By: Kwame Bediako
England have secured their second consecutive European Championship crown, defeating Spain 3-1 on penalties following a dramatic 1-1 draw after extra time.
The tense finale was decided at the penalty spot, where goalkeeper Hannah Hampton emerged as the hero, saving two crucial penalties before Chloe Kelly confidently converted the winning kick to seal the victory for Sarina Wiegman’s side.
The match was a tense and hard-fought battle, with Spain taking the lead through Mariona Caldentey’s brilliant header in the first half. England responded with resilience and Alessia Russo leveled the score with an equally impressive header in the second half.
Despite numerous chances from both teams, neither could find the decisive goal in normal or extra time, pushing the game to a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
During the shootout, England’s Alex Greenwood, Niamh Charles and Chloe Kelly successfully converted their penalties, while Beth Mead and Leah Williamson missed their efforts. Spain struggled, with only Patricia Guijarro scoring from the spot.
Caldentey, Aitana Bonmati, and Salma Paralluelo all missed, allowing Hampton to make the crucial saves that ultimately secured the title for England.
The victory highlighted the grit and determination of Wiegman’s squad, who demonstrated both skill and composure under immense pressure.
After trailing earlier in the match, the team’s comeback and steadfast defense, combined with Hampton’s penalty heroics, ensured that England would lift the trophy once again.
