Women's European Championship: England wins final against Spain on penalties – Kelly Me Softly

England's women's soccer team danced exuberantly to the classic "Sweet Caroline," while Spain's World Player of the Year, Aitana Bonmatí, stood transfixed in the center circle. The Lionesses demystified the Spanish world champions in a thrilling European Championship final and defended their title in dramatic fashion. The English women showed great nerves of steel, celebrating a 3-1 penalty shootout victory in Basel after the score had been 1-1 (1-1, 1-1, 0-1) after 120 minutes.

"I'm just so incredibly proud of the team. I'm so grateful to be standing here," said striker Chloe Kelly, who scored the decisive penalty in the shootout. Kelly had already scored the winning goal in the 2022 European Championship final against Germany. "I hope the whole of England comes out and celebrates with us," said the 27-year-old.

Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was also the match winner in front of 34,203 spectators at the sold-out St. Jakob-Park in Basel, saving penalty shots from Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmatí. Substitute Salma Paralluelo also missed. "This feels unreal. This tournament has been a whirlwind," said Georgia Stanway, who plays for FC Bayern Munich.

In what was a long, one-sided match, Caldentey (25th minute) gave the Spanish favorites the lead. But the English fought their way back into the game, with Alessia Russo equalizing (57th minute).

For England's Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman, this was her fifth World Cup or European Championship final, her third consecutive European Championship triumph, following successes with her home country (2017) and England (2022). She equaled the record held by former DFB coach Tina Theune (1997, 2001, and 2005).

The many celebrities in the stadium, including Prince William and former national coach Joachim Löw, witnessed a high-class final, dominated for a long time by Spain's ball-playing talent. Two years after the World Cup final in Australia, which the Spanish women won against the then European champions thanks to a goal by Olga Carmona, Wiegman's eleven only occasionally played like defending champions, especially before halftime.

Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll made strong saves on Russo's low shot and Lauren Hemp's close-range attempt. Coll himself had set up Hemp's chance with a misplaced pass.

Spain, as in their 1-0 win against Germany, played their extreme possession game. Semi-final winner Bonmatí, two-time World Player of the Year Alexia Putellas, and Patri Guijarro dominated, combining in midfield almost at will. The English initially found no antidote to the Barça trio.

Although top striker Esther González missed two good chances, Caldentey headed home a deserved lead after an Ona Batlle cross. Goalkeeper Hampton frowned at Spain's dominance, while Tomé gestured to her team to continue passing the ball with precision.

England's defense, led by center-back Jess Carter, who returned to the starting lineup and whose fiancée, German national team goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, was rooting for the visitors in the stands, seemed to be stuck in their own half at times. Relief? For a long time, no sign of relief. The technically talented Lauren James was forced off shortly before halftime with an injury. Kelly replaced her.

The English women were the last team to beat "La Roja" in February, winning 1-0 in the Nations League. And they clearly remembered that after the break. Stanway saw Kelly on the right, who crossed into the center, where Russo headed in the equalizer.

Wiegman's team sent further signals. Defender Lucy Bronze received a yellow card for a hard tackle on Carmona, and Kelly's shot was just deflected around the post by Coll. Spain's dominance crumbled, even though substitute Claudia Pina forced Hampton into a brilliant save with a powerful shot.

Neither side managed much more until injury time, although both coaches relied on their tried-and-tested substitutes: Michelle Agyemang and Beth Mead for England, and Paralluelo and super-talented Vicky López, who turned 19 the day before the final, for Spain. Paralluelo, in particular, had several chances to make it 2-1 in extra time.