Lionesses Roar Again: England Retain Euro Crown in Switzerland
A tournament of grit, chaos and pure theatre ends in another landmark victory for Sarina Wiegman’s relentless side
England Crowned Champions Again After Penalty Drama in Euro 2025 Final
It was quite the spectacle, even for those of us north of the border.
If you watch football for long enough, you learn to spot greatness when it plays out in front of you. What we saw in Switzerland was exactly that. A team that had been written off more than once over the course of this chaotic tournament, coming back from behind again to lift the Euro trophy for a second successive time.
You do not need to be wrapped in a flag to appreciate what this England side has done.
From the very beginning, they looked far from favourites. An opening defeat against France had the usual noise swirling. Injuries to key players, a manager under scrutiny for her selections, and performances that never quite convinced. But somehow, they kept finding ways to win.
And when it came to the final, against a Spain side who looked every inch the polished champions-in-waiting, England once again did it the hard way.
The Final That Had It All
Mariona Caldentey’s first-half header gave Spain the lead and, for a while, it felt like England had no real answer. Lauren James, selected despite injury worries, struggled to influence the game. The tempo was slow, Spain were purring, and the whole contest seemed to be slipping away.
But Sarina Wiegman, as she so often does, found the answers.
Chloe Kelly, brought off the bench, changed everything. She brought width, urgency, and confidence. Her cross for Alessia Russo was a peach, and the finish was even better. England were level. You sensed then that they fancied the penalty shootout more than a frantic finish.
What followed was textbook tournament football. They dug in, defended like their lives depended on it, and trusted their goalkeeper to do the rest.
Hampton and Kelly Take the Stage
It would be wrong not to shine a light on Hannah Hampton. With everything on the line, she looked the calmest person in the stadium. She saved two penalties and held the back line together during periods where Spain looked most dangerous.
Then came the moment.
Kelly, once again, stepped forward with the weight of a nation behind her. This time, there was no celebration with a twirling shirt. Just ice-cool execution and a storm of teammates rushing to embrace her. It was the same player who wrote her name into folklore at Wembley in 2022. Different country, same outcome. You cannot teach that level of composure.
A Manager Who Gets It Right
Wiegman’s career glitters already, but this might be her finest hour. She has now won the European Championship three times with two different nations. This win was far removed from the tidy home-soil triumph of three years ago. This was about resilience, improvisation and adapting under immense pressure.
Her tactical decisions did not always pay off instantly. But the way she shaped this tournament, the way she leaned on her squad and made crucial changes when they mattered, sets her apart. She has now won five finals in a row. There is not a manager in the women’s game quite like her.
The Cost of Glory
You could see how much this meant to the players. Not just in the tears and celebrations, but in the physical toll. Lucy Bronze played the entire tournament with a fractured tibia. That alone would have ended most players’ campaigns. For Bronze, it was barely mentioned until the job was done.
Jess Carter, who had been dropped and abused, stepped back in when needed and looked assured. Lauren Hemp never stopped running. And Chloe Kelly, written off by some, is now a two-time match-winner in European finals.
If you strip away the shirt colours and club loyalties, you are left with stories that speak to everything good about football.
A Moment Bigger Than Rivalry
This was a genuinely brilliant footballing achievement. The first England team to ever win a major tournament on foreign soil. A squad rebuilt and doubted, yet full of character. They earned it, and they earned it the hard way.
Three knockout games, all going to extra time. Behind in every one. Yet they led for under five minutes in total across those matches and still found a way to win.
That tells you everything about their mindset.
Respect Where It’s Due
What England’s women have achieved over the past few years is no fluke. They have created a culture of excellence, and this latest triumph proves it is no passing phase.
Spain will come again, and they may well dominate the years ahead. But for now, England still hold the crown.
Well done England, hard lines Spain