Germany beats France on penalties to reach Euro 2025 semifinals despite early red card
A drama-filled match finished 1-1 on Saturday, then Germany won the shootout 6-5 thanks to the heroics of Ann-Katrin Berger, who saved two shots as well as dispatching her own spot kick.
There were tears of joy from the Germany players after perhaps one of the greatest examples in soccer history of digging deep to defy the odds.
"Everyone was in each other's arms," Germany coach Christian Wück said. "Everyone was celebrating; everyone was happy that this hard-fought performance led us to victory.
"I can only say it again and again: I'm so proud of the team for the way they took on this challenge against an opponent who demanded everything from us. That was incredible."
Germany, which is bidding for a record-extending ninth European Championship title, will face World Cup winner Spain in Zurich on Wednesday.
Early drama over hair-pulling
That seemed improbable after less than 13 minutes when Germany midfielder Kathrin Hendrich pulled the hair of France captain Griedge Mbock and issued a straight red card.
Grace Geyoro converted the resulting penalty but Sjoeke Nüsken headed her team level just 10 minutes later.
Despite being at a numerical disadvantage, Germany could have taken the lead with a penalty of its own in the second half but France goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin saved Nüsken's spot kick.
Nüsken scored Germany's last spot kick in the shootout.
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Hindustan Times
18 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
The Latest: England beats Spain in a penalty shootout after 1-1 draw to retain title
BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — Defending champion England has won the Women's European Championship after defeating Spain in the final. HT Image The match in Basel was a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final where Spain defeated the Lionesses 1-0. Coincidentally, the same countries played in the men's European Championship final last year. Spain won that match 2-1. Here's the latest: England has defended its European title by defeating Spain in a penalty shootout. The game was tied at 1-1 after extra time. England won the shootout 3-1 with Chloe Kelly scoring the winning penalty kick. It's 1-1 at full time and the players are coming off the pitch for a quick break. Then it's extra time: two times 15 minutes to break the deadlock. England equalized when Alessia Russo made it 1-1 in the 57th minute. Chloe Kelly whipped one of her trademark crosses into the box from the left and Russo rose above the defense to make it 1-1. Spain heads into the break in the lead after Mariona Caldentey's goal in the 25th. Both teams traded early blows but Spain looked stronger after the goal. La Roja kept most of the possession and did not allow England to threaten much. England also trailed at halftime in the quarterfinal against Sweden and semifinal against Italy, but still won both games. Mariona Caldentey has made it 1-0 for Spain in the 25th minute. Ona Batlle whipped in a cross from the right, after good work by Aitana Bonmati, and Caldentey headed it powerfully home. Swiss former player Lara Dickenmann carried the trophy out onto the field after the closing ceremony of Euro 2025. A large circular banner was unfurled in the center of the field in tribute to the host nation, while smaller banners were displayed nearby with 'Thank You' in Switzerland's four official languages —Italian, French, German, and Romansh. Two large Alpine-inspired shapes were then carried onto the field, with the England flag on one and Spain's on the other. Nearly 30,000 inflatable clappers had been distributed to the fans beforehand, while 40 members of the closing ceremony cast also had them on the field. The Asturia Quartet, an all-female string ensemble, performed the national anthems. In somewhat of a surprise change, Athenea Del Castillo has been named in Spain's starting lineup in place of Claudia Pina. Del Castillo's only other start in the tournament was in the final group-stage match, against Italy, when many regular starters were rested with Spain already through. The Real Madrid forward scored one and set up another. She also scored the opener in the quarterfinal win against Switzerland just four minutes after coming onto the field. Pina was decisive the last time Spain played England, scoring twice to help her team to a 2-1 comeback victory in the Nations League last month. The only other change to Spain's lineup from its semifinal victory over Germany is the return of defender Laia Aleixandri from suspension, with María Méndez dropping back down to the bench. Spain's lineup: Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Aleixandri, Olga; Bonmatí, Patri, Putellas; Mariona, González, Del Castillo. Lauren James has recovered from injury and starts for England with coach Sarina Wiegman making just one change. James had to come off at halftime in England's semifinal victory over Italy on Tuesday with an ankle problem and was seen applying ice to her injury during the match. James has started all five of England's games at Euro 2025 and has been named in the