2 days ago
England retain Women's EURO with upset of Spain in penalties
England have defended their UEFA Women's EURO crown, coming back to force penalties and then defeating World Cup champions Spain in a blockbuster 2025 UEFA Women's EURO Final on Sunday in Switzerland.
MORE — 2025 Women's EURO hub: Scores, more
More to come...
How to watch England vs Spain live, 2025 Women's EURO Final stream link and start time
Kick off time: Noon ET Sunday
Venue: St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland
TV Channel: FOX
Streaming: Fox Sports
2025 Women's EURO Final, live updates from England vs Spain
England vs Spain live score: 1-1
Goalscorer: Mariona Caldentey 25', Alessia Russo 57'
Penalties
Beth Mead — SCORES but has to retake after slipping in an 'irregular kick'
Beth Mead — SAVED by Catalina Coll
Patricia Guijarro — SCORES — England 0-1 Spain
Alex Greenwood — SCORES — England 1-1 Spain
Mariona Caldentey — SAVED by Hannah Hampton
Niamh Charles — SCORES — England 2-1 Spain
Aitana Bonmati — SAVED by Hannah Hampton
Leah Williamson — SAVED by Catalina Coll
Salma Paralluelo — MISSES wide of the right post
Chloe Kelly — SCORES — England 3-1 Spain — ENGLAND ARE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE!
End of second period extra time
England got there. Now the pressure seemingly switches to the favorites.
If this gets to penalties, Spain can only blame themselves
England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton has been very good over 110 minutes and Niamh Charles made a terrific read to break up a prime chance for Spain a few minutes ago, but the Spanish have mailed several chances over the goal. So wasteful.
End of first period extra time — It should be 2-1!
Batile has been phenomenal and she should have a second assist, but Paralluelo opts for a back leg finish and can't convert from inside the six.
No subs at the break but...
Lucy Bronze is down and in emotional and physical distress in the 98th minute.
She's going to limp slowly off the pitch, and seems destined to be replaced but seems to want to return... and does!
End of full time
We get to have more, which is nice.
Spain reclaimed a bit of control late, as Paralluelo's few minutes on the pitch promised more danger.
How much of a depth exercise will this become in Switzerland?
More subs
Beth Mead replaces Ella Toone in the 89th minute for England, while Spain's move sends on a pair of attackers in the 89th: Salma Paralluelo and Vicky Lopez for Esther Gonzalez and Athenea del Castillo.
Gonzalez had been relatively ineffective, while del Castillo was very busy with a game-high (by 14!) 19 touches in the opposing box. She also played her part in the Spain goal well.
England physical play paying dividends, taking risks
Some (us) predicted that England might try to even this game by getting stuck into tackles that were, at best, on the edge of fouls.
That's been the case, and the Lionesses have given away a couple dangerous free kicks now that have proven to be worth the risk.
Subs
Alexia Putellas is off for Claudia Pina, while England's goal scorer Russo departs for emerging megastar Michelle Agyemang.
1-1, 72'.
Fingertip save denies England
A corner kick is coming England's way after Kelly's spun shot was denied a place inside the far post by Coll.
Spain deal with the corner but England have been the better team this half.
Lucy Bronze yellow card
A bit of a nasty-looking challenge that may have been just very poor timing from Bronze, who is in the books.
Alessia Russo goal — England 1-1 Spain
Cue the 'Why not both?' meme.
Kelly is a hero off the bench again with a pinpoint cross between Paredes and Aleixandri, and an airborne Russo keeps her cool to spin a header inside the near post.
Great stuff.
ENGLAND HAS LEVELED IT!! 😱🏴
Alessia Russo scores the equalizer for the Lionesses! 💪
Second half underway
Looks like no changes at the break.
Halftime — England 0-1 Spain
That was some half of football, but — ducks and looks around — if someone deserves to be ahead after 45 minutes, it's Spain.
The team that came into this game with an absurd 72% possession mark for the tournament has managed 68% against a game England that's No. 5 in the world according to FIFA.
