England confirmed on women’s European throne, Spain bent on penalties
At St. Jakob Park in Basel, England won its second consecutive European championship: in the final, a sort of rematch of the one from the last World Cup that had lost 1-0 to the Iberians, the English bent Spain after penalties. Regulation time and extra time had ended 1-1.
England close to scoring as early as three minutes in: Alessia Russo’s right-footed shot, Cata Coll blocked with difficulty but James was providentially anticipated. In the 11th minute Esther Gonzalez’s left in a half-turn but it is not her favorite foot and she puts it in the bottom.
In the 20th minute Coll touches right where Hemp is who shoots but the Iberian goalkeeper immediately redeems herself by deflecting her footed conclusion into a corner. In the 21st minute Mariona Caldentey’s right-footed shot goes just wide.
On 25′ Spain took the lead: cross from the right by Battlé and winning header by Mariona. In the 41st minute Gonzalez hits a header and goes close to doubling on Bonmatí’s cross.
In the first minutes of the second half Hampton is alert first on Bonmatí and then on Mariona. But England is a phoenix that always rises from its ashes: in the 57th minute Kelly’s cross from the left and Alessia Russo’s winning header equalizes.
On 69′ Kelly’s left deflected into a diving corner by Coll with her fingertips. At 74′ left by Claudia Pina on which Hampton was not surprised. In the final phase of regulation and the following extra time it was Spain that attacked more but to no avail.
The penalties are then inevitable: already on Mead’s first there is a twist because the Englishwoman scores but slips and touches the ball twice, the penalty is repeated and she has it parried. Gutierrez and Greenwood then score but Mariona practically makes a pass to Hampton.
England took the lead with Charles and then Hampton’s feat on Bonmatí, also Coll parries Williamson’s shot but then Paralluelo puts it wide. Match point for the English with Chloe Kelly making no mistake: England is confirmed as European champions and it is the third consecutive title for coach Sarina Wiegman, who had also won the 2017 title with her Netherlands.
