CHLOE KELLY once again inspired England to achieve what many thought was impossible.
Sarina Wiegman’s incredible Lionesses defied their doubters again.
ReutersEngland lift the Euro 2025 trophy following their brilliant triumph[/caption]
ReutersThe Lionesses defied the odds to produce an exceptional victory[/caption]
GettyChloe Kelly strikes England’s winning penalty in the shootout[/caption]
Shutterstock EditorialKelly, 27, celebrates her winning spot kick[/caption]
GettyHero goalie Hannah Hampton saved two penalties in the shootout[/caption]
They went the distance, through a third spell of extra time and a second shootout, again.
They are European champions again.
And how they deserve it, how they battled. From Hannah Hampton, doubted a month ago but sensational in Switzerland.
The Chelsea goalkeeper saved two in the shootout and watched another fired wide.
Up the other end to Alessia Russo, battling and bringing them level – set up by Kelly, left out of the starting XI but crucial once more.
Then, after the controversy of Beth Mead scoring her penalty – being told to retake it and having it saved, Kelly delivered again.
Hampton had set the Lionesses up, and Kelly finished it off.
The Lionesses were adamant they could not be considered underdogs in this final.
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APThe Lionesses celebrate their incredible triumph[/caption]
GettyEngland’s win sparked pandemonium on the pitch and in the stands[/caption]
And they started looking ready and able to bloody the noses of Spain early on.
Spain struggled with Germany’s direct approach in the semi-final and it was causing trouble here too.
Lucy Bronze clipped a fine ball down the line to set Alessia Russo in behind.
Russo charged towards goal and fired low. While it was easily parried by Cata Coll in the Spain goal, the rebound fell kindly for Lauren James – though she could not sort her feet out in time.
The Chelsea winger had just about recovered from an ankle injury to start here, but lacked sharpness in a crucial moment and was forced off injured before the break.
Hers was not the only chance, however.
Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp both drew saves from Coll before the Lionesses fell behind.
Spain had not been as dominant as many expected – though Hannah Hampton had to make a fine stop when she charged down Esther Gonzalez.
There were clear gaps at the back for Spain to exploit and – as has been the case throughout their time in Switzerland – England’s defence did not look secure.
Gonzalez was again easily found in space 12 yards out but fired wide.
Then Spain struck to fully take charge in Basel. Flying full-back Ona Batlle was fed in down the right and, from the byline, flighted a superb cross into the six yard box.
ReutersMariona Caldentey nods Spain in front during the first half[/caption]
ReutersSpain stars celebrate going in front on 25 minutes[/caption]
Bronze had failed to spot Arsenal’s Mariona slipping in from the left and the winger rose to power a header past the helpless Hampton.
England had left themselves on the back foot once again, but were struggling to deal with Spain and find a way back.
Where it had been end-to-end before the goal, it was one way red traffic afterwards.
James then fell down and could not get back up, but Chloe Kelly – the hero in Geneva – stood up from the bench and drew huge cheers from the stands.
Kelly added a bit of threat once again, lifting spirits, but still Spain were still dominating possession.
Their midfield did not like they had a mistake in them, but the Lionesses were persistent and continued chasing what often felt like lost causes.
The leveller came not from a direct move or long ball, but a flowing spell from back to front – sparked when Alex Greenwood intercepted Mariona’s ball from deep.
From Hampton, via Keira Walsh and onto Stanway, England moved swiftly forwards.
And of course Kelly got in on the act, collecting out wide before lifting into the middle for her Arsenal team-mate Russo to loop a superb header back across goal and stun the Spanish.
Wiegman refused to smile but strode forwards, pumping her fist in the air.
ReutersRusso heads England level in Basel[/caption]
APAlessia Russo celebrates her brilliant equaliser[/caption]
AlamyEngland were brilliantly backed from the stands in Basel[/caption]
Her side had faced up to Spain’s peerless passing and dragged them into a scrap.
Having not been able to get close to them in the first half, England were now battling superbly – unsettling former Ballon d’Or Femin winner, Alexia Putellas, who was hooked with 20 minutes to go.
The midfield were scrapping superbly and Kelly tormenting as she has constantly done from the bench – drawing a fingertip save from Coll.
With England level, Wiegman moved to inject another level of life and belief, sending on Agyemang – the teenager who saved their skin last time out.
England’s battling had reignited this final, with Spain looking to give some back.
Substitute Claudia Pina found space in the England box and unleashed from an angle but was denied by the superb Hampton.
The closer we edged towards another spell of extra-time, the more open things became.
GettyWiegman again threw on Michelle Agyemang in the second half[/caption]
GettyChloe Kelly replaced Lauren James during the first half[/caption]
Captain Leah Williamson was marauding forwards, exchanging passes with Hemp – but her dangerous cross was not met by anyone in the box.
At the other end, substitute Vicky Lopez lifted an effort over the bar in injury time.
So it was, for the third straight game, another extra 30 minutes to endure for England, who had looked exhausted in the final few minutes of normal time.
Extra time came and went with England keeping their shape and hardly threatening.
Spain mustered far more chances, the two best wasted by Salma Paralluelo, including an attempted backheel from a yard out which ran through her legs.
Then, for the second time in just over a week, England faced penalties.
Again, the shootout swung this way and that. Mead slipped, kicking the ball twice as she scored and had to retake the opener, which was then saved.
Alex Greenwood and Niamh Charles finished theirs with a clinical touch before skipper Williamson saw hers saved.
The Spaniards had wasted their chances to win this all night and, having gone ahead in the shootout, never scored again thanks in large part to the brilliance of Hampton.
England led for a single minute in the knockouts and are champions of Europe again.
GettyAgyemang was congratulated by Prince William after winning Young Player of the Tournament[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
