Lionesses reign again with back-to-back Euro titles

Yahoo

5 days ago

England's Lionesses pulled off an unforgettable victory last night, edging past Spain in a nerve-shredding penalty shootout to claim back-to-back European titles.
In front of a roaring crowd in Basel, it was Chloe Kelly who sealed the moment with the decisive penalty - just like she did in the Euro 2022 final at Wembley. This time, though, the stakes were even higher: not only did England defend their crown, but they also became the first English team ever to win a major tournament abroad.
Spain had the better of the first half and went in at the break with the lead. But, true to form, the Lionesses came out fighting. Alessia Russo brought them level midway through the second half with a sharp finish.
Neither side could break the deadlock in extra time, so it all came down to penalties. Hannah Hampton became an instant hero between the sticks, saving two spot-kicks as Spain crumbled, missing three in a row. Kelly's calm and confident finish secured a 3-1 shootout win and sent the England bench racing onto the pitch in celebration.
Manager Sarina Wiegman also reached new heights. The Dutch coach has now won three consecutive Euros, with two different nations, a truly staggering accomplishment.
After leading the Netherlands to glory in 2017, she guided England to victory at home in 2022 and now abroad in 2025. She's reached five straight international finals and has come away with three titles, firmly securing her legacy among football's elite managers.
Though England barely held a lead throughout the knockout stages , just under five minutes in total, their resilience, belief and sheer determination carried them all the way to glory once more.
Alessia Russo's goal was not only vital for the result, but also a personal milestone. She now sits second among England's all-time top scorers in the Women's Euros, with six goals to her name, just behind Beth Mead, who has seven.
And for some, the victory was doubly sweet. A group of players, Leah Williamson, Alessia Russo, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Michelle Agyemang, Chloe Kelly, and Beth Mead are now European champions for both club and country in the same year, having lifted trophies with Arsenal earlier in the season.
With this remarkable win, the Lionesses have once again inspired a nation and reminded the world why they're at the very top of the women's game.