The Lionesses have come ready to shoot, and have taken six of the game's 13 attempts while putting three on frame. Spain lead 1.04-0.68 in xG.
But their backs have been wonderful, as Laia Aleixandri and captain Irene Paredes continue their Real-Barca partnership with brilliance.
Lauren James injury means Chloe Kelly enters
Many wanted Chloe Kelly to start, and Sarina Wiegman's hand has been forced after an injury to Lauren James.
The bummer, of course, is that one of the very best players in the world exits the England set-up.
Mariona Caldentey goal — England 0-1 Spain (25th minute)
Oh, this is pretty.
Three players touch the ball after Aitana Bonmati but she's set the plot for this short story.
Bonmati holds the ball in the right corner and sends a perfect pass to defy three England defenders.
Athenea del Castillo keeps the ball atop the 18 after a challenge from England, and Ona Batile races to the end line for a pass that she sends across goal.
It's perfect, as Mariona Caldentey has darted in front of Lucy Bronze to thud a head across goal and past Hannah Hampton.
SPAIN TAKES THE LEAD IN THE UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2025 FINAL! 🇪🇸💪
Mariona Caldentey heads it in off the cross from Batlle! 👏
Another opening for England
Almost on cue, the Lionesses keep the ball a bit more.
And the 19th minute sees Spain on the ball but England pouncing on an error.
Lauren Hemp is on Cata Coll's doorstep but the Barcelona backstop swings her left leg to block the ball out for a corner kick.
Spain handle the set piece, and go back the other way. A fun watch so far.
Recalling a Premier League rivalry
Maybe this comparison is too easy, but the way Spain are attempting to unlock an aggressive team begging to fire forward on the break...
Pep's Man City vs Klopp's Liverpool.
It's a lot of fun, and so far the Klopp of this comparison — Sarina Wiegman — has to feel great about her England's understanding of what Spain wants to do.
Third-minute danger!
Alessia Russo beats the Spanish back line and her hard, dragged shot across goal is slapped toward the back post.
Lauren James can't navigate traffic to snap the rebound toward the back post.
Underway!
England in white, Spain in red
Wiegman stands firm with XI
Sarina Wiegman resists the urge to start Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang, heroes of the tournament who have served as super subs and will continue to do so on Sunday.
England lineup
Hampton, Bronze, Carter, Greenwood, Williamson, Stanway, Toone, Hemp, James, Walsh, Russo
Spain lineup
Coll, Carmona, Aleixandri, Paredes, Batile, Putellas, Bonmati, Guijarro, del Castillo, Caldentey, Gonzalez
England team news, focus
The Lionesses have some big injury concerns, as Lauren James limped off the pitch with an ankle injury in the semifinal. Captain Leah Williamson and superstar Lucy Bronze were carrying injuries prior to the semifinal but trained ahead of the final. It's difficult to imagine either missing the stage after appearing in training.
Spain team news, focus
Spain are led by Alexia Putellas, who is pacing the tournament in goal contributions with seven. Only teammate Esther Gonzalez has more goals in Switzerland with four. Barcelona midfielder Patricia Guijarro has also been excellent.
2025 Women's EURO Final prediction
Spain are favored to win but England have proven a magnificent competitor and would be a worthy champion. Spain are the tournament's best finishing (3.4 goals per game) and defending (0.6 goals/game) team, while their 72.9% possession mark for the tournament is more than 12% better than second-ranked England.
But hold on — England have missed more big chances than anyone else (16) and the Lionesses' expected goals total is just 0.5 less than Spain. The key here may be England's success in mucking it up. Expect hard fouls without the ball and a fire-whenever mentality in attack.
Spain's path to the final was a bit easier than England, who have had to go 120 minutes in their last two matches. To us, that's the difference maker despite Sarina Wiegman's masterful leadership of the Lionesses. And if our prediction proves true, we're grateful that Spain would be able to celebrate a title without disgraced ex-president Luis Rubiales. England 1-3 Spain.