lineup for the final. Defender Jess Carter returns after being omitted from the starting lineup for the first time against Italy, for tactical reasons, two days after revealing she was the target of racist abuse online during the tournament. England's lineup: Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Carter, Greenwood; Toone, Walsh, Stanway; James, Russo, Hemp. Basel's soccer stadium has a capacity of 34,250 during Euro 2025 and no empty seats are expected at the final. With an hour to go until kickoff, thousands of fans have already taken their seats. Even before the final, the tournament has broken the total attendance record for a Women's European Championship. A total of 623,088 spectators have attended the 30 matches so far, surpassing the previous total attendance record of 574,875 from Euro 2022. There have been intermittent torrential showers and thunderstorms but that has not dampened the spirits of thousands of Spanish and England fans that have been gathering in the fan zones in Basel. The rain teemed down about two hours before kickoff but the sun came out shortly afterward and the skies above St. Jakob-Park have cleared up for now. England got off to a rough start with a 2-1 defeat to France, becoming the first reigning champion to lose its opening match at a women's Euros. The team bounced back with a 4-0 victory over the Netherlands and a 6-1 thrashing of Wales. Then came the craziness of its quarterfinal against Sweden when it was trailing 2-0 with 12 minutes to go before equalizing and taking the match to extra time and a penalty shootout. There were nine failed penalty attempts before England finally triumphed 3-2. England left it even later in its semifinal against Italy. Teenager Michelle Agyemang leveled in stoppage time to force extra time and fellow substitute Chloe Kelly scored in the 119th minute to secure a 2-1 win, just as it appeared another penalty shootout was looming. Spain swept through the group stage, winning all three matches against Portugal, Belgium and Italy — scoring 14 goals and conceding three. Spain found it tougher to get past Switzerland in the quarterfinals but finally broke the resistance of the host nation with two quickfire goals midway through the second half. Spain also missed two penalties and hit the woodwork three times. Like England, its semifinal lasted 120 minutes. It took a moment of magic from two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí in the 113th minute to secure a 1-0 win over Germany. ___ AP soccer:
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Women's Euro 2025: England beats Spain in a penalty shootout after 1-1 draw to retain title
England thrived in high drama yet again to take down Spain in a penalty shootout and win another Women's European Championship title on Sunday (July 27, 2025). Chloe Kelly lashed in her spot kick to give defending champion England a 3-1 win in the shootout after a 1-1 draw after extra time. 'I was cool, I was composed, and I knew I was going to hit the back of the net,' said Kelly, whose goal decided a second straight Women's Euros final. England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton saved spot kicks from Mariona Caldentey and Spain superstar Aitana Bonmatí, before substitute Salma Paralluelo dragged her shot wide of goal. The defending champion won the only way it knew how at this thrilling Euro 2025. England had fallen behind in the first half, fought back in the second and relied on its superb substitutes — including Kelly – just as it did against Italy and Sweden previously in the knockout rounds. England leveled the score in the 57th on Alessia Russo's header from a cross by Kelly after Mariona Caldentey had given Spain the lead in the 25th finishing Ona Battle's cross. Spain trailed for only four minutes in the entire tournament — and not for one second against England — yet the reigning World Cup winner could not seal its first European title. 'I think this team deserved more. At least not living with this bitter feeling,' Spain coach Montse Tomé said in translated comments. Kelly had scored an extra-time winning goal for England at Wembley three years ago to beat Germany 2-1. In extra time Spain had good possession in the England penalty area so many times yet did not force a decisive goal. 'It was cruel,' Bonmatí told Spanish broadcaster La 1, after being named best player of the tournament. 'We played better, created more scoring chances, but in soccer sometimes that's not enough.' Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll saved spot kicks from England captain Leah Williamson and the first by Beth Mead. It was appropriate in England's memorable tournament that Mead's penalty had to be retaken under a new soccer rule that allows a second chance when a player scores by slipping and touching the ball twice. It did not matter after Hampton's saves. Arsenal attackers like scoring with perfectly placed headers from inviting crosses sent to the ideal spot. Spain took the lead Sunday with a very English goal – a full back's cross from the byline finding the head of an Arsenal player to score, on a rain-slicked field on an overcast, cloudy day. The strong Spanish flavor leading to Caldentey's opener was in the neat passing to find Athenea del Castillo in the penalty area and her vision to see Ona Batlle's direct run into space. Caldentey was in the Arsenal team that won the Women's Champions League final in May beating a Barcelona side with six starters who also lined up for Spain on Sunday. Spain used three more Barcelona players as substitutes. The Arsenal forward line in that final, Russo and Kelly, combined to tie the Euro 2025 final. Kelly's right-foot cross from the left was floated toward the head of Russo who guided the ball back toward the top corner of the Spain net. England coach Sarina Wiegman has still never before been eliminated from a Women's Euros tournament. Despite how close she came three times this month. The top female national-team coach of her generation has a Euros hat trick after leading England to victory in 2022 and her native Netherlands to the 2017 title. Both those titles were won as the host nation team and no England senior team, men or women, had previously won a world or continental title abroad. Wiegman also extended the run of title-winning women coaches to eight Women's Euros editions across 28 years. Women were outnumbered by male coaches each time. There was royalty from both nations in the VIP box at St-Jakob Park including heirs to each throne. Prince William, the first son of Britain's King Charles, was with his daughter Princess Charlotte. He is president of the English Football Association. Also present were Princess Leonor of Spain and her younger sister, Infanta Sofía. At the 2023 World Cup final Sofia was at the game with her mother Queen Letizia in Sydney, Australia.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Chloe Kelly shines as England retain Euro 2025 title in nail-biting match against Spain
England's Lionesses secured back-to-back Women's European Championship titles in stunning fashion, defeating reigning world champions Spain in a tense penalty shootout at St Jakob Park, Basel. Chloe Kelly, who famously netted the winning goal in the Euro 2022 final, once again etched her name in football history as she smashed home the decisive spot-kick after a hard-fought 1-1 draw over 120 minutes, reported the Guardian. Prince William hugs England's forward #18 Chloe Kelly as team celebrates the Women's Euro 2025 win against Spain.(AFP) Also read: Pics: England beat Spain in penalty shootout to retain Women's Euro title, wild celebrations begin England vs Spain UEFA Euro 2025 final Spain struck first through Mariona Caldentey, who capitalized on Ona Batlle's pinpoint cross in the 25th minute after a spell of dominant possession. But England's trademark resilience kicked in after the break. The equaliser came in the 57th minute via Alessia Russo, who met Kelly's driven cross with a powerful header. Kelly, who substituted Lauren James after she limped off with an ankle injury late in the first half, made an instant impact which proved decisive when it mattered, stated another report. Euro 2025 final: Tactical battle and extra-time drama England manager Sarina Wiegman made key adjustments and flipped wingers Lauren Hemp and James to mirror Germany's defensive strategy against Spain in the semi-finals. The move paid off, with Hemp tracking back to support Lucy Bronze, stifling Spanish attacks on the flank. Hampton, the Guardian report added, kept England in the game with crucial saves, including tipping over a thunderous strike from Claudia Pina and denying Mariona in the shootout. Extra time offered little breakthrough, though Spain squandered a golden chance when Salma Paralluelo backheeled wide from close range. Bronze limped off at the break in extra time, but not before battling through for her 140th cap. Also read: ANALYSIS-Soccer-English grit beats Spanish skill to secure Euro glory Shootout seals glory The penalty shootout was a rollercoaster. The Arsenal report stated that Beth Mead's opener was controversially retaken after VAR ruled a double touch; the second attempt was saved. Leah Williamson also saw her effort stopped by Spain's Cata Coll. But with Spain faltering, Hampton saving Caldentey and Bonmati's attempts, and Paralluelo firing wide, Chloe Kelly was tasked with the decisive penalty. Cool and clinical, she hammered it in and secured England's second straight Euro title. Captain Williamson, along with Mead, Russo, Lotte Wubben-Moy, and Kelly, celebrated their second title. Meanwhile, rising star Michelle Agyemang, who scored twice earlier in the tournament, won Young Player of the Tournament. FAQs What was the result of the Euro 2025 final? England defeated Spain in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes. Who scored for England and Spain in regular time? Mariona Caldentey scored for Spain; Alessia Russo equalised for England from a Chloe Kelly assist. Why is Chloe Kelly being celebrated? She scored the winning penalty, replicating her heroics from the Euro 2022 final. Who was England's standout performer in goal? Hannah Hampton made multiple key saves, including two in the shootout. How significant is this win for England? It cements their dominance in European women's football and showcases the squad's depth, tactical maturity, and unshakeable spirit.
