Lionesses Crowned Euro 2025 Champions After Penalty Shootout Thriller Against Spain
England defend their title in historic back-to-back fashion, clinching victory over Spain in a dramatic final in Basel.
July 27 EST: It wasn’t just a trophy they lifted. It was vengeance, it was pride, it was bloody history. The Lionesses, backs to the wall, boots on fire, roared their way to a second straight UEFA Women’s Euro title on Sunday night taking down the very team that shattered their World Cup dreams one year ago.
England 1, Spain 1. But 3–1 on penalties. The numbers say one thing. The night screamed another.
This One Was Personal
Let’s not sugarcoat it. Spain broke England’s heart in Sydney last year, a knife-twist of a World Cup final. You could feel that memory haunting the opening 20 minutes in Basel. Cautious passing. Stiff shoulders. Spain seized that tension and twisted it into the opening goal: a lethal, looping cross from Ona Batlle met perfectly by Mariona Caldentey, who rose between two defenders and punished the hesitation.
It was slick, brutal, and deserved. England, flat-footed, looked shell-shocked.
But these aren’t the same Lionesses. Alessia Russo made sure of that.
Russo’s Moment, Kelly’s Magic
Early in the second half, just when doubts began to creep, Chloe Kelly lit up the right flank like it was Wembley 2022 all over again. A darting run. A whipped cross. And there was Russo rising like a freight train, neck muscles flexed, eyes locked burying the header and blowing the roof off St. Jakob‑Park.
1–1. Game on.
From that moment, it turned gladiatorial. Keira Walsh clawed for every inch. Millie Bright threw her body on every block. Spain kept probing, but Hannah Hampton, just 24 and playing like a veteran, kept the gates shut.
Extra time? A blur of cramping legs and missed chances. And then: penalties.
Heartbreak Reversed
If you’re an England fan, you’ve lived this movie before and usually, it ends in tears.
But not this time.
Alex Greenwood stepped up first, cold as Arctic steel. Then Niamh Charles, a rising star with nerves of titanium. Chloe Kelly, of course, smashed hers into the top corner like it owed her money.
And behind them all stood Hannah Hampton, gloves blessed, instincts godlike. Two massive saves, one low, one leaping, broke Spanish resolve. Even Patri Guijarro’s cool finish wasn’t enough.
And then came the drama because there always is. Beth Mead’s opening penalty? Called back. Double-touch violation. Retake ordered. She missed the second attempt. It was déjà vu of some long-forgotten rulebook obscurity but this time, it didn’t matter.
When Kelly’s third penalty hit the net, the Lionesses sprinted, sobbed, and slammed the past into the turf. Spain’s crown? Snatched. England’s ghosts? Buried.
Sarina, Critics, and a Risk Too Far
Not everything was perfect. Let’s talk about Lauren James. The talent is undeniable, but starting her in a Euro final with a bad ankle? That was Sarina Wiegman’s gamble, and it nearly backfired. James was sluggish, ineffective, and subbed off early. The rhythm never clicked until England reshuffled.
Wiegman’s earned the right to gamble but Sunday night proved even the best can overthink it. Credit to her, though: she didn’t double down. She adjusted, and England surged.
More Than Just a Trophy
This wasn’t just another cup win. It was the first time an English national team—men or women—has lifted a major tournament trophy on foreign soil. Let that sink in.
It was a night of flags waving in Manchester pubs, tears flowing in Bristol fan zones, and the surreal sight of Prince William and Princess Charlotte beaming from the stands like they’d won it themselves.
It was for the young girls in grassroots clubs dreaming of Wembley. For the veterans who never got this stage. For every painful knockout, every penalty miss, every “so close.”
Legacy, Cemented
Back-to-back Euros? Only Germany had ever done it before. Now, England is in that rare air. A dynasty isn’t born in one win. It’s carved in consistency, in heartbreaks turned into fuel, in players like Kelly, Russo, and Hampton refusing to blink when it counts.
This team has it.
And if you weren’t already on board, Sunday night was your boarding call.
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A former college-level cricketer and lifelong sports enthusiast, Arun Upadhayay brings the heart of an athlete to the sharp eye of a journalist. With firsthand experience in competitive sports and a deep understanding of team dynamics, Arun covers everything from grassroots tournaments to high-stakes international showdowns. His reporting blends field-level grit with analytical precision, making him a trusted voice for sports fans across New Jersey and beyond.
