More Batlle brilliance

New York Times

6 days ago

England have defended their European crown with a gutsy 3-1 victory on penalties against world champions Spain Getty Images
England have won the European Championship for the second time in a row, beating Spain 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was the hero, saving two penalties before Chloe Kelly smashed in the winning spot kick.
It was a gutsy victory for Sarina Wiegman's side, coming from behind in normal time and hanging on in extra time to take the game all the way. Mariona Caldentey gave Spain the lead on the night with a brilliant header but Alessia Russo came up with a header of her own to equalise in the second half.
England penalties scored: Alex Greenwood, Niamh Charles, Chloe Kelly; England penalties saved: Beth Mead, Leah Williamson.
Spain penalties scored: Patri Guijarro; Spain penalties missed/saved: Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmati, Salma Paralluelo. Have your say: [e-mail]
GO FURTHER
England 1-1 Spain AET (3-1 on pens): Wiegman gets her calls right as Lionesses win Euro 2025 Getty Images
Ona Batlle has been absolutely brilliant for Spain. Sharp, intelligent and disciplined.
78' England 1-1 Spain
England are in a bit of a groove now.
Lauren Hemp lively. Then a nutmeg through ball to Leah Williamson — what is the centre-half doing there — and she slides it gently into the box.
But there is no one in there to meet it! Chloe Kelly coming in at the back post... Ona Batlle does really well to intercept and clear in the nick of time.
77' England 1-1 Spain
Pretty soft set piece given to Spain after Jess Carter challenges Spain captain Irene Paredes.
Agyemang nods it away, then collects it on the right flank and does really well to get it away smoothly.
Good start from the teenager. Getty Images
75' England 1-1 Spain
Spain's sub Claudia Pina nearly has an instant impact!
She stands up Lucy Bronze inside the box, touches it past the veteran, and cracks a snapshot back across goal.
Big hand from Hampton who turns it behind for a corner.
Vicky Lopez was warming up on the sidelines and started asking for something. Someone from the RFEF (Spanish FA) ran off and came back with a banana.
The footballer was lacking vitamins. After a great group stage, she has hardly been seen since. She was playing in the place of the absent Aitana Bonmati but since Bonmati's return she has not played much.
I would have liked to see her more because she was one of the best players at the start of Spain's campaign. Getty Images
Spain may be dominating possession, but they're lacking cohesion with too many second guesses on the ball.
England, on the other hand, are turning sloppy build-up into quickfire chances. Getty Images
HUGE roars for Michelle Agyemang.
This is the earliest Wiegman has brought her on as a substitute.
Claudia Pina was the player responsible for the comeback against England in the Nations League match in Barcelona. Getty Images
71' England 1-1 Spain
Spain wide attacker Claudia Pina is on for midfielder Alexia Putellas. A change to a 4-2-3-1 shape, perhaps?
Michelle Agyemang does come on for England up front, replacing the booked Alessia Russo.
She averages a goal every 33 minutes for England... Getty Images
70' England 1-1 Spain
Chloe Kelly has had such an impact since coming on. She goes right, twists left, shoots, and it's a wonderful tip round the post at full stretch from Cata Coll.
Reminder that Michelle Agyemang is still on the bench...
67' England 1-1 Spain
Spain counter with numbers, demonstrating their enduring threat on the break, but it's good defending from Alex Greenwood, who gets across and forces a rushed shot which flies wide. Getty Images
64' England 1-1 Spain
Jess Carter with an excellent block on a Spain shot.
She looks more settled and secure than she did in the first half.
That England scored with around 38 per cent possession — their lowest of the match — is very good news for them.
They're figuring it out and playing their game on their time, which is a non-negotiable if they are to beat Spain. Getty Images
Since Opta has analysed major women's tournaments (2011), Chloe Kelly at this year's Euros has the joint-most chances created (8) and most successful crosses (10) of any substitute in a single tournament. Getty Images
60' England 1-1 Spain
Alessia Russo, amped up, slides in late on Ona Batlle, booked. Not malicious but reckless.
Then Lucy Bronze steps in firmly, wins the ball cleanly, but on the follow through, catches Olga Carmona, who takes the opportunity to exercise those vocal cords and scream in pain.
Another yellow card, this one harsher. Streetwise from the Spanish players. Getty Images
Chloe Kelly has been asking the question all tournament of what she could accomplish with more game time, and that beautifully worked curling cross in to Alessia Russo is one answer.
Kelly's service is tremendous, but she is bold and that is what England needed in the second half.
Kelly was screaming for it out wide. Finally they worked it round to the left, great ball in, great header.
Russo, up until that point, has been the tournament's biggest under performer in terms of expected goals, scoring just once from her value of 3.3.
She needed that and, boy, did England. Getty Images
58' England 1-1 Spain
That was more like it from England.
Walsh rapped a pass forward to the charging Stanway, who drove forward with the ball and laid it off to Chloe Kelly after drawing an opposition player in.
One touch, control, One touch, set. One touch, wonderful curling cross from the left.
Alessia Russo, Kelly's Arsenal team-mate, found the separation from her marker, and guided the header beautifully back into the top-left corner as she fell backwards.
Another great header in this final!
Page 2