England retain European title with dramatic win over Spain

BBC News

2 days ago

Update:
Date: 22:30 BST
Title: Goodnight!
Content: What a night. The England celebrations will go long into the night through to the homecoming party tomorrow. We'll bring you all the updates from that and you can stay across all our content from another incredible night for the Lionesses on the Euro 2025 page.
For now though, thanks for joining us on what has been a chaotic, dramatic, wonderful tournament in Switzerland with the Lionesses coming out on top.
They have put us through the mill. But it's all been worth it.
Only 697 days to go until the 2027 World Cup in Brazil - the countdown is on, right?
This video can not be played
England beat Spain on penalties to win Euro 2025
Update:
Date: 22:28 BST
Title: Post
Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens)
Pride, disbelief and pure passion.
This is what it means.
This video can not be played
Russo says back-to-back Euro titles feels 'surreal'
This video can not be played
Williamson proud of 'relentless' England
This video can not be played
'I'm so proud to be English! - Kelly reflects on Euros win
This video can not be played
'This team always has belief' - Wiegman praises Lionesses after Euros triumph
Update:
Date: 22:27 BST
Title: Post
Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens)
Now we've all calmed down, let's relive what happened.
After a solid start, England went down a goal when Mariona Caldentey headed home to give the world champions the lead at half time.
This video can not be played
'It's a gorgeous Spain goal!' - Caldentey header breaks deadlock
But this England team don't lie down that easily and Alessia Russo's bullet header got them back on level terms in the 57th minute.
This video can not be played
Russo header equalises for England in Euro final
Extra time followed but neither side could find a winner.
This video can not be played
Kelly denied by fingertip save from Cata Coll
And of course to penalties. Because England haven't already put us through enough at this tournament.
A nail-biting shoot out saw only four penalties scored.
This video can not be played
Relive the penalty shootout that saw England win Euro 2025
But crucially Chloe Kelly scored the winner to retain England's crown. Against all the odds.
This video can not be played
Kelly scores from the spot to win Euro 2025 for England
Update:
Date: 22:26 BST
Title: Post
Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens)
Let the celebrations (and the pizza party) begin...
Update:
Date: 22:25 BST
Title: 'Every single game has challenged us'
Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens)
England
England boss Sarina
Wiegman speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: 'I am pretty calm during the games. This
tournament every single game has challenged us. We took those on board and how the
team recovered from some setbacks, again today we went behind, but how we come
back and how we kept working together and so hard and also then win. That's the
most important thing."
On Jess Carter: 'Before the tournament I said I was very happy
with the squad because we had many players in the squad and several players
that can play in the same position bit bring different qualities. Before the
Italy game we took the decision to start Esme because we thought we would have
the ball a lot.
"[Today] we felt that we needed Jess and her special qualities
on the pitch because we had to defend a lot too – she is also very calm on the
ball but we are talking super strengths. It says a lot about the team and a lot
about her and her strong personality that she was ready to play. That is what
she showed today.'
On Chloe Kelly: 'She loves those moments. That is her super
strength, taking penalties but also doing that at the most important moment
with the most consequence of being successful or not. Yeah I love it.'
On what it means to
win the Euros yet again: "You know what, I don't realise it yet. I am still in
the stage where it's 'this is unbelievable' 'did this really happen?' So I can't
answer this question. Very, very happy but a little strange Just unbelievable.'
Update:
Date: 22:24 BST
Title: 'If Sarina tells me to jump, I say how high?'
Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens)
England
Captain Leah Williamson speaking to BBC Sport: "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 fairy tale, everything went our way but this year it didn't."
On the impact of winning: "[It's] consistency as a team, success for us and for the football. The difference we've made off the pitch to show the young girls they can be us and to show young boys everyone is welcome."
On Sarina Wiegman: "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."
Update:
Date: 22:23 BST
Title: 'The journey has been incredible'
Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens)
England
Sarina Wiegman on Chloe Kelly: "Every player has their own story. Every story is incredible. Her story is out in the open and I'm so happy for her. She has been fighting to come back to her highest level. She really wanted to take that penalty. To be able to score it under that pressure is incredible."
