Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton embrace after winning Euro 2025
Not long ago, Chloe Kelly contemplated a break from football, while Hannah Hampton faced exclusion from the England squad.
How fortunes shift. The duo are now celebrated as England’s Euro 2025 heroines, following the Lionesses’ penalty shootout victory against Spain to retain their title.
Kelly, who entered the match in the 40th minute as a substitute for Lauren James, delivered the precise cross that led to Alessia Russo’s equalizing goal.
Hampton showcased her prowess with a series of critical saves throughout the game, before denying both Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati during the penalty shootout. This set the stage for Kelly to decisively strike home the winning spot-kick, igniting jubilation among England’s supporters.
“I was determined not to miss twice in a row,” Kelly stated, recalling her previous penalty rebound in the semi-final win over Italy.
“I remained composed and confident. I knew I would find the back of the net. I don’t miss penalties consecutively.”
England’s manager, Sarina Wiegman, described Hampton’s two shootout saves in the final as “a bit like a fairytale.”
The 24-year-old was immediately thrust into the spotlight in Switzerland, stepping up as England’s primary goalkeeper after Mary Earps’ retirement just five weeks prior.
“Hannah Hampton has been put in the spotlight. Has she stood up, has she stood tall? The biggest of big,” said former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis on BBC One.
“To win your team back-to-back European Championships – be proud Hannah Hampton.”
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How Chloe Kelly changed the Euro 2025 final for England
Just seven months ago, Kelly’s situation appeared quite different.
The 27-year-old feared for her place in England’s Euros squad after a challenging start to the season with Manchester City, where she only made one Women’s Super League (WSL) start in the first four months.
However, following a strained period with the club, Kelly joined Arsenal on loan in January, and secured a permanent move in July.
The winger has not only “refound her smile”, but has won the Women’s Champions League with the Gunners and helped England win another Euros – scoring the decisive goal in the final once again.
“If that’s a story to tell someone maybe experiencing something the same – tough times don’t last,” Kelly said.
“Just around the corner was a Champions League final, won that, and now a Euros final, won that.”
Kelly has mostly been on the bench in Switzerland, but she has consistently made a significant impact whenever she has played.
Against Sweden, she provided the assist that initiated a comeback, and then scored in the shootout.
In the semi-final victory over Italy, it was Kelly’s goal that sealed England’s place in the final with just one minute of extra time to spare.
“Thank you to everyone who wrote me off – I’m grateful,” Kelly said in a media conference after the final.
Speaking about Wiegman, Kelly added: “She gave me hope when I probably didn’t have any. She gave me an opportunity to represent my country again.”
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Relive the penalty shootout that saw England win Euro 2025
Hampton, participating in her first major tournament as England’s first-choice goalkeeper, had considerable expectations to meet in Switzerland.
Earps, a two-time recipient of the title of best women’s goalkeeper in the world, played a pivotal role in England’s Euro 2022 victory and their journey to the 2023 World Cup final.
But Hampton, who looked likely to start at the Euros even before Earps’ retirement, has proved she deserves the number one shirt.
“At the start of the tournament did you think Hannah Hampton would be the star? Perhaps not. You wondered how she was going to do,” ex-Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha said.
“Look how well she has done on the biggest stage. To save those penalties – and these were really good saves. She backed herself 100%.
“An amazing moment to see her be that important to the team.”
Just months after England’s Euro triumph in 2022, Hampton was dropped from the squad.
Reports suggested it was because of her behaviour, and she had to wait until March 2023 for a recall, when Wiegman said Hampton had “sorted out personal issues”.
Speaking to BBC One following her shootout heroics in the 2025 final, Hampton said: “All I can really say is thank you to Sarina [Wiegman] for all the belief and faith that she’s had in me.
“She knew what I was capable of and she really put that in me to really go and showcase what I can do.”
Hampton, who helped Chelsea win a domestic treble this season, has shown exactly what she is capable of throughout the tournament.
After losing their opening game against France, Hampton was instrumental in helping England bounce back against the Netherlands – with a sublime defence-splitting pass starting the attack for England’s first goal and setting the tempo for a statement 4-0 performance.
Then, in their quarter-final against Sweden, she pulled off two brilliant saves in the shootout to help keep England’s title defence alive.
“The girls have run around for 120 minutes, so the least I can do is save a couple of pens here and there and help the team out in any way I can,” Hampton told BBC Radio 5 Live after the final.
She added on BBC One: “There’s still a lot more to come from me. For my first major tournament, to win it is not too bad.”
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