England beat Spain on penalties to win Women’s Euro 2025 final

England’s Lionesses have defended their Women’s Euro crown, beating Spain on penalties in a thrilling final marked by resilience and heroics from Chloe Kelly and emerging stars.

England has been crowned Women’s European champions for the second consecutive time after a dramatic 3-1 penalty shootout victory over Spain in the Euro 2025 final in Basel, Switzerland on Sunday night.

The match, held under intense pressure following a 1-1 draw, saw Chloe Kelly emerge as the hero once again. Kelly scored the decisive penalty, avenging England’s heartbreak loss to Spain in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.

Alessia Russo’s powerful 57th-minute header leveled the score after Mariona Caldentey had opened the scoring for Spain.

England captain Lucy Bronze revealed she had played the entire tournament with a fractured tibia yet still contributed almost two hours in the final, exemplifying the grit of the Lionesses.

Rising stars also made their mark: goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, stepping out from the shadow of Mary Earps, saved two crucial penalties in the shootout and throughout the tournament. Meanwhile, Michelle Agyemang earned the Young Player of the Tournament award after scoring key goals in knockout rounds.

Following the victory, the team celebrated enthusiastically with Kelly leading “Sweet Caroline,” the squad’s unofficial anthem.

The win drew praise from the royal family. King Charles extended his warm congratulations, commending the team’s ability to turn setbacks into triumphs. The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Charlotte, also celebrated the victory on social media, expressing pride in the Lionesses’ achievement.

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