On the Lionesses celebrations: 'I'll do some more dancing. I'll have a drink but I don't think I'll drink as much as the players will do."
On Hannah Hampton: 'You really have to step up and show it and so did she. I think she's done amazing. It's a very bit like a fairy tale to stop those penalties in the final of the Euros and to win it."
On England's journey: 'I don't watch movies back so often but I will probably look and see some things back. The journey has been incredible. In the training sessions, everything around the team was very calm."
"Just the games were chaotic! That was hard work for everyone but afterwards it was all very calm. The facilities were incredible and the support from the Swiss people were incredible. It was really enjoyable.'
Update:
Date: 22:22 BST
Title: 'I was like are you sure?'
Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens)
England
Jess Carter on coming back into the starting line-up: "I think it was a great decision to not play me against Italy. Esme [Morgan] came in and did a phenomenal job. I don't think my performances have been up to par to be honest so, to see Esme come in and do such an incredible job, I was so happy for her.
"Sarina told me before training that she was going to play me [in the final] and I was like 'are you sure?'.
"That's how I felt after the job Esme did but the faith that Sarina showed in me and how she believed I could go out there today meant a lot."
Update:
Date: 22:21 BST
Title: 'There's no better feeling'
Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens)
England
Ella Toone speaking to BBC Sport: "Amazing feeling. I felt all the same emotions as I did back then [at Euro 2022]. We worked so hard, winning a tournament for your country - there's no better feeling. We deserved that and we should be so proud of ourselves.
"There were times when people thought we were down and out but we never did. We had that belief in the squad that we were going to come out and win.
"That's the quiet confidence we have in ourselves. Amazing feeling. We're going to enjoy the night. I love a party, I'm a Tyldesley girl of course I love a party."
Update:
Date: 22:20 BST
Title: 'This tournament can prove anything can happen'
Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens)
England
England's Lauren Hemp, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "I am absolutely shattered, but you know what, I don't care.
'It is just as special the second time round.
'It's definitely not been easy. One thing this team can promise you is we will never give up.
'Today we showed that in abundance.
'Throughout the tournament there have been tough moments, but we have always shown that grit and determination to come back, and it is not luck when it happens more than once.
"It is hard work and determination.
'It is important as a team that we know we're always in it. From the previous games, we knew, no matter what the score was at the time, we were going to be able to get back into the game.
'We had positives going into the second half. We held on and we worked so hard. We tried to get a goal early, so it didn't have to go to a penalty shoutout, but it sums up a great tournament all round.
'I had full faith in Hannah to save at least once, and she did that. We always count on her. When Chloe went up to take it, it was a no-brainer for me. I wasn't next so I was pretty chilled.
'I think this tournament can prove anything can happen. I'm so proud of everyone because of the hard work that we all put in, and we all deserve this moment.'
Update:
Date: 22:18 BST
Title: 'I hope it will push the women's game even more'
Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens)
England
Sarina Wiegman: 'I hope it will push the women's game
even more. The level went up again. The intensity of the games went through the
roof. I just think this tournament broke every record again with spectators and
the television views.
"I hope that will boost the women's game everywhere and
not only in England. I don't know what to expect now in England. I think it
will just boost again.'
'When the game is on I don't
really enjoy it. Of course I do when we score. What stood out? The fight. We
had to defend very well but we gave everything to prevent a goal and I do enjoy
that. It says something about the team and a will to want to win.
Update:
Date: 22:17 BST
Title: 'The least I can do is save a couple of pens'
Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens)
England
England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on if she's confident on penalties: "Ooh no. I think it all depends.
If the pens are working in our favour then I enjoy those moments because I can
help the team out, but if the pens aren't going in our favour then I'm thinking
there's a lot more pressure on it than normal because I've got to keep us in it
and save a few.
"But no the girls have run around for 120 minutes, so the least
I can do is save a couple of pens here and there and help the team out in any
way I can.
