Hannah Hampton: England hero's remarkable journey from doctor heartbreak to Euros glory
Hannah Hampton saved the day for England against Spain in the Euros final - and her journey to the top has been anything but straightforward.
Hampton kept out two penalties as the Lionesses defended their European crown, having made big stops from Esther Gonzalez and Claudia Pina in regular time. The Chelsea stopper justified Sarina Wiegman 's decision to make her England's number one keeper ahead of Mary Earps, even if some didn't agree with the call at the time.
Those were big shoes to fill, but it was no problem at all for Hampton.
Even longer ago, though, a medical condition might have stopped Hampton's football career before it even started. She had been diagnosed with strabismus, an eye condition which affects depth perception, but didn't let her stop that chasing her dream.
"I was told from a young age that I couldn't play football, that it wouldn't be a profession I could pursue. But here I am,' Hampton told the BBC earlier this summer.
Her road to the top hasn't been an easy one in more than one way, but the Euro 2025 run is testament to the 24-year-old's resilience. She saved two penalties in the shoot-out against Sweden in the quarter-final, including a sensational stop to turn Sofia Jakobsson's effort onto the post.
And then, in the final, she kept out efforts from Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati before Chloe Kelly put away the winning spot-kick.
For some, though, Hampton's best and most crucial moment came even earlier in the tournament.
In a must-win group game against the Netherlands, her inch-perfect pass out to Alessia Russo helped start the move from which Lauren James opened the scoring in a 4-0 England win. Without that, the Lionesses might have found themselves going home long before Hampton produced those heroics in the knockout rounds.
"Every player has their one story and journey and hers has been incredible,' England boss Wiegman said. 'Starting the tournament and losing the first game, there was so much riding on every game, we had five finals.
'She had to step up and I think she has been amazing. It's a little bit like a fairytale to stop those two penalties in the final."
Hampton stressed the run to glory was a team effort, saying after the final: 'We never say die, we keep going and we did that today.'
That team effort wouldn't have been possible without two things, though - Wiegman giving the young keeper her backing, and Hampton delivering.
England's manager made a number of big decisions in the lead-up to the tournament and continued along that path in Switzerland.
Her decision to call up teenage forward Michelle Agyemang paid off handsomely, with the youngster scoring crucial goals against Sweden and Italy, while there were some bold calls in defence throughout the tournament itself.
England's manager had a lot to lose by backing Hampton over Euro 2022 winner Earps, but her bravery in making the call is part of why she's now celebrating yet another sensational triumph.
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Lionesses Bring It Home Again - Souvenir Edition
Sarina Wiegman's legends have made history and brought football home once more after defending their title and winning Euro 2025 in Switzerland. We have produced this special souvenir edition of the Women's Football News.
It is crammed with interviews with the Lionesses, special features, their match-by-match road to glory as well as dozens of amazing images. Click here to buy
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