AFCON 2025
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England avenged their 2023 Women’s World Cup final loss to Spain, triumphing on penalties in the 2025 Women’s European Championship final to retain their Euro title.
The Lionesses, seasoned finalists, started brightly, but Spain’s Cata Coll saved Alessia Russo’s early strike.
Coll’s error nearly cost Spain when Lauren Hemp pounced, only for the keeper to redeem herself with a close-range stop.
Despite England’s dominance, Spain struck first through Mariona Caldentey’s header off Ona Batlle’s cross. England’s woes deepened when Lauren James limped off with an ankle injury, replaced by Chloe Kelly.
Kelly proved pivotal, her second-half cross headed in by Russo to level the score. Spain’s Clàudia Pina tested Hannah Hampton, but neither side broke through in extra time.
In the penalty shootout— the first in a Euro final since 1984—Salma Paralluelo missed for Spain, and Kelly’s composed spot-kick sealed England’s back-to-back titles, emulating Germany’s 2013 feat.
