Wiegman revels in chaotic Euros triumph

Sarina Wiegman revelled in the chaos of England’s Euro 2025 triumph after a tense penalty shoot-out victory over Spain in Sunday’s final.

The showpiece match went the distance in Basel, with Chloe Kelly – England’s matchwinner against Germany in the Euros final three years ago – delivering again.

Kelly, who replaced the injured Lauren James late in the first half, provided the assist for Alessia Russo to restore parity, cancelling out Mariona Caldentey’s opener.

After it finished 1-1 inside 120 minutes, Kelly then stepped up to smash home the winning spot-kick in the shoot-out, sealing a 3-1 triumph after Hannah Hampton’s heroics with the gloves.

Wiegman has now won the last three editions of the Euros, though her team led for only four minutes and 52 seconds throughout the knockout stages.

Indeed, England also had to bounce back from a defeat to France in their opening group game.

“It has been the most chaotic tournament, especially on the pitch,” a jubilant Wiegman told BBC Sport.

“From the first game, it was chaos. Losing your first game and then becoming champions is incredible. Football is chaos!”

England have won all four of their penalty shoot-outs under Wiegman. Before she took over, they had lost four in a row.

Wiegman added: “I can’t believe it. The word team really describes who we are.

“We said we can win by any means, that’s what we showed again today. I’m so proud of them, so proud of the team – it’s incredible.

“I just can’t believe it, I have a medal around my neck. We have that trophy.”

England became the first team to have three different matches go to extra time at a single edition of either the Women’s Euros or the Women’s World Cup.

Spain had the better chances, accumulating 2.35 expected goals (xG) to England’s 1.04.

Beth Mead and Leah Williamson missed their spot-kicks, but with Hampton in fine form, the stage was set for Kelly to ensure England became the second team to retain the Euros, after Germany (1989, 1991, and six in a row between 1995 and 2013).

“It just felt like it was going to be our day,” said Williamson.

“These players, they just step up. It’s just unbelievable to do this again. People might not appreciate it, but this is the toughest thing, to win it again.

“Everything, the stakes. Everything was higher. I feel like even when we won it in 2022, all the other teams were happy for us. Today it was not like that.

“We’ve ridden our luck. I don’t think we’ve been lucky. We’ve ridden our luck, and I think we’ve pulled it out just at the right time.”