England stunned world champions Spain by beating them 3–1 on penalties to retain their European Championship trophy and become the first British team to secure a major trophy on foreign soil.
Chloe Kelly, who scored the famous stoppage-time winner at Euro 2022, was the hero once again as she fired England to glory from the spot after Hannah Hampton saved two penalties.
Sarina Wiegman, now a three-time European champion after previous success with the Netherlands in 2017, said it was the ‘most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played’.
She added: ‘I’m very happy. I actually can’t believe it myself. How can this happen? But it happened. I’m so incredibly proud of the team and the staff. We’re just going to party tonight.’
The Lionesses had gone behind in the first half when Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey headed home from close range.
But England responded well with Alessia Russo scoring the equaliser with a superb glancing header from Kelly’s cross – the third time this tournament they have come back from behind.
With the scores locked at 1-1 after extra time, the match was decided by penalties and Hampton denied both Caldentey and Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati.
Chloe Kelly then stepped up to bury England’s fifth, blasting past Cata Coll and once again writing her name into the history books.
Kelly, who was dropped at Manchester City and forced a move to Arsenal in January, where she won the Champions League, said: ‘There were a lot of tears at full time especially when I saw my family because those are the people that got me through those dark moments.
‘The story to tell someone experiencing the same is that sometimes it doesn’t last. Just around the corner was a Champions League final – won that – and now a Euros final – won that. So thank you everyone that wrote me off.’
Wiegman’s decision to start Hampton over Mary Earps as England’s No 1 was vindicated. The keeper expressed gratitude for her manager’s trust: ‘She knew what I was capable of and she really put that in me to really go and showcase what I can do.
‘I think throughout the tournament I’ve kind of done that, maybe not to the levels that I wanted to but there’s still a lot more to come from me.’
And Lucy Bronze, who was seen in tears after being substituted in the 105th minute due to injury, later revealed she had been playing through a fractured leg.
‘I’ve actually played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia but no one knew and then I’ve hurt my knee today on the other leg,’ she said after the game.
‘I think that’s why I got a lot of praise from the girls after the Sweden game – because I’ve been through a lot of pain. But that’s what it takes to play for England.’
The Lionesses will celebrate their victory with fans in Central London on Tuesday 29 July. An open-top bus procession will begin along The Mall at 12.10pm, concluding with a staged ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace at approximately 12.30pm.
King Charles marked the victory with a message on social media, saying: ‘You have shown through your example over past weeks that there are no setbacks so tough that defeat cannot be transformed into victory, even as the final whistle looms.
‘Well done, Lionesses. The next task is to bring home the World Cup in 2027 if you possibly can!’
