England secured their second consecutive Women’s European Championship title by defeating Spain 3-1 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time at St. Jakob‑Park, Basel. This marks the first time an England senior team has won a major tournament outside of the UK. Spain took the lead in the first half with a header from Mariona Caldentey, capitalising on their strong early possession. England equalised in the second half through Alessia Russo, who converted a low cross from Chloe Kelly in the 57th minute. Spain continued to dominate possession – finishing with over 65% – but were unable to break England’s defensive structure during regulation or extra time.
The match proceeded to penalties, where England’s substitute goalkeeper Hannah Hampton played a decisive role. She saved attempts from both Caldentey and Aitana Bonmatí, significantly shifting the balance in England’s favour. While Beth Mead saw her successful kick disallowed under the IFAB double-touch rule, England maintained composure. Chloe Kelly converted the final spot-kick to secure the result. Head coach Sarina Wiegman has now led England to back-to-back European titles, further solidifying her reputation as one of the most consistent managers in international football. England’s depth in attack and ability to manage knockout pressure were evident throughout the tournament, with goals and key contributions distributed across multiple players.
For Spain, the result marks their second defeat in a major final in two years, despite continuing to lead in key technical metrics across the tournament. Their progress to the final and tactical quality remain notable, but the shootout exposed limited experience under high-pressure conditions. England will now enter Olympic preparation with renewed momentum and a stable tactical core. Their focus will likely shift to squad rotation and injury management ahead of Paris 2026.
