threatened to end England’s fairy tale.
Wiegman’s bold call to start Lauren James despite injury concerns didn’t pay off, but her introduction of Chloe Kelly in the second half changed the dynamic instantly. With Spain on the back foot, Kelly whipped in a pinpoint cross to find Alessia Russo, whose clinical header brought England level.
The game went into extra time after the full time ended 1-1. Spain dominated the extra time and came close through Salma Paralluelo, but a combination of grit, luck, and Hampton’s heroics kept England alive.
The shootout delivered all the drama you’d expect from two of the world’s top sides. Beth Mead was forced to retake her penalty after a double touch—scoring the first but seeing the second saved. Spain took an early advantage thanks to Patri Guijarro, but it would be their only success from the spot.
Misses from Caldentey, Bonmati, and Paralluelo handed England the upper hand. Despite Leah Williamson’s miss, Niamh Charles and Alex Greenwood kept their cool, paving the way for Kelly’s decisive strike.
With the weight of the nation—and a title defense—on her shoulders, Kelly didn’t flinch. One clean strike later, and England were crowned champions of Europe once again.