'We did our game plan
to a tee. People were probably looking at us and thinking 'why have we dropped
off? Why are we not pressing?' But pressing a team like Spain, you are just
going to be running around, and if we did that for 120 minutes I'm sure we would
have got tired a lot quicker than what we did. '
Update:
Date: 22:14 BST
Title: 'We make things hard for ourselves'
Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens)
England
England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on the mentality of the squad: 'I think we are English aren't we? We have the
English blood, the grit and the determination. We make things hard for
ourselves. We had a lot of critics after the first game, we didn't play amazing
and we knew that. As a team we got together an really got behind each other and
played to each other's strengths and played with confidence and freedom against
Netherlands and Wales to get us out of the group.
"As much as we have had the
critics on our backs we have not let it sink into the camp, we've not let it get
into us as a team. We know what everyone is capable of and we know what
everyone's individual qualities are and we played to that. To say throughout
the tournament we have done to be standing here right now with a winners medal."
Update:
Date: 22:11 BST
Title: 'Don't give up'
Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens)
England
England's Michelle Agyemang, speaking to BBC One: "I am so happy. I think I have cried - I am so grateful!
"It was so hard coming from a loss in the first game to this. Everything happens for a reason. We are European champions.
"I think it is surreal to come this far so quickly - it is only by the grace of God.
"Everyone has put in the effort to put me where I am."
On inspiring others: "Don't give up. When you see other people progressing faster than you are back yourself, believe in your abilities and trust in your abilities. You'll get there."
On the afterparty: "I can't say too much about that. We're going to have a good time."
Update:
Date: 22:09 BST
Title: Post
Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens)
Michelle Agyemang has gone from being a ball girl at Wembley a few years ago to becoming a European champion.
At 19-years-old. Incredible. Read more about her journey here.
Update:
Date: 22:07 BST
Title: 'A lot of stunned England faces'
Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens)
Gary FlintoffBBC Radio 5 Live reporter at St. Jakob-Park
I have just come out of the interview zones. Irene Paredes and Aitana Bonmati were really disappointed. They said it was really hard to get their heads around because they played so, so well.
They were gracious in the way they spoke about England and the fact it didn't quite work out for them.
England-wise, there were quite a lot of stunned looks on faces. Not quite sure how they managed to do it, but an underlying belief that they always had the ability to do it.
Lauren Hemp told me it was a bit of a blur, while Sarina Wiegman said she is not quite sure what happened. I told her 'you have won it' and she said 'no I know that, I have seen the trophy'.
Lucy Bronze literally walked on one-legged, but the England players were really smiley and happy, but absolutely drained.
Update:
Date: 22:04 BST
Title: 'Wiegman gave me hope' - Kelly
Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens)
England
Chloe Kelly on Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman: 'She's an incredible person. She gave me hope when I probably didn't have any. She gave me an opportunity to represent my country again.
"What she has done for the women's game – not just in England, but the Netherlands and the whole women's game – has been unbelievable. I'm so grateful to work with such amazing staff members."
Update:
Date: 22:00 BST
Title: 'Thank you to everyone that wrote me off'
Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens)
England
Chloe Kelly: "There were a lot of tears at full-time, especially when I saw my family because those are the ones who got me through those dark moments.
"I am so grateful to be out the back end.
"If that's a story to tell someone that maybe experiencing something the same - tough times don't last. Just around the corner was a Champions League final, won that, and now a Euros final, won that.
"So, thank you to everyone that wrote me off.
"I'm grateful."
Update:
Date: 21:58 BST
Title: Post
Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens)
Earlier this year it was doubtful whether Chloe Kelly would even make this England squad.
She moved from Manchester City to Arsenal in search of minutes with the Euros in her mind and was open about her unhappiness at not playing.
Since then she has won the Champions League with Arsenal and has now got it done for England at the Euros. Again.
The confidence she has displayed at this tournament. She absolutely thrives on that role she has been given.
Big game player.
Update:
Date: 21:56 BST
Title: 'I try to believe in myself as much as possible'
Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens)
England
England forward Chloe Kelly on the spinning the ball before taking a penalty: "Honestly it's just making sure that I'm ready and not letting anyone take me off my routine. I spin the ball until I feel like it's right, and then when I am ready there is no amount of time, just when I feel like it's the perfect one, whether that be ten times, I make sure it's ten times.
"It is just part of my routine just like my breath work is, I try to stick to my routine as much as possible and believe in myself in those moments."