Women’s European Championship: England defends title in penalty shooting

England’s soccer players have disenchanted the Spanish world champions in a gripping European Championship final and defended their title in a dramatic way. The Lionesses showed great nerve strength and cheered in Basel a 3-1 in penalty shootout after it was 1: 1 (1: 1, 0: 1) after 120 minutes.

Match winner in front of 34,203 spectators in the sold-out St. Jakob-Park in Basel was a goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who held the balls from the point of Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmatí. The substitute Salma Paralluelo also missed. Chloe Kelly converted the decisive attempt and thus ensured huge jubilation among the English women.

In the long one -sided game in front of 34,203 spectators, Mariona Caldentey (25th minute) brought the Spanish favorites in the lead. But the English fought their way back into play, Alessia Russo (57th) achieved the equalization.

For England’s Dutch trainer Sarina Wiegman, the third EM triumph in series after successes with her home country (2017) and England (2022) was already in her fifth final at a World or European Championship. With ex-DFB trainer Tina Theune (1997, 2001 and 2005), she drawn the same as record holder.

The many celebrities in the stadium, including Prince William and ex-national coach Joachim Löw, saw a high-class finale, for a long time characterized by Spain’s ball artist. Two years after the World Cup final of Australia, which the Spaniards won against the then European champion through a goal from Olga Carmona, the Wiegman team played only in phases like a defending champion, especially before the break.

At Russo’s low shot and an attempt by Lauren Hemp from a short distance, Spain’s goalkeeper Cata Cata kept strong. Hemp’s chance had initiated Coll himself with a bad pass.

As in the 1-0 against Germany, Spain raised its extreme possession game. Semi-finals Aitana Bonmatí, who also dominated and dominated and combined twice world footballer Alexia Putellas and Patri Guijarro almost at will. The English women around Bavaria’s Georgia Stanway found no antidote against the Barça trio.

Top striker Esther González missed two good chances, but Caldentey just hit the deserved lead after a cross from Ona Batlle. England’s strong goalkeeper Hannah Hampton grimaced whether the Spanish superiority miscartered the face, while Tomé gestured her eleven gesticulating to let the ball run through the rows precisely.

England’s defensive around the central defender Jess Carter, who has returned to the starting eleven, whose fiancee, DFB goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, pressed his thumbs on the stands, was in the meantime and stuck in his own half. Relief? Long none. The technically strong Lauren James had to go off the square shortly before the break. She replaced Chloe Kelly, winning goal shooter in the European Championship final in 2022 against Germany.

The English women had hit “La Roja” in February as the last team to date in the Nations League. And apparently remembered it after the change. Stanway saw Kelly on the right side, which flanked into the center, where Russo completed a head to equalize.

The Wiegman team sent further signals. Defender Lucy Bronze collected yellow for a hard entry against Carmona, Kelly’s conclusion just steered Coll around the post. Spain’s dominance crumbled, even if the substitute Claudia Pina forced Hampton to a brilliant parade with a massive shot.

Much more did not go on both sides until the added time, although both trainers rely on their proven Joker: Michelle Agyemang and Beth Mead on the English side as well as paralluelo and super talent Vicky López, turning 19 a day before the final, on Spanish. Paralluelo in particular had the 2-1 on the foot several times in the extension.