England Retains Women’s Euro Title on Penalties vs Spain

England successfully defended their UEFA Women’s Euro title by beating world champions Spain 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the final, held in Basel. Spain took the lead in the 25th minute through Mariona Caldentey's header, but England equalized in the 57th minute with Alessia Russo scoring from a Chloe Kelly cross. The match went through extra time without a winner, leading to a tense penalty shootout where goalkeeper Hannah Hampton made several crucial saves. Substitute Chloe Kelly scored the winning penalty after Sama Paralluelo's miss, securing England's back-to-back European titles and avenging their 2023 World Cup final loss to Spain. This victory marks the first time a senior England team has won a major tournament on foreign soil, highlighting the rise of women's football in England. The final showcased England's resilience and skill, with key contributions from Kelly, Russo, and Hampton.