Spain loses out to England on penalties at Women’s EURO 2025

The Women’s EURO 2025 came to its final moment at the St. Jakobs Park Stadium in Basel on Sunday, where England beat Spain 3-1 on penalties after the game ended with a 1-1 draw.

Spain controlled the game during the first half, with an England team locked in defence and looking to counter and prevent Spain from finishing. Spain’s women had over 63% of possession in the first half.

More than 34,200 spectators gathered at St Jakobs Park Stadium to watch the final of the Women’s EURO 2025, demonstrating the growing interest in women’s football in recent years.

After a couple of clear-cut chances for Spain and a confident performance from the England goalkeeper, it was not until the 18th minute that England had a clear shot, which the Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll saved with a fine left foot.

It was not until the 24th minute that Spain took the lead when Mariona headed home from a precise pass from Ona Batlle, sending the Basel stadium into a frenzy.

With virtually no time wasted in the first half, the referee added just one minute to the clock, and the first half ended with Spain 1-0 up and an excellent performance from Coll with two great saves.

Second half

The second half began with the substitution of an English player due to injury. In the first minute of the second half, there was a chance for Mariona, and Spain continued to excel in terms of possession in an excellent display of tiki-taka football.

In the 51st minute, Spain had a chance with a shot on goal from the edge of the box from Mariona, but the England goalkeeper saved the shot. The same happened in the 54th minute with a shot from Alexia that went just wide of the right-hand side of the goal.

England tried to put more pressure on Spain, putting more players in Spain’s half. In the 56th minute counterattack, England scored with a header from Kelly’s pass, Alessia Russo equalising the score. It was Russo’s 25th goal for the English national team.

This goal has revitalised the English women, who are coming out more aggressively on counterattacks, with a way out of one-on-one situations out of possession, although Spain still maintained most of the time of possession.

Until the 66th minute, the Spanish side was less organised since conceding. However, they became more aggressive in attack and started to find chances, such as Atenea’s counter-attack shot on goal after stealing the ball from England.

The pace of the second half was much quicker than the first, with both teams level on points, and they were looking for the goal that would tip the balance in their favour.

Spain made their first change in the 70th minute, with Claudia Pina replacing Alexia Putellas, in a surprising tactical move. Olga was instructed to press and prevent England from finding openings.

The game continued to progress, with both teams exchanging chances in what is becoming a very even second half. England plays very vertically, while Spain continues to control the game more.

In the 79th minute, after a foul and a brief break to attend to the England goalkeeper, both teams took a break to discuss strategy with their coaches and devise a plan for the final minutes of the game.

The English pressure was relentless in the face of Spain’s ball control and passing in a game that had just entered the final 10 minutes. In the 84th minute, there was a chance after a pass from Aitana Bonmatí that went dead after a two-timed save from the England goalkeeper.

In the 86th minute England came up with yet another change, with Mead coming on and replacing Toone. Spain also made changes, but they would not be effective until minutes later, when Paralluelo and Viky López came on.

Tensions rose in the last two minutes of the game, plus the four minutes of stoppage time added by the referee. Paralluelo’s introduction brought two goal-scoring opportunities that did not materialise.

After half time had passed, Spain played the ball up in a quick passing game. Spain had a chance from inside the box, with Vicky’s shot going over the bar.

The referee blew the whistle to signal the end of full time and added time at 7:52 pm, seeing the final go into extra time. Both Spain and England have already faced extra time in previous matches during this Women’s EURO.

Extra time

England team kicked off the first half of extra time, with Spain continuing to control the ball and England pulling back and waiting for their chance to counterattack.

Fatigue set in for both teams, somewhat slowing the pace of the game, with England being more passive when in possession.

In the 93rd minute Spain had several chances on the edge of the box but lacked the finishing touch. There was movement on the benches, and it was only a matter of minutes before both teams began the dance of the players.

Spain continued to play their traditional tiki-taka, and after reaching the 100th minute, Pina’s diagonal shot went just wide of the England goalkeeper’s post. At the end of the first half of extra time the score remained 1-1.

Spain had a chance in the last minute with a ball across the goal after a pass from the wing, but Paralluelo was unable to finish.

First chance between Paralluelo and Pina in the 106th minute with another ball that sails past the goal. The Spaniards played with energy and tried to find another goal despite the fatigue.

England were stuck in their own half and seemed to be looking for a long ball or waiting for penalties, given the lack of attempting to attack on the counter as seen in the second half.

In the 110th minute Spain almost scored after a rebound from a corner. With their nerves on edge, Spain pull off pass after pass to Viky Lopez, who, with her left foot, shot with her left foot and the ball went over the crossbar. In the 113th minute, an England player called for medical assistance, and play was paused momentarily.

Just two minutes added on by the referee were all that separated the two teams from a penalty shoot-out.

Spain were on the attack and showing physical strength against England. However, the match was over. The final decision of the Women’s EURO 2025 would be decided in a penalty shoot-out.

Penalties

England start the shoot-out with Cata Coll in goal. England’s Mead scored, but they had to retake the kick because after the slip, he hit the ball twice. This second shot was saved by Coll.

Patri took Spain’s first penalty, and she scored after beating the England keeper with a shot to the centre of the goal, having jumped to her right. 1-0 to Spain.

Greenwood took England’s second shot, and Coll almost saved, correctly guessing the Englishwoman’s intentions. 1-1. The England keeper saves Mariona’s second shot with a shot to the right from halfway down the pitch. Still a draw in the penalty shoot-out.

England’s third shot, inside from the left, just the opposite side to where the England goalkeeper shot. 1-2 in favour of England.

Bonmatí took the third Spanish penalty. She struck it with her right foot to the left of the goal, where it was taken and saved by the England goalkeeper. It’s still 1-2 for England.

Williamson took the fourth penalty, and Coll made a fine save. The score was still 1-2 in England’s favour. Paralluelo takes the fourth Spanish penalty and shoots wide of the goal. 1-2 for England.

Finally, Kelly scored for England in the fifth round, sealing the victory for the Lionesses and securing her team the title of European champions.