JONATHAN SHALLARD in BASEL: England retained their UEFA Women’s European crown on beating Spain 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 extra time draw in the St Jakob Park featuring a 90-minute exchange of headers between Mariona Caldentey in the first half and Alessia Russo in the second.

Decisive once more was the nerveless Chloe Kelly, scorer of the winning goal in the 2022 final. The substitute converted the crucial last spotkick after Spain missed three in succession. That treble included superb stops by Hannah Hampton from Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati, the player of the tournament.

England, watched by Prince William in his role as president of the Football Association thus avenged their World Cup Final defeat by Spain two years ago; coach Sarina Wiegman celebrated a third European title, having won a first with her native Netherlands in 2017.

The one doubt about the finalists’ potential to deliver a worthy contest had concerned the fatigue factor after both had needed extra time in their semi-finals to dispose of Italy and Germany respectively. Yet there was no evidence of Spain suffering any hangover in a commanding first half.

England’s fault in their previous matches had been a slow start which had conceded the advantage. This time the Lionesses were quickly on to the front foot which, while not producing an immediate reward, was at least a statement of intent.

Hampton, however, was the first goalkeeper in action blocking an angled shot from Esther Gonzalez. The Gotham City striker then clipped a shot over the bar after another left-wing raid. Next it was the turn of Cata Coll to stick out a leg and deny Lauren Hemp after a sloppy defensive play-out.

The stalemate was broken in the 25th minute. This time the danger was created down the Spanish right wing. A characteristic inter-passing move between Bonmati, Athenea Del Castillo and Ona Batlle was crowned with a decisive central header from Caldentey.

Early setback

Spain sought to extend their lead with nimble possession football allied to eager high-pitch pressing and
England suffered a further setback five minutes before halftime when an injury recurrence forced the replacement of winger Lauren James by Kelly, their semi-final match-winner. Gonzalez then popped a close-range header inches wide as Spain ended the first half in command.

This was the fourth time England had trailed at the finals, having conceded first in all three knockout matches.

Spain began the second half where they left off before the break with Caldentey drawing a low-down save from Hampton and Alexia Putellas wastefully wide.

Then, in the 57th minute and out of nowhere, England equalised. Kelly provided a left-wing cross which caught the Spanish defence flat-footed and Russo headed up unstoppably beyond Coll’s right hand.

Superb saves

Next it was Kelly on her own with an angled shot tipped wide by Coll before the substitutes started to flow. Spain replaced the tiring Russo with teenager Michelle Agyemang while Spain substituted Putellas with Claudia Pina who sought an instant impact with a powerful drive which Hampton deflected over the bar.

Extra time saw another Spanish substitute, Salma Paralluelo, miss-step over an inviting cross just before the end of the first 15 minutes. Spain were dominant again but Vicky Lopez was off target before the women’s Euro final went to penalties for only the second time . . . and a senior England team won a major trophy on foreign soil for the first time.

Next stop – for both teams – the Women’s World Cup in Brazil in 2027.

The penalties (England first):

Mead retake saved 0-0, Guijarro 0-1; Greenwood 1-1, Caldentey saved 1-1; Charles 2-1, Bonmati saved 2-1; Williamson saved 2-1, Parralluelo wide 2-1; Kelly 3-1.

The teams:

England: Hampton – Bronze (Charles 106), Williamson, Carter, Greenwood – Walsh, Stanway (Clinton 115) – Hemp, Toone (Mead 87), James (Kelly 40) – Russo (Agyemang 71).

Spain: Coll – Battle, Paredes Aleixandri, Carmona (Ouahabi 106) – Bonmati, Guijarro, Putellas (Pina 71) – Del Castillo (Vicky Lopez 89), Gonzalez (Paralluelo 89), Caldentey.

Attendance: 34,203 (657,291 tournament record). Referee: Frappart (France).

Player of the Tournament: Aitana Bonmati (Spain)

Player of the Final: Hannah Hampton (England)

Young Player of the Tournament: Michelle Agyemang (England)

Team of the Tournament: Goalkeeper: Hannah Hampton (England). Defenders: Lucy Bronze (England), Irene Paredes (Spain), Elena Linari (Italy), Franziska Kett (Germany). Midfielders: Patri Guijarro (Spain), Aitana Bonmatí (Spain), Alexia Putellas (Spain). Forwards: Jule Brand (Germany), Alessia Russo (England), Chloe Kelly (England).

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