Spanish media hit out at Chloe Kelly for 'unnecessary' and 'cocky gesture' after scoring the winning penalty for England in Euros final win over Spain
The Arsenal winger confidently stepped up and dispatched the decisive spot-kick to secure victory for the Lionesses over La Roja in the final of the women's European Championship on Sunday night.
Kelly, who scored the winner in England's 2022 Euros final win over Germany, 'unnecessarily' diverted her path after smashing the ball past Cata Coll, according to Spanish outlet Dario AS.
In the commentary that accompanied a short clip of the climatic moment, published on their website, Kelly's decision to make a b-line for the England supporters in the corner was 'cocky' and uncalled-for.
'This is unnecessary, my friend: Kelly's cocky gesture to Cata Coll after scoring the decisive penalty,' they wrote.
'The England specialist changed her run during her penalty celebration to get past the goalkeeper she had just beaten.'
Kelly's introduction part-way through the first half changed the momentum of a game that Spain dominated and looked set to win. The 27-year-old, who - like her Gunners team-mates - adds Euros glory to Champions League success, assisted Alessia Russo's 57th-minute equaliser after Mariona Caldentey's 25th-minute opener.
The two sides could not be separated after 120 minutes of action, leading to the dreaded penalty shootout.
England were thankful for the contributions of goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who produced two saves and saw another go wide of the post in the 3-1 shoot-out win.
In Dario AS' full match report they insisted that England, who were defeated by Spain in the final of the women's World Cup two years ago, 'robbed' their Iberian opponents.
'The dream ends in a nightmare,' they added. 'Spain lost the European Championship on penalties. England tied a match that Spain largely dominated.
'History is made by victories, and also by defeats. Spain fell in the Euro Cup final but left its name sealed in gold. England robbed them of their dream; the world champions couldn't close the circle they began to write two years ago in Sydney.
'They couldn't have been crueler in the penalty shootout, tossing a few dice in the air.'
Victory completes an incredible hat-trick of triumphs in the competition for head coach Sarina Wiegman after wins in 2022 with England and 2017 with her native Netherlands.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
a few seconds ago
- BBC News
Four Lionesses in Euro 2025 team of the tournament
Four England players have been named in the Euro 2025 team of the tournament after their triumph in Hannah Hampton, right-back Lucy Bronze, forward Chloe Kelly and striker Alessia Russo have all been played every minute of the Lionesses' six games, making key saves throughout the was named Player of the Match in the final against Spain, saving two penalties in England's 3-1 shootout victory following a 1-1 Chelsea team-mate Bronze - who revealed she had played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia - was also a key figure and scored a crucial penalty in the quarter-final shootout victory over did not start a single match at the Euros, but was nevertheless a crucial figure in England's remarkable achievement of defending their scored the winner against Italy in the semi-final and provided the assist for Russo to score England's equaliser in the final, before breaking Spanish hearts with the trophy-clinching penalty. There are also four representatives from beaten finalists Spain, including all three Guijarro, Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati - who was named Player of the Tournament - are all included, as is central defender Irene pair, forward Jule Brand and left-back Franziska Kett, and Italian centre-back Elena Linari complete the XI.
