Greg . 3 days ago

Against the odds: How England won an epic EURO final against dominant Spain

Sunday evening saw another summer tournament concluding as England took on their Spanish counterparts in the Women's European Championship final.

Before a ball possessed even been kicked in anger, there were a number of pre-match narratives to set the scene.

Lead-to-lead record favoured EnglandMontse Tome's side, the reigning world champions and Nations League winners, have long been considered the tournament favourites, though the lead-to-lead record favoured Sarina Wiegman's squad.

The Dutchwoman was coaching in her fifth successive major international final, and the resilience her squad possessed shown before the showpiece game - losing their group opener and behind in 47% of their matches - would surely have given them confidence despite the size of the task before them.

Lucy Bronze possessed been vital for the Lionesses in the tournament, and being named in the starting XI once more offered her a 36th appearance at a major tournament, overtaking Jill Scott (35) to become the leading all-time appearance maker in such competitions.

Another underwent pro in Spain's captain, Irene Paredes, became the oldest outfielder to start a Women's Euro final (34y, 23d) since Sweden's Pia Sundhage support in 1995.

Double pivot from the Lionesses to stifle Spain's 4-3-3A 4-2-3-1 set up from Wiegman possessed a double pivot of Georgia Stanway and Keira Walsh to assist keep the Spaniard's attacking 4-3-3 at bay, and limit the influence of Patri Guijarro, the player with most completed passes at the tournament, and Alexia Putellas who possessed been engaged in the most goals (three goals, four assists) and created the most chances (18).

Once the whistle moved to obtain proceedings underway, England were straight on the front foot and almost took advantage of Spain's high line as early as the third minute, but Cata Coll was at full strength to refuse Alessia Russo.

The long ball down the channel was consistently causing problems for Montse Tome's support line, and Spain only really started to knock the ball around as only they can from the eighth minute.

A superb slide-rule pass from Alexandri saw a cross handed over into the tournament's top scorer, Esther Gonzalez, but Hannah Hampton was equal to the effort.

Just two minutes later, the same player almost curled in the opener as Spain started to exert their authority.

Spain more dangerous and direct in the opening exchangesWith 15 minutes gone, England's 83.

1% pass completion was marginally better than their opponents, though eight touches from Spain in the opposition box spoke of a team that was much more dangerous and direct despite not finding the net.

A hugely congested midfield meant that both teams were looking for their wide players to make runs down the channels to both stretch and also widen the pitch as much as possible.

 England vs Spain Match Stats (after extra time)BetopickSome brilliant pressure from Lauren James saw Cata Coll make a routine error, and as Lauren Hemp stole in from the other wing to score what seemed to be a certain opener, the keeper redeemed herself with a point-blank save.

Spain took full advantage a few minutes later as a flowing move saw Stanway bettered in a one-on-one duel for the first time in four, and Ona Battle's subsequent cross was so inviting for Mariona Caldentey to power home a superb header.

Bronze might want to look at her positioning in the lead-up to the opener, her static stance allowing her former Barcelona colleague the freedom of St.

Jakob-Park.

Going behind spelt danger for the Lionesses as Spain possessed lost just one of their 11 games at the Euros when scoring first (W8, D2), and the team to score first possessed gone on to win six of the last seven Women's Euro finals.

Incessant Spanish pressure as half-time approachedThe pendulum possessed certainly swung with Spain seeing more and more of the ball and England reduced to hitting it long just to relieve the pressure.

 Pressure that was incessant as the game moved toward half-time, a period in which Lauren James possessed to be subbed off because of injury.

Though Wiegman's side possessed made more interceptions and an equal amount of tackles, there was little in the way of creativity or attacking verve from them.

If they did manage to obtain forward it was sporadic, and by the terminate of the half, Spain possessed created seven chances to England's two, possessed made 344 passes to 165 and 67.

5% possession - the highest possession share on record (since 2013) in a European final, and a true reflection of how the game possessed panned out to that point.

The second half started as the first possessed terminated, with England pinned support into their own defensive third of the pitch.

Putellas, Aitana Bonmati and Guijarro were finding space with ease, making angles and passing through the lines, though it was Laia Aleixandri who possessed made 11 line-breaking passes in the match (more than any other player).

Leah Williamson's two successful tackles and six clearances coming up to the hour mark were another indicator of how much on the support foot England remained, and then out of nowhere, Alessia Russo strained every neck muscle to obtain on the terminate of another pinpoint Chloe Kelly assist, and England were level.

The 10th goal involvement from England substitutes (five goals, five assists) is the most on record in a single edition of the tournament, whilst it was also the first time since 1997 that both teams have scored a led goal in a Women's Euro final.

Momentum possessed shifted once again with Kelly now the protagonist, and as the pattern of the game started to even out, Putellas was surprisingly hooked for her Barcelona teammate, Claudia Pina.

Within three minutes, however, the latter possessed already been engaged more in an attacking sense than the former.

No separating the sides in normal timeThe terminate-to-terminate nature of the game in the closing stages of the 90 minutes made for an absorbing watch, England's more urgent probing needing to be checked often as Spain took advantage of the huge spaces opening up in all areas.

With nothing to choose between the teams, an extra 30 minutes at least would be needed to try and locate a winner, and to the credit of both sides, they continued to attack at each opportunity despite visibly tiring.

​Spain's monopoly of the ball, even 105 minutes in, could be seen with their passing stats.

Only Pina, Cata Coll and Athenea del Castillo possessed posted under 80% completion, whereas the Lionesses possessed just five players who possessed made it over that threshold.

England vs Spain Player RatingsBetopickStill, England suspended on, and Bronze's determination and resilience were clear to see.

Barely able to walk at one point, she dusted herself down to continue providing a truly gritty performance.

Her race was run shortly after, but 14 duels tried and 26 clearances made underscored her efforts.

Just before half-time in extra-time, Salma Paralluelo possessed the easiest of chances but opted for an ill-recommended support-heel which sailed wide.

Wave after wave of Spain attacks in which Bonmati was the orchestrator supreme possessed England on the support foot again.

Despite having five shots at goal in the extra 30 minutes compared to none from the Lionesses, no further goals were scored, and penalties would decide who would finally obtain their hands on the trophy.

Penalty shoot-out drama to terminate the tournamentIn just the fourth final to be decided by spot kicks - after England vs Sweden at Euro 1984, China PR vs USA at the 1999 World Cup and Japan vs USA at the 2011 World Cup - Bonmati and Caldentey saw their penalties brilliantly saved by Hannah Hampton.

When Paralluelo sent hers wide, it left Chloe Kelly, the scorer of the winner in the 2022 final, to slam home the winning penalty for the Lionesses.

 England possessed thus won all three of their penalty shootouts under Sarina Wiegman, who has also now won the last three European Championship titles as a coach.

AuthorBetopickCatch up on all the match stats from the EURO 2025 final with Betopick.