How England beat Spain on penalties after 1-1 draw to retain their European Championship title

England secured their second consecutive Women's European Championship title by defeating Spain 3-1 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after extra time. Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton emerged as the hero, saving two Spanish penalties, before Chloe Kelly converted the decisive spot-kick.

The victory required resilience from Sarina Wiegman's England team. Spain took the lead in normal time through a Mariona Caldentey header, but England equalized in the second half courtesy of an Alessia Russo header. England came from behind and held on through extra time to force penalties.

With the 2025 European Championship concluded, attention now turns to the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. Spain will enter as defending world champions, while England, who lost the previous World Cup final, will aim to go one step further. The USWNT, under Emma Hayes, is also noted as a contender.

The analysis highlights that despite winning the tournament, England were not the most convincing side throughout. They were arguably not the better team in any of their three knockout matches, though the final performance against Spain was their best. Their title defence is described as unconvincing, yet their relentlessness, commitment, and squad depth remain impressive.