England’s Euro 2025 win defies logic; Spain’s curse continues

BASEL, Switzerland — England defended their Euro 2025 crown as they beat Spain 3-1 on penalties in Basel on Sunday.

Spain had the most effective of the primary half and Mariona Caldentey struck the opener with a strong header. However Chloe Kelly modified the sport for the Lionesses when she changed an injured Lauren James within the fortieth minute and despatched in an ideal cross for Alessia Russo to go dwelling the equalizer on 57 minutes.

England had gone behind to each opponent within the knockout rounds, however could not discover a winner regardless of the arrival of tremendous sub Michelle Agyemang. Spain’s personal sub Salma Paralluelo had two fantastic possibilities to attain in further time, however the sport went to penalties.

Beth Mead slipped and scored the primary within the shootout, however VAR intervened as she was adjudged to have touched the ball twice and Cata Coll saved her retaken effort. Caldentey then missed Spain’s second effort, as Hannah Hampton pushed it away to stage issues, and he or she then stopped Aitana Bonmatí‘s shot to provide England the benefit.

Leah Williamson then noticed hers saved, however Salma blazed hers huge of the publish earlier than Kelly stepped confidently as much as hand England the trophy with probably the most highly effective aim of the entire match — her shot attaining a velocity of 110km/h, in accordance with Related Ball Expertise housed contained in the adidas Konektis Finale match ball.

– Euro 2025 last because it occurred: England repeat as champions
– Agyemang wins younger participant of match award
– England participant rankings: Hampton scores 10/10 in triumph
– Girls’s Euro 2025 bracket, outcomes and fixtures schedule

England get their film ending, nevertheless it defies logic

There’ll by no means be one other match win like this. It appeared just like the Lionesses had used up all 9 of their lives after the Sweden quarterfinal penalty shootout. However then got here Italy, as Agyemang popped up within the 96th minute to take the match to further time, and Kelly scored a late winner. This England crew have lived probably the most outstanding existence in Switzerland — from the depths of concern after the opening France efficiency, to the dominance of Netherlands and Wales, then the bonkers knockout matches.

Spain have been a special story although; England have been underdogs towards the reigning world champions. However there was one thing about this “film,” as supervisor Sarina Wiegman referred to as it, as England bounced from spherical to spherical. It felt just like the match was destined to finish up in English arms as they produced miracle after miracle

And there was yet one more to come back towards Spain. This was a efficiency based mostly on grit, dedication, some good defending from Jess Carter, and sheer combat as England held off the Spanish onslaught in further time. England had been second finest for a lot of the match, however this crew do not know after they’re overwhelmed.

And the star? Kelly. The Euro 2022 match-winner, the 119th minute winner within the Italy match, after which the profitable penalty in Basel.

England led their knockout matches for 4 minutes and 52 seconds in whole. Typically soccer defies logic. This match is one in every of them. — Tom Hamilton

Spain curse continues

Spain’s seek for their first Euros crown goes on after this painful defeat. The world champions made historical past in Switzerland, reaching the ultimate for the primary time, however couldn’t convert their possession into victory.

Spain took management after Caldentey’s Twenty fifth-minute opener. Montse Tomé’s resolution to shift the Arsenal participant again on to the left, having used her on the proper within the earlier knockout rounds, paid off. She was allowed freedom to roam inside, linking nicely with Alexia Putellas and Bonmatí as La Roja exerted their dominance.

Nonetheless, after scoring 14 objectives within the group stage, Spain have didn’t hit the web with the identical frequency since. They could not discover the second aim to take the sport away from England and as soon as the Lionesses leveled within the second half Spain additionally struggled to create possibilities. It took an injection of youth in Clàudia Pina, Salma and Vicky López to swing the momentum again in Spain’s favor towards a tiring England.

For all their possession in further time, although, they lacked a presence within the field, having eliminated Esther González and opted towards turning to Cristina Martín-Prieto. They ended the sport with 22 photographs to England’s eight and had one other 4 within the shootout. However with three missed, they squandered their probability to make extra historical past. Questions will comply with for Tomé. — Sam Marsden

Kelly the sport changer, as James gamble backfires

If unsure, break the glass and name for Kelly and Agyemang. They’re the 2025 model of Toone and Russo from three years in the past.

Within the last, we noticed Kelly lots sooner than in earlier matches. England had issues over Lauren James‘ health heading into the match as she picked up an ankle damage and was pressured off towards Italy at halftime, and did not look totally match towards Spain. She struggled to impose herself on the match as England gambled on her health and received that roll of the cube fallacious.

However Kelly’s influence was once more unbelievable. Enjoying off the left wing, it was her cross which dropped superbly on Russo’s head for England’s equalizer — not unhealthy for a participant who was instructed at college that her heading wasn’t as much as scratch — and although Agyemang brought on havoc on the sphere she did not get the prospect to increase her unbelievable file off the bench.

