UEFA WOMEN'S EURO™ 2025: YOUR BIG TOURNAMENT DEBRIEF

A tournament that began with questions has ended with a roar. After 26 gripping days of football, England were crowned champions of Europe once again, defeating Spain in a dramatic penalty shootout in Basel to lift the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 trophy.

It was a summer defined by resilience, comebacks, late drama and new heroes and at the heart of it all were the Lionesses, who did what no England team, men’s or women’s, had ever done before - win a major international tournament on foreign soil. Back-to-back European champions. A feat worthy of history.

A TOURNAMENT THAT CAUGHT FIRE

Hosted in eight cities across Switzerland, EURO 2025 began with 16 of Europe’s best teams split into four tightly contested groups. From the very first kick, it was clear this tournament wouldn’t follow the script.

In Group A, Norway emerged as group winners, showing off their attacking firepower, while hosts Switzerland delighted home crowds by claiming second place and booking their spot in the quarter-finals. Iceland and Finland couldn’t keep pace and bowed out early.

Group B belonged to Spain. Ruthless and confident, the reigning world champions scored 14 goals in their three group games and never looked in danger. Italy also advanced after a gritty win over Belgium, while Portugal once again failed to escape the group stage.

Group C saw Sweden finish unbeaten and top, dispatching Denmark and Poland with clinical precision. Germany had to fight for second after a surprise early loss, but the eight-time champions steadied themselves to reach the knockouts.

Then came Group D. For England, it didn’t begin according to plan. A frustrating 2-1 loss to France put the defending champions on the back foot. But Sarina Wiegman’s side bounced back in style. A dominant 4-0 win over the Netherlands and a 6-1 thrashing of Wales reminded the continent of what England are capable of when it clicks. They finished second in the group, but the momentum was starting to build.

ENGLAND’S ROAD TO GLORY

The knockouts were where England’s real character began to shine.

In the quarter-finals, they faced a high-flying Sweden side and were 2-0 down with just 15 minutes remaining. But England didn’t panic, Lauren James pulled one back, then teenager Michelle Agyemang equalised in the final moments to send the game into extra time. With neither side able to find a winner, it came down to penalties and England prevailed 3-2, thanks to nerves of steel and crucial saves from goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.

Next came Italy in the semi-finals. The Lionesses trailed again, and it looked as though their run might end there but Agyemang, just 19 years old, scored once more and this time in the 96^th  minute to drag England into extra time. in the 119th minute, Beth Mead was fouled in the box and Chloe Kelly, the hero of the EURO 2022 shootout, stepped up to take the spot-kick and although her initial effort was saved, she calmly scored on the rebound, securing a 2–1 victory and sending England into the final.

Spain awaited in the showpiece in Basel. A team full of technical brilliance, fluid possession, and the confidence of world champions. They struck first through Mariona Caldentey’s header in the 25th minute but as they’ve done all tournament, England rallied. In the 57^th  minute, Chloe Kelly’s cross found Alessia Russo, whose bullet header levelled the match. The final went to extra time where it remained 1-1.

So, penalties it was and England had been here before. This was their second shootout of the tournament. Beth Mead missed her retaken penalty after a rare double-touch call, but Hampton rose to the occasion once more. She saved not one, but two Spanish efforts. And when Kelly stepped up for England’s fourth penalty, she made no mistake. The net rippled, the stadium erupted, and history was sealed. England had done it again.

STARS OF THE SUMMER

Aitana Bonmatí, despite recovering from viral meningitis just before the tournament, was named UEFA Women’s Player of the Tournament, recognising her creative influence from midfield and her decisive extra‑time goal against Germany in the semi-final, even though she later missed a key penalty in the final shootout.

Her fellow Spaniard Esther González finished as the tournament's top scorer with four goals. Her goalscoring consistency and threat in the final third earned her top marks, even though Spain ultimately lost in the final.

However, England’s triumph was built on unity, grit, and several standout performances.

Michelle Agyemang became a breakout star, scoring twice in crucial moments and earning the Young Player of the Tournament award. Alessia Russo rediscovered her sharpness just when it mattered most, and Chloe Kelly confirmed her status as England’s ultimate big-game player, delivering the assist in the final and calmly netting the winning penalty.

Hannah Hampton, who had been rotated into the starting eleven, produced world-class saves throughout the tournament, including two in the final shootout. Lucy Bronze, nursing a fractured tibia, battled through every match with leadership and courage and Sarina Wiegman, already a legend of the game, became the first coach ever to win three Women’s EURO titles with two different countries.

A TOURNAMENT OF SURPRISES

While England took the crown, there were stories across the continent.

Spain were scintillating in the group stages and edged past Germany in the semi-finals, but couldn’t quite overcome their old demons in the final. Italy enjoyed their best tournament in decades, reaching the final four after knocking out Norway. Germany, meanwhile, recovered from a rocky start to make the semis, while France and Sweden who were both tipped for tournament success, fell to penalty heartbreak.

The hosts, Switzerland, exceeded expectations by making the quarter-finals and captivated the local fans with their passion and progress.

A LEGACY THAT LASTS

From the ashes of a poor start to the peak of glory, England’s journey this summer was one of belief and brilliance. They didn’t win every game easily, they didn’t dominate from start to finish, but when the biggest moments came, they delivered.

EURO 2025 reminded us why we love tournament football and for England, it confirmed something we’ve known for a while. This generation of Lionesses aren’t just making history -they’re rewriting it.

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