Leah Williamson has captained England to back-to-back European titles
England secured the Euro 2025 title after navigating three consecutive knockout matches that extended into extra time, with two decided by penalties. Despite the arduous path, captain Leah Williamson insists their victory was not simply a matter of “luck.”
The Lionesses successfully defended their European crown, initially won on home soil in 2022, by defeating world champions Spain 3-1 in a penalty shootout in Basel, following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
This triumph marks them as the first nation to retain the women’s Euros since Germany’s dominant streak of six consecutive titles from 1995 to 2013.
Their journey to the final involved a penalty shootout victory against Sweden in the quarter-finals and a late extra-time win against Italy in the semi-finals.
“You know what? I don’t realise it yet. I am still in the stage where it’s ‘this is unbelievable’, ‘did this really happen?'” manager Sarina Wiegman expressed to BBC Radio 5 Live. “Very, very happy but a little strange. Just unbelievable.”
While acknowledging a degree of fortune in England’s path to Euro 2025 glory, Williamson emphasized that their championship was earned through merit, not mere luck.
“We have ridden our luck, but I don’t think we were lucky,” she stated to the BBC amidst celebratory scenes on the pitch at St Jakob-Park.
“Total disbelief, but at the same time I knew it was going to happen. There’s always a moment when I think ‘right girls, let’s turn it on’. The way we defended as a team, nothing came through us. It felt like it was going to be our day.”
Notably, England only led for a total of four minutes and 52 seconds during the knockout stage, all of which occurred after Chloe Kelly’s decisive late goal against Italy.
Each of England’s three knockout matches extended to 120 minutes, a historic first in a major women’s tournament.
BBC One pundit Nedum Onuoha commented, “England will fight to the very end. This side, if you don’t put them away, the quality will shine through right to the end.”
Conversely, Spain’s players and coach felt that fortune was not on their side, despite recording 22 shots and nearly 65% possession in the final.
Spain captain Irene Paredes told TVE, “We tried everything, all the different ways, and then the penalties didn’t go our way. I thought we deserved it more but in the end it is not about who deserves it.
“It is about having that bit of luck and England had that throughout the whole tournament. We thought we could overcome that but we weren’t able to.
“I think we had more control of the game than they did, we created more clear chances, we had more possession. But yeah, nothing else.”
Despite their pivotal roles for England, neither Chloe Kelly nor Michelle Agyemang started a match at Euro 2025.
However, statistics do not always tell the full story. While luck may have played a part in Sweden and Spain’s penalty misses, and Laura Giuliani’s fumble leading to Michelle Agyemang’s goal in the semi-final, England consistently demonstrated strategic planning.
“I am pretty calm during the games,” Wiegman noted. “This tournament every single game has challenged us. We took those on board and how the team recovered from some setbacks, again today. That’s the most important thing.”
England frequently relied on late-game strategies, capitalizing on impactful substitutions. Kelly’s assist against Spain contributed to England’s total of 10 goal involvements by substitutes at Euro 2025—five goals and five assists—out of their 16 goals scored.
Euro 2022 winner Ellen White told BBC One, “They have deserved it in the end. They have suffered, they have shown resilience and that mentality. It has been so exciting.”
Moreover, under Wiegman’s leadership, England has maintained a perfect record in penalty shootouts, winning all four.
Defender Jess Carter told the BBC, “I didn’t doubt we would win the shootout. I would have been next, and I don’t know if my nerves would have taken it. But I fully believed this team would have won it.”
The jubilation at St Jakob-Park was heightened by the unconventional path England took to retain their Euros title, which began with a lackluster 2-1 defeat to France in their opening group match.
Wiegman remained steadfast, resisting the urge to start Kelly and Agyemang in the final, instead trusting their ability to make an impact when it mattered most.
Agyemang told the BBC, “It was so hard coming from a loss in the first game to this. Everything happens for a reason.”
“Relentless – we have players who absolutely love it,” added Williamson. “It’s just unbelievable to do it again.
“And after that first game, no-one thought we would – and fair enough! But nothing has changed.”
Jess Carter was congratulated by the Prince of Wales as she collected her medal
Carter, meanwhile, had her own remarkable journey at Euro 2025.
She struggled in that opening game against France, torn apart at left-back by Delphine Cascarino and was moved to central defence – but she was exposed in pace and possession against Sweden in the two early goals conceded.
She then suffered racist abuse following the quarter-final, and was taken out of the firing line by starting the Italy match on the substitutes’ bench.
But she then returned to the starting XI for the final – and produced a superb performance.
“I just couldn’t be prouder,” Carter said. “I’m speechless, relieved, excited.
“I want to say a massive thank you to our fans, my family who have been incredible, and everyone else who has doubted us and me personally – we have shown what we are capable of.
“It’s been crazy for me. I was disappointed with how I played through the tournament – but now I couldn’t give a damn. Figuring out how to win games is what we do as England.”
England won Euro 2025 despite going behind in all three knockout matches
For Ella Toone and Beth Mead their medals meant far more than just footballing glory – they were ways of celebrating loved ones lost since the 2022 triumph at Wembley.
Mead’s mother passed away in 2023, while Toone’s father died last year.
Toone posted an emotional Instagram story alongside Mead, captioned: “We did it for our angels in the sky. Forever with us and forever proud.”
She also revealed her mother had an empty seat next to her in the stands at St Jakob-Park.
“If that’s not a sign, I don’t know what is,” said Toone. “I know you were there dad.”
After the memories came the party. Mead strode through the media mixed zone post-match holding a can of lager and pulling a boombox playing Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey.
“There were times when people thought we were down and out but we never did,” Toone told BBC Sport while eating a slice of celebratory pizza.
“We had that belief in the squad that we were going to come out and win. That’s the quiet confidence we have in ourselves.
“We’re going to enjoy the night. I love a party.”
Even the boss will join in.
“I’ll do some more dancing,” Wiegman said. “I’ll have a drink but I don’t think I’ll drink as much as the players will do.”
If anyone has deserved a dance it is Wiegman, whose influence on the fortunes of England cannot be overstated.
“The most obvious difference – Sarina,” former England striker Toni Duggan told BBC Radio 5 Live. “She has this team fighting for each other – whether they play one minute or 90 minutes it doesn’t matter. This team just do it for each other and I love following them.
“It hasn’t been pretty but they’ve found a way. We didn’t have that back then but they have it now, and they have talent in abundance.”
Euro 2025 fixtures and group standings
Euro 2025 TV & BBC radio schedule
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