Wiegman’s different modifications have been nicely judged: Beth Mead on for Ella Toone after 87 minutes, Lucy Bronze had run herself into the bottom and was changed by Niamh Charles whereas Georgia Stanway was additionally exhausted with Grace Clinton changing her.

And naturally Kelly wrote herself into historical past as soon as once more, as she slotted the profitable penalty. By way of clutch subs, there isn’t any one like her. — Hamilton

Spain’s Salma struggles

Having received the 2023 World Cup Younger Participant of the Match, beginning most of that victorious marketing campaign, it was a special story for Salma at these Euros.

Confined to the bench and failing to actually make an influence, the 21-year-old ahead was subbed on within the 89th minute for González, hoping to interrupt the 1-1 impasse, however missed three key possibilities that would have received Spain the sport by the tip of additional time.

There’s a seemingly trigger for her decline, although. In October, she introduced she was stepping away from soccer citing psychological and bodily exhaustion and it has been a battle to get her again to her previous type ever since. She didn’t rating at Euro 2025 and of her six substitutions — averaging 33 minutes per sport — she had solely eight aim makes an attempt, with a median passing accuracy of 75.6%.

Having as soon as been tipped to be the subsequent star participant in an already star-studded Spain lineup, it was a disappointing match for the teenager and summed up by her key missed penalty within the shootout. — Emily Keogh

Arsenal vs. Barcelona, anybody?

At halftime, England have been 1-0 down and shedding the battle in midfield. The normally dependable trio of Stanway, Keira Walsh and Toone have been being overrun and outclassed by arguably the most effective engine room in membership and worldwide soccer with Patricia Guijarro, Putellas and Bonmati inflicting all types of points.

It took a tactical tweak from Wiegman to drop Bronze into midfield when England had the ball to offer an alternative choice and create an overload. And if it appeared familar it is as a result of it is precisely what Arsenal supervisor Renee Slegers did to cramp that very same midfield when the Gunners defeated Barcelona within the UEFA Champions League last.

The tweak allowed England to play by way of the midfield within the second half and labored in tandem to arrange their equalizer, with Walsh choosing out Stanway to make the run earlier than passing to Kelly to cross for Russo.

Putellas had been marking Walsh all sport, a tactic used throughout the 2023 World Cup and by each Sweden and Italy this match because it voided one in every of England’s most dear gamers and nullified the flexibility to play by way of the middle, the place the aspect are so harmful.

Within the first half, Spain had 284 touches within the attacking half, however a big drop to 153 within the second confirmed that England’s ways not solely labored to enhance their very own attacking menace but additionally countermanded Spain’s potential to play by way of theirs, one thing that has made them so dominant since their rise in 2023. — Keogh

Carter steps up underneath large stress

After a turbulent match, Carter proved to be one in every of England’s finest gamers within the last. It has been something however a simple match for the defender, having struggled throughout England’s opening 2-1 loss to France, she had a dire sport towards Sweden and was at fault for each objectives.

Off the again of the win, secured through penalties, Carter spoke out concerning the racist abuse she confronted on-line for the reason that begin of the Euros. The crew determined to cease taking the knee to try to drive change, in addition to writing statements on-line, and a few even restricted their social media use in solidarity with the Gotham FC middle again.

However she was dropped for the semifinal towards Italy, approaching instead within the 121st minute, and it wasn’t sure she would begin the ultimate. She did, and was fast to foil Spain’s assaults all sport lengthy, as she did extremely nicely to outmuscle gamers and preserve calm when coping with the press from Spain’s entrance line.

Her relationship with Williamson blossomed they usually stored Spain out for a lot of the sport, forcing the normally punishing aspect into errors and skewed possibilities. Carter’s emphatic celebration after stopping Bonmati’s probability within the closing phases of additional time encapsulated how a lot her unbelievable efficiency meant to her. — Keogh

Coll deserved higher

Coll was not rewarded for a high quality efficiency in Spain’s aim. She sat out the primary three video games at these Euros as she recovered from tonsillitis, finally returning for the quarterfinal towards Switzerland. She had a giant function to play in Spain’s run to the ultimate, together with a sensational late double save towards Germany within the semifinal, however her heroics couldn’t assist them over the road towards England.

She needed to be alert to make a low cease to her proper to maintain out Russo early on after which made a shocking save together with her outstretched leg from Lauren Hemp — admittedly after giving the ball away attempting to play out from the again. One other save adopted from Kelly within the second half and he or she did sufficient to win most shootouts: saving from Mead and Williamson. Sadly, her teammates could not convert.

She had stated earlier than the ultimate she needed to take a penalty and there was a suggestion she could have taken the fifth. It will have been a becoming finale for her efficiency, nevertheless it by no means received that far. — Marsden