Telegraph
a few seconds ago
- Telegraph
Ben Stokes' handshake antics show why other teams hate England
England's sullen and ungracious conduct at the end of an Old Trafford Test match they dominated served up easy half volleys for their critics, quick to leap on perceived double standards. But it also gave England a glimpse of what awaits in Australia. The headlines overnight said it all: Spare us the whinging England, Moral hypocrites England decide tons are anti-cricket and Spirit of what? How pompous England exposed Bazball's great double standard. Meanwhile, Australia has some thoughts... #ENGvIND #AUSvENG — Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) July 28, 2025 A familiar storm is gathering and England gave it plenty of energy. A barrage of this stuff awaits in November, more so than any Ashes tour since 2013-14 when Alastair Cook's team were the first to follow the 2010-11 winners. Then Kevin Pietersen and Stuart Broad were public enemies No 1 and No 2. This time it will be Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. The Australians respect Stokes but fear what he can do. McCullum they see as someone who always failed on their turf when it mattered. There is nothing England can do to prevent the inevitable attacks, but they can at least make them harder to justify. What England did on Sunday night was lame but the theory that Indian teams play for personal milestones is one shared by Australia. In fact, England's reaction was very Australian. Matthew Hayden once picked up on the 'milestone culture' in Indian cricket. 'We don't really play for stats. We play for wins. That's the Aussie way,' said Steve Waugh, but it could just as easily have been Stokes. England's mistake was making it look petty rather than pointed. 'I thought England behaved badly' @NHoultCricket gives his thoughts on England's behaviour during their draw with India in the fourth test Watch the Telegraph Cricket Podcast ⬇️ — Telegraph Cricket (@TeleCricket) July 28, 2025 Managing individuals is part of a captain's job. Shubman Gill recognised the importance of a maiden Test hundred for Washington Sundar and the great spade work Ravi Jadeja put in for his team throughout the series. He also revelled in sticking up two fingers at England after how they finished the Lord's Test. But England are not a pompous bunch, they are generally great ambassadors for the sport. It is only this summer we have really heard them say anything on the field. They showed a mean side at Lord's after deciding they had been too nice for too long and it served them well. In Manchester, they learnt they need to be better at picking their moments. It is one thing to try to unsettle opponents by playing hard, another to be boorish and look like sore losers. Would Stokes have hauled Jacob Bethell off had he been close to a maiden century or Joe Root in sight of his first in Australia? Currently, the verbals do not quite align with this team. It appears somewhat performative rather than natural. 'I had plenty to say when I played – and copped plenty back,'' said Mitchell Johnson. 'But that came with a bit of purpose. Sledging only works when you are dominating. And to be honest, right now England aren't. Their Bazball model has some punch but it's flimsy when conditions swing or spin. So maybe talking tough is a cover. A bit of theatre while they figure out the actual cricket.'' Bazball has been modified this summer but still has to prove itself in tough batting conditions. India's rearguard highlighted England's weakness. When presented with the challenge of batting for 108 overs at Edgbaston, they were all out inside 69, losing by 336 runs. Jamie Smith was caught on the boundary going for a third six in an over, a shot that showed England were still unwilling to change tack or simply did not know how to play the situation because of how they regard draws. That is what they can take out of the Old Trafford Test. Because they have seen how wound up they were by a team frustrating the hell out of them. It can make a draw feel like a win.
North Wales Chronicle
28 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
No 10 brushes off calls for extra bank holiday to mark Lionesses' victory
The England women's team will celebrate their victory with a visit to No 10 on Monday evening, followed by an open-top bus parade through central London on Tuesday. The Lionesses defended their Euros title in a penalty shootout win over Spain in the final in Basel, Switzerland, on Sunday. The Government had already indicated it was unlikely to heed calls for an extra bank holiday to herald England's success. On Monday, the Prime Minister's official spokesman attempted to make light of calls for the additional day off work. 'If we had a bank holiday every time the Lionesses win we'd never go to work,' he told reporters. He added: 'It is a tribute to the success of the Lionesses. The Prime Minister has said how inspiring their incredible victory was last night, and the team has captured the hearts of the nation. 'We look forward to joining the rest of the country celebrating this incredible win.' The spokesman pointed to the plans for a parade and the Downing Street reception as part of the Government's efforts to ensure the team has a warm welcome on their return to the UK. Bank holidays have a costly impact on the UK economy, and various governments have been reticent to introduce additional public holidays. Analysis by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport estimated the cost of the additional bank holiday to mark Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee in June 2022 was £2.4 billion. Elsewhere, the Prime Minister's spokesman insisted there was an independent process for nominations for honours, when asked about calls for the team to be recognised for their victory. However, in a rare show of support from the Government for members of the team to receive nominations, he added: 'I hope we'll see lots of nominations for this incredible winning team. 'Many of them were honoured after their incredible Euros win just three years ago, and everyone can see what an amazing job Sarina (Wiegman) and the team have done for this country in terms of its historic win, and women's sport more generally.' Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner will host the Downing Street reception for the England team on Monday night. Asked if Sir Keir Starmer was disappointed not to be at the event, his spokesman insisted the Prime Minister was 'obviously very pleased to be meeting President Trump up in Scotland'. He added: 'I'm sure he (the Prime Minister) will have a chance to celebrate with them in the future as well.'
