England Beat Spain in Women's Euro Final to Retain Trophy

Yahoo

2 days ago

England forwards Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang with the European Championship trophy after beating Spain in Basel, Switzerland, July 27. Credit - Matthias Hangst - Getty Images
England have retained their crown as champions of Europe after beating Spain on penalties in the Women's European Championship Final on Sunday.
With the teams level after 90 minutes of regular time followed by half an hour of extra time, The 'Lionesses' finally came out on top in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out. En route to the final, the England team scored 11 goals in three group stage games, and faced late drama in both the quarter-final and semi-final matches. They only led their knockout matches for four minutes and 52 seconds in total, but still triumphed.
Forward player Chloe Kelly scored the decisive penalty in Sunday's shootout, etching her name into English soccer history once again after scoring the winning goal in the 2022 Euro final against Germany which gave England their first ever major tournament trophy. It was the first time - in women or men's football - that an English team had won a major trophy overseas.
England's victory was a third European title for head coach Sarina Wiegman, who also won the 2017 tournament as manager of her native Dutch team.
Here's everything else you need to know about England's historic victory.
How did England reach the European Championship Final?
The Lionesses began the tournament with defeat, falling short in their opening game against France with a 2-1 loss. The disappointing start was quickly put behind them, as England then eased past the Netherlands 4-0 and thumped neighboring Wales 6-1 in the final group game.
Finishing 2nd in the group and through to the knock out stage, England faced one of the tournament favourites, Sweden. By half-time, Wiegman's side were 2-0 down, but two goals in three minutes from veteran player Lucy Bronze and 19-year-old breakout star Michelle Agyemang put England level nine minutes before full-time.
Read more: How Women's Soccer Exploded in Britain
A penalty shoot-out followed after a tense 30 minutes of extra-time. Both teams missed a number of penalties, but Swede Smilla Holmberg ultimately blazed her kick over the bar to send her team crashing out, with England winning on penalties 3-2.
England then faced underdogs Italy in the semi-final, and it was the 'Azzuri' who went ahead in the first half. With constant attacking pressure mounting, it was not until the 90+6 minute that England eventually drew level with a last gasp goal from Agyemang, who once again spared her side an exit in just her fourth appearance for the national team.
Chloe Kelly stepped up in the final minute of extra-time, scoring on the rebound after Italian keeper Laura Giuliani saved Kelly's penalty, sending England to the final.
What happened in the final between England and Spain?
Sunday's final in Basel, Switzerland, was a replay of the 2023 World Cup in Australia, which Spain won 1-0. Spain's victory was overshadowed by then-President of the Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales, who grabbed and kissed player Jenni Hermoso without her consent.
Read more: Jenni Hermoso included in TIME's 100 Most Influential People
Spain and England also faced each other in the men's edition of the European final last year in Germany. The Spaniards came out on top 2-1 with an impressive young squad that had shining star Lamine Yamal leading the line.
It was Spain who took the lead through a first-half header from Mariona Caldentey on Sunday. England were behind for the third knockout game in a row, but drew level thanks to another headed goal from striker Alessia Russo.
A cagey 30 minutes of extra-time took the final to penalties. Beth Mead missed England's first spot-kick after a retake, putting Spain ahead in the shout-out. But three missed penalties in a row from Spain, two of which were saved by goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.
Chloe Kelly stood up once again for the winning moment, smashing her kick past the Spanish goalkeeper and securing England's second European crown.
Amid the post match trophy celebrations and partying, England defender Bronze revealed that she had been playing the entire tournament with a fractured leg. 'I actually played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia, but no one knew,' she told BBC Sport.
'I've been in a lot of pain, but that's what it takes to play for England, that's what I'll do,' the defender said, who played almost 600 minutes of football during the tournament.
The next major tournament for England will be the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, in which they could face world number one-ranked United States.
Read more: How the Women's World Cup Evolved Into What It Is Today
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