You could argue that there was no other way England could have concluded their historic, victorious European Championship run than in the most dramatic fashion.
They have become accustomed to coming from behind; the final against reigning world champions Spain was their third comeback win of the tournament after their thrilling quarter-final and semi-final victories. England spent less than five minutes in a winning position throughout the knockouts, including stoppage time. Once again, they came back after conceding the opening goal and fought through 120 minutes to make it to the penalty shootout.
England’s successful penalty shootout seemed an accurate depiction of the Lionesses’ defence of their title, a combination of bad luck, intense preparation, and disciplined nerves of steel in big moments.
The Athletic breaks down the events as they unfolded.
As both teams retreated to their huddles to prepare, England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was seen rolling up one of her long green sleeves to reveal what appeared to be a strip of tape scribbled with notes circling her forearm. Written reminders of which way a player might shoot are nothing new in these moments, but goalkeepers tend to fix them to their water bottles, as Swedish keeper Jennifer Falk did against the Lionesses in their quarter-final shootout.
It felt like a promising start for the Lionesses.
That continued after Beth Mead stepped up and slipped, but scored past Cata Coll. However, the forward’s relief was short-lived after the referee motioned for Mead to retake her spot kick. The Video Assistant Referee ruled out Mead’s first attempt because Mead had kicked the ball twice.
England forward Beth Mead slips and scores a penalty, before having to retake it (Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Her second attempt was saved by Coll, who dove to the right both times. What proved to be the losing side of a mind game for England could have been a boost of confidence for Spain. Or, just maybe, the early disappointment was what the Lionesses needed in this penalty shootout.
After all, we can’t forget their Euros campaign started with a 2-1 defeat by France in Group D.
Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll saves Mead’s second penalty (Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
England team-mate Grace Clinton was there to walk Mead back to the halfway line with words of encouragement as Spain stepped up to the spot next.
In terms of her standing among the titans of Spain’s midfield, this was a big moment for Patri Guijarro, who some believe should be next in line for a Ballon d’Or.
England missing adds a surprising degree of pressure to the first penalty taker on the other side. However, Guijarro handled the moment with ease, timing her strike just after Hampton showed the faintest motion to her left. Guijarro’s driven ball went down the middle, but by then Hampton was already out of reach.
Before entering the penalty box and placing the ball on the spot, Alex Greenwood bounced it three times. England head coach Sarina Wiegman has oscillated the defender between centre and left-back throughout the tournament. Greenwood held her own against the Spanish onslaught from the latter position throughout the 90 minutes and extra time.
Greenwood is known as a set-piece specialist, though her last penalty in England’s quarter-final against Sweden was one of three saved by Falk. This time, Greenwood was more decisive. Coll guessed correctly, but Greenwood’s low left-footed shot was well-placed beyond her outstretched hands.
England defender Alex Greenwood scores the second penalty (Aitor Alcalde/UEFA via Getty Images)
It would have been poetic if Mariona Caldentey had converted her spot kick. She scored the opening goal of the night, heading in a cross from Ona Batlle in the 25th minute. A penalty would have been redemption for her missed attempt against Switzerland in the quarter-final. Maybe a converted penalty in this moment could have carried Spain to a Euros triumph to add to their World Cup and Nations League titles.
But Caldentey’s slow walk proved deadly — either this limited the power behind her attempt, or it gave Hampton all she needed to predict where the ball would go. In the end, Hampton’s quick hop to the right was all she needed to hammer another nail in the World Cup winner’s coffin.
England defender Niamh Charles entered the match in the 105th minute to replace Lucy Bronze, who had played the entire tournament with a fractured tibia in her left leg. The Chelsea full-back picked up where Bronze left off with some sturdy defending, and was a portrait of calm before her penalty: hands on her hips, eyes fixed on the ball to deny Coll any chance of visual intimidation or other mind games.
What a shock it must have been to Coll, then, when referee Stephanie Frappart blew the whistle and Charles sped toward the ball, running through it to give it plenty of pace. She struck it with her instep, but with such force that it whipped away from Coll and curled to Charles’ left. It was easily the best effort of the night and as she jogged back to her team-mates, Charles could not help but try to hide a grin.
There wasn’t a bigger moment in this penalty shootout than the next Hampton save.
Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati carried Spain into this final with her late-game heroics against Germany, finding the space between goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger and her post at what seemed a near-impossible angle. Bonmati’s brilliance was still there, though. Her penalty attempt was strong and precise. But Hampton’s brilliance shone brighter.
The Chelsea goalkeeper dove to her right, blocking Bonmati’s crisp attempt. This will be a moment in the 24-year-old goalkeeper’s career that will distinguish her as one of the best goalkeepers of her time, despite her having almost no depth perception.
England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton saves Aitana Bonmati’s penalty (Aitor Alcalde/UEFA via Getty Images)
Captains are expected to come up big in moments like this, but Leah Williamson’s tentative steps toward the spot exposed her.
She cast her gaze just left of goal as she waited for the whistle, and while she deserves credit for what appeared to be an attempt to switch up the pattern of shots up to that point — none had exceeded waist-level height, and Williamson opted for something higher — it didn’t quite reach the top corner and was ultimately saveable. Coll dove correctly to her left and pawed the ball away with relative ease with her right hand.
Spain’s Cata Coll saves a penalty from Leah Williamson (Aitor Alcalde/UEFA via Getty Images)
Salma Paralluelo had big shoes to fill when she was brought on for eventual Euro 2025 Golden Boot winner Esther Gonzalez in the 89th minute. The Barcelona striker’s profile is vastly different from that of Gonzalez. From the moment Paralluelo entered the pitch, she shone, combining with fellow substitute Vicky Lopez to create fresh, inventive chances for Spain.
However, her penalty did not have the same effect. She looked focused in the lead-up, eyebrows furrowed on the ball, but her decision to approach it with her shoulders nearly parallel may have tricked her into overcompensating with her hips. Hampton guessed correctly, but a more precise shot into the side netting could have still beaten her to it. Paralluelo miscalculated and dragged her shot wide.
It had to be ice-cold Chloe Kelly. She scored England’s second goal in their semi-final win against Italy, converting after her missed penalty in the 119th minute. She was England’s hero then, and she was England’s hero again.
Kelly was summoned onto the pitch by Wiegman earlier than anticipated, coming on for an injured Lauren James in the 40th minute. It took only 17 minutes for Kelly to deliver for England, this time in the form of a cross to Alessia Russo, who equalised with a fine header.
England winger Chloe Kelly celebrates scoring the team’s winning goal (Maja Hitij/UEFA via Getty Images)
It was fitting, then, that the 27-year-old Arsenal forward walked up with the trophy on the line. She took a deep breath, lifting her left knee towards her chest. Then, she proceeded with her signature hop, before drilling a 100km/h ball past Coll. This was the fastest goal of the entire tournament, according to the connected ball technology in Adidas’ Konektis match ball.
It was also the second consecutive Euros where Kelly scored England’s tournament-winning goal.
(Top photo: Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
