JANE FRYER on the Lionesses' victory: With a hop and a skip and a naughty smirk, Chloe Kelly steps up to save the day!

Daily Mail​

7 hours ago

The moment that we will always remember, the one that will go down in history, that we will tell our grandchildren, is surely when Arsenal's Chloe Kelly steps up to take her penalty at the final of the 2025 Euros.
Because, just six months after she nearly gave up football altogether because she was in a 'dark place', she is the one who can win us the trophy. If she scores. If she scores... I don't even dare type it. 'Come on Chloe! COME ON! YOU CAN DO IT!'
And bloody hell. With a hop, skip and a sassy smirk at the terrified goalie, she smashes it into the corner – and we've won. WE'VE WON!
Suddenly Prince William and Princess Charlotte are going berserk in the stands, pints are flying across bars all around the country, fans are dancing and singing in the streets. Hearts are in mouths and voices are hoarse.
Then the trophy is presented and Prince William is hugging Chloe Kelly like his life depends on it and ten-year-old Charlotte sends her first congratulatory post on X.
Because our amazing Lionesses have fought and battled and roared – and done it all with the most extraordinary team spirit – and only gone and won the bloody Euros. On penalties!
And let's be honest. We weren't always sure it would happen as the tournament went on.
But after some pretty scrappy football at times, a lot of chat about substitutions and far too much 11th-hour drama, England's footballers clawed their way to another major international football final. Ring any bells?
At the start of the match, some of us wondered if we could even weather the disappointment of losing. Shouldn't we just switch off now and save ourselves the heartbreak? Of course not!
Because, this time, it was the women playing. Our roaring Lionesses, a rare breed in England because they actually win things.
They won this very trophy, against Germany, three years ago and taught a generation of young players that football can be less about expensive cars and brash flashiness, and more about team spirit, togetherness and digging deeper than you ever thought possible.
So we tried to skim over the fact that Spain's brilliant La Roja beat them in the 2023 World Cup. And that Spain are the super-hot favourites. And that too many of the old guard, Fran Kirby, Millie Bright and Mary Earps, the greatest goalie ever, had moved on.
And, oh no, that their super-calm Dutch coach, Sarina Wiegman, was, once again, keeping back her 'super subs' – Chloe Kelly and Michelle 'Aggie' Agyemang – from the starting line-up.
Instead, we said to ourselves, let's get behind them. Because the whistle's gone – and they're off! Or at least England are – Spain don't get their first touch of the ball for 90 seconds.
Leah Williamson's team are on fire and, three minutes in, we all nearly spill our drinks as Alessia Russo has her first shot on goal.
Fifteen minutes in, Spain finally wake from their siesta and Lauren Hemp's shot is thwarted by brilliant goalkeeping. By the 20-minute mark, suddenly we realise that we're not watching through our fingers.
We're wondering if England could actually do it – keep their nerve, battle on and win.
And so, for a good four minutes, we stupidly imagine retaining the trophy. The open-top bus parade. The trip to the Palace. Damehoods and gongs galore for the team. A national holiday in celebration.
Until, suddenly, Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey spots a window, slams one home for Spain and the whole Spanish team crank up a notch. Oh yes, and Lauren James's ankle plays up and off she comes. This is exactly when, with our men's team, we might be tempted to give up and start thinking about the rugby or cricket.
But then on to the pitch bounces Chloe 'Clutch' Kelly with a hop and a skip, her ponytail flying. And, as we head to half-time, suddenly anything feels possible again. Because this team is used to coming back from the brink. They've been here before. Unlike us viewers, they're not remotely phased. They're channelling what they call Proper England.
This new Lioness mindset is less about our national obsession with 'bringing football home' and more about a team that 'supports each other', works hard and wears their patriotism with ease. Or as midfielder Ella Toone puts it: 'Just a feeling of pride, every single time I pull on that shirt ... a sense of freedom and belief. You want to fight for each other and for the fans.'
But enough of all that. Because in the 57th minute, we're back in it. Thanks to a brilliant header by Russo – set up by Kelly the Clutch – we're 1 – 1. In all the excitement, somehow both Russo and Lucy Bronze pick up yellow cards. The rest of the team perks up as if they've had electric shock treatment and, on the touchline, crisp and calm in a blue M&S shirt and sensible trouser suit, Wiegman allows herself a small, controlled power fist.
For the rest of us, the hope returns like a tsunami. Particularly when, with 20 minutes to go until full-time, 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang powers on from the subs bench – fresh as a daisy after her usual warm-up of two hours' piano practice and a bit of rousing gospel music in her hotel room – and the fans go wild.
Because we love everything about 'Aggie', aka 'Saviour of the Nation'. That she's sweet as sugar and does Lego in her spare time when she's off the pitch, but is a marauding warrior when she's on it. That her speciality is scoring last-minute goals that save us from the jaws of defeat. And that she has a magic quality that makes us believe that, this time, we might actually win.
But not just yet. This is England, after all, so it was never going to be easy. And so, naturally, we battle on to extra time. On and on. The Proper English way. And from there, in the usual agony of hope and despair, to penalties. Which start with a disallowed goal from Beth Mead, who slipped as she took it and double-kicked it, poor thing. And continue in the usual rollercoaster of pain, suspense and mad crazed cheering as Spain's first goal smashes in.
Then Alex Greenwood scores for England. And, oh my Lord, goalie Hannah Hampton saves the next volley from Spain. Then Niamh Charles scores. And Hannah saves again. And... don't speak. Don't even breathe. (Though over on the touchline Wiegman is no longer calm or collected and is jumping about and punching the air and yelling.) Then Leah Williamson's is saved. And Spain miss. Until, finally, we're back where we started and up steps Chloe Kelly to save the day. And most of us will watch that moment over and over again. And cry every time.