England beats Spain in penalties to win Women's Euros 2025 and repeat

England’s Lionesses once again proved their mettle in the crucible of high-stakes football, clinching their second consecutive Women’s European Championship title by defeating reigning World Cup holders Spain in a dramatic penalty shootout on Sunday. The final, a pulsating 1-1 draw after extra time, culminated in a 3-1 shootout victory for England, cementing their status as the dominant force in European women’s football. The decisive moment came from the boot of Chloe Kelly, who coolly dispatched her spot kick, echoing her extra-time winner against Germany in the 2022 final. "I was cool, I was composed, and I knew I was going to hit the back of the net,” said Kelly, whose clutch performance has now decided two straight Women’s Euros finals.

The path to glory was anything but straightforward for the defending champions, a testament to their unwavering resilience. Spain, a team renowned for their intricate passing and fluid movement, took the lead in the 25th minute through Mariona Caldentey, who expertly finished Ona Batlle’s precise cross. This "very English goal," as some observers noted, with a full-back's cross finding an Arsenal player's head, surprisingly saw the World Cup winners ahead. Indeed, Spain had trailed for a mere four minutes in the entire tournament prior to the final, and not for a single second against England on Sunday. However, England, true to their tournament narrative, refused to yield. In the 57th minute, Alessia Russo, another impactful substitute, leveled the score with a powerful header from a perfectly delivered cross by Chloe Kelly, showcasing the potent combination of Arsenal forwards that proved so effective.

England’s reliance on their "super subs" became a defining feature of their campaign, a strategic masterstroke by coach Sarina Wiegman. Just as they had against Italy and Sweden in earlier knockout rounds, the Lionesses leveraged their bench depth to turn the tide. Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton emerged as a shootout hero, denying Mariona Caldentey and Spain superstar Aitana Bonmatí with crucial saves, before substitute Salma Paralluelo dragged her shot wide, paving the way for Kelly’s heroics. For Spain, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous scoring chances, particularly in extra time, they couldn’t find the decisive goal. "I think this team deserved more. At least not living with this bitter feeling," lamented Spain coach Montse Tomé. Tournament best player Aitana Bonmatí echoed the sentiment, stating, "It was cruel. We played better, created more scoring chances, but in soccer sometimes that’s not enough.” Even Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll’s saves against England captain Leah Williamson and Beth Mead in the shootout couldn't alter the outcome, with Mead's retaken penalty, under a new rule, ultimately proving inconsequential.