Spain captain takes swipe at England after Euro 2025 final defeat

Metro

4 days ago

Spain captain Irene Paredes claims her team 'deserved' to win the Euro 2025 final more than 'lucky' England.
The Lionesses cemented their place in history by retaining their European title with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Spain.
Sarina Wiegman's side were second best for much of the final and were forced to come from behind yet again after Mariona Caldentey's first-half header broke the deadlock.
But England have made a habit of comebacks during a turbulent Euros campaign and equalised on the hour mark through Alessia Russo.
Pre-tournament favourites Spain pressed for a winner late on and in extra-time but England resolutely took them to penalties before winning the shootout 3-1.
Chloe Kelly, who scored the winner in the Euro 2022 final at Wembley, converted the decisive spot-kick after England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton saved two Spain penalties.
Victory represented the first time an England team has won a major trophy on home soil and gave Wiegman her third successive European title.
Spain captain Paredes said her team 'deserved it more' after the heartbreaking defeat and accused England of being 'lucky throughout the whole tournament'.
England also won their quarter-final on penalties before scoring two late goals to come from behind in the semi against Italy.
'I don't really know what to say,' Paredes told Spanish TV station RTVE. 'It's a very hard moment.
'We tried everything, all the different ways, and then the penalties didn't go our way. I thought we deserved it more but in the end it is not about who deserves it. @metrouk
England were crowned back-to-back European champions after beating Spain on penalties in the thrilling final of Euro 2025 on Sunday. In a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final, the two best teams in the competition faced off, with the Lionesses avenging that heartbreaking defeat in Sydney two years ago. La Roja looked the better side overall and took a first-half lead but Sarina Wiegman's team fought back, with Alessia Russo equalising after the break. After a nervy 120 minutes, Hannah Hampton was the hero in the shootout, saving three penalties, giving Chloe Kelly the chance to score the winning spot-kick. #lionesses #england #womensfootball #chloekelly ♬ original sound – Metro – Metro
'It is about having that bit of luck and England had that throughout the whole tournament. We thought we could overcome that but we weren't able to.
'I think we had more control of the game than they did, we created more clear chances, we had more possession… But yeah, nothing else.'
Spain manager Montse Tome, meanwhile, expressed her 'pride' of her team while bemoaning the fact they were unable to 'close out' the win.
Spain are the World Cup holders following their triumph in Australia and New Zealand in 2023 and will be one of the favourites for the 2027 tournament in Brazil.
'It's a final and we are sad because we weren't able to win,' Tome said. 'I think the effort from all of the players was very good, they tried until the very end to try to win but then we arrived at a penalty shootout and we weren't able to do it.
'I thought overall we were very good on the ball. They are a team that play a lot on the second balls and they managed to hurt us a bit in these situations.
'I think in extra time we got the momentum back, got on the ball and were able to attack, but we were not able to avoid a penalty shootout and in the end we were not able to do that better.
'Now we have a strange feeling because we wanted to win so much. You have it so close and you are not able to do it. But I am always proud of the effort of the team and the staff that has been really positive.'
While Spain felt a little aggrieved by their defeat in Basel, there were joyous scenes in the stadium and around the country as England celebrated back-to-back Euros wins.
'The first time was so nice, we had to do it twice,' England hero Kelly said as she strolled around the pitch with another winner's medal around her neck.
England captain Leah Williamson added: 'The girls put in a defensive performance for the ages. I don't have the words.
'This was hard fought, three years ago was a fairytale, everything went our way but this year it didn't.'
On three-time winning Euros coach Wiegman, Williamson added: 'I thought two [Euros titles] was good but she's doing well with three. She's just an amazing woman.
'She stands by us on and off the pitch. But when she makes a decision, and it's a sign of a good coach, I never question it.
'If she tells me to jump, I say how high? I think that's a sign of somebody well-respected.' More Trending
An elated Wiegman, meanwhile, said: 'I can't believe it! We said we can win by any means and that's what we have shown again today.
'I am so proud of the team and the staff. It is incredible. I just can't believe it. I have a medal around my neck and we have a trophy.
'It has been the most chaotic tournament on the pitch – all the challenges we had on the pitch against our opponent.
'From the first game it was chaos. Losing your first game and becoming European Champions is incredible. Football is chaos.'
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