By GRAHAM DUNBAR
BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — England thrived in excessive drama but once more to take down Spain in a penalty shootout and win one other Girls’s European Championship title on Sunday.
Chloe Kelly lashed in her spot kick to present defending champion England a 3-1 win within the shootout after a 1-1 draw after additional time.
“I was cool, I was composed, and I knew I was going to hit the back of the net,” stated Kelly, whose purpose determined a second straight Girls’s Euros last.
England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton saved spot kicks from Mariona Caldentey and Spain celebrity Aitana Bonmatí, earlier than substitute Salma Paralluelo dragged her shot extensive of purpose.
The defending champion gained the one manner it knew how at this thrilling Euro 2025.
Tremendous subs
England had fallen behind within the first half, fought again within the second and relied on its excellent substitutes — together with Kelly – simply because it did towards Italy and Sweden beforehand within the knockout rounds.
England leveled the rating within the 57th on Alessia Russo’s header from a cross by Kelly after Mariona Caldentey had given Spain the lead within the twenty fifth ending Ona Battle’s cross.
Spain trailed for less than 4 minutes in the complete event — and never for one second towards England — but the reigning World Cup winner couldn’t seal its first European title.
“I think this team deserved more. At least not living with this bitter feeling,” Spain coach Montse Tomé stated in translated feedback.
Kelly had scored an extra-time profitable purpose for England at Wembley three years in the past to beat Germany 2-1.
In additional time Spain had good possession within the England penalty space so many instances but didn’t power a decisive purpose.
“It was cruel,” Bonmatí advised Spanish broadcaster La 1, after being named finest participant of the event. “We played better, created more scoring chances, but in soccer sometimes that’s not enough.”
Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll saved spot kicks from England captain Leah Williamson and the primary by Beth Mead.
It was applicable in England’s memorable event that Mead’s penalty needed to be retaken below a brand new soccer rule that permits a second likelihood when a participant scores by slipping and touching the ball twice. It didn’t matter after Hampton’s saves.
Traditional Arsenal objectives
Arsenal attackers like scoring with completely positioned headers from inviting crosses despatched to the perfect spot.
Spain took the lead Sunday with a really English purpose – a full again’s cross from the byline discovering the top of an Arsenal participant to attain, on a rain-slicked subject on an overcast, cloudy day.
The robust Spanish taste resulting in Caldentey’s opener was within the neat passing to seek out Athenea del Castillo within the penalty space and her imaginative and prescient to see Ona Batlle’s direct run into house.
Caldentey was within the Arsenal group that gained the Girls’s Champions League last in Could beating a Barcelona facet with six starters who additionally lined up for Spain on Sunday. Spain used three extra Barcelona gamers as substitutes.
The Arsenal ahead line in that last, Russo and Kelly, mixed to tie the Euro 2025 last. Kelly’s right-foot cross from the left was floated towards the top of Russo who guided the ball again towards the highest nook of the Spain web.
Wiegman’s hat trick
England coach Sarina Wiegman has nonetheless by no means earlier than been eradicated from a Girls’s Euros event. Regardless of how shut she got here thrice this month.
The highest feminine national-team coach of her technology has a Euros hat trick after main England to victory in 2022 and her native Netherlands to the 2017 title.
Each these titles have been gained because the host nation group and no England senior group, males or ladies, had beforehand gained a world or continental title overseas.
Wiegman additionally prolonged the run of title-winning ladies coaches to eight Girls’s Euros editions throughout 28 years. Girls have been outnumbered by male coaches every time.
Royal appointment
There was royalty from each nations within the VIP field at St-Jakob Park together with heirs to every throne.
Prince William, the primary son of Britain’s King Charles, was along with his daughter Princess Charlotte. He’s president of the English Soccer Affiliation.
Additionally current have been Princess Leonor of Spain and her youthful sister, Infanta Sofía. On the 2023 World Cup last Sofia was on the recreation together with her mom Queen Letizia in Sydney, Australia.
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Initially Printed: July 27, 2025 at 9:56 AM PDT
