{"id":297321,"date":"2025-07-28T01:45:11","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T01:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/297321\/"},"modified":"2025-07-28T01:45:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T01:45:11","slug":"match-centre-england-1-1-spain-england-win-3-1-on-penalties-sunday-27-july-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/297321\/","title":{"rendered":"Match Centre: England 1-1 Spain (England win 3-1 on penalties), Sunday 27 July 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

England head coach Sarina Wiegman and captain Leah Williamson both spoke for the final time before Sunday\u2019s UEFA Women\u2019s EURO 2025 Final with Spain.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Lionesses are looking to retain their crown as EURO champions following their victory on home soil in 2022, but face a Spanish team who have been in fine form throughout the tournament in Switzerland and also beat them in the 2023 FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup Final.<\/p>\n

But Wiegman believes the resilience shown by her team in the competition so far, which has seen them bounce back from an opening game defeat to France and then emerging victorious in their two knockout games by coming from behind, will stand them in good stead when they take to the pitch in Basel on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery tournament, you want to perform and there\u2019s expectations, but also expectations for yourselves,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo go into the finals is special, but to reach the final itself \u2013 there\u2019s only two teams that can reach the final \u2013 so if you talk about pressure, it\u2019s very special and we really want to win it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re happy that we\u2019re in the final and we\u2019re going to do everything we can to win it and make that happen..<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you are in some scenarios, you hope you can turn it around with some subs or shape change, but the most important thing is that the players believe we can win and change the game, and that\u2019s what we\u2019ve shown.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to do well, we don\u2019t want a nerve-wracking game, but it also shows what the competition has been and\u00a0I say it all the time, but the women\u2019s game is improving so much and every game is a hard game, so I\u2019m just really glad that we made it through.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had 23 players on the [training] pitch today and everyone came through, so if everyone recovers well we have 23 players available for tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

We’re LIVE with Sarina Wiegman and Leah Williamson as they preview tomorrow\u2019s #WEURO2025<\/a> final against Spain. \ud83d\udcaa https:\/\/t.co\/fu9cqcNhIj<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 26, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\nAnd Williamson, who is aiming to lead the team to become the first England team to win back-to-back senior titles, is also looking forward to the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cTomorrow, we play a game against the world champions who continue to proves themselves over and over in the way that they play football,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re a fantastic footballing team and they\u2019re the best at what they do and we\u2019re very much aware of that but we think we\u2019re pretty good in some areas as well but we need to be at our best to beat Spain and they need to be at their best to beat us too.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of respect between the two teams and I\u2019d be hesitant to pick out a clear underdog in this scenario, but we go in against the world champions tomorrow and that\u2019s not an easy job so we\u2019ll prepare ourselves as best we can for that challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you grow in a tournament and we\u2019re aware of that, but the most important thing for us is as the game goes on, taking advantage of the work that we\u2019ve done at the start.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd in every game, we\u2019ve left it late, but that\u2019s been the case and every team is hard to beat and poses a different threat and challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to stay in it for as long as possible to take advantage of that, so hopefully the best is yet to come.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe came to the tournament wanting to be in it until the end and fight for that trophy and you can\u2019t do that until you get into the final.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a squad of excited and focused players and we recognise the opportunity and we\u2019ll do everything we can to take it.\u201d <\/p>\n

And regardless of what happens on the pitch on Sunday, the Arsenal defender believes the impact that the Lionesses can have on the women and girls\u2019 game in England will remain the same as it did following the EURO victory in 2022.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we\u2019re very connected to what it means to the nation, or as much as we can be being away from home, but the opportunity tomorrow and what\u2019s on offer is the best thing in football,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t necessarily carry the weight of it and what it means to people, but we\u2019re aware of it. Because it means the same to us.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe beautiful thing about \u201922 was that I\u2019m not sure any of us who were part of it will ever experience anything like that ever again.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I think the history on the line, it seems every time this team enters a new year there\u2019s so much that can be done and that\u2019s a real privilege time to be a part of this team and to be involved. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a huge motivator, but mainly because of what it would do for women\u2019s football and to continue the legacy we\u2019ve already started.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Spain\u00a0in profile<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nickname: <\/strong>La Roja
Coach: <\/strong>Montserrat Tome
Captain: <\/strong>Irene Parades
UEFA Women’s EURO best performance: <\/strong>The Final, 2025
FIFA Women’s World Cup best performance: <\/strong>Winners, 2023
Last encounter:<\/strong> Spain 2-1 England, 3 June 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Match Stats<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u25cf\tThis game will see a repeat of the 2023 FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup final, won 1-0 by Spain.<\/a>\u00a0It\u2019s only the second time there\u2019s been the same fixture in back-to-back Women\u2019s World Cup\/EURO finals, along with Germany versus Sweden (2001 EURO, 2003 World Cup), won both times by the Germans.<\/p>\n

\u25cf\tEngland and Spain have faced three times previously at the UEFA Women\u2019s EURO, with those games coming in the three previous tournaments before 2025 \u2013 Spain won 3-2 in the group stage in 2013, while the Lionesses were victorious 2-0 in 2017 in the group stage<\/a> and won 2-1 in the 2022 quarter-final.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u25cf\tEngland won UEFA Women\u2019s EURO 2022 thanks to a 2-1 win over Germany at Wembley.<\/a>\u00a0They are looking to become the second nation to lift the trophy at consecutive tournaments, along with Germany (1989 and 1991, then 1995 \u2013 2013).<\/p>\n

\u25cf\tSpain could become the first European nation to lift the FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup and UEFA Women\u2019s EURO at consecutive tournaments since Germany between 2001 and 2009 (five in a row). They\u2019ve won their last nine games at major tournaments, with the Netherlands the last European nation to win 10+ in a row, winning 12 across the 2017 EURO and 2019 World Cup.<\/p>\n

\u25cf\tBoth England\u2019s quarter-final versus Sweden<\/a>\u00a0and semi-final versus Italy <\/a>at this year\u2019s UEFA Women\u2019s EURO went to extra-time, with no nation ever playing three extra-time games in a single tournament. Only three finals have gone to extra-time \u2013 1991 (Germany 3-1 Norway), 2001 (Germany 1-0 Sweden) and 2022 (England 2-1 Germany).<\/p>\n

\u25cf\tSpain have had an average of 24 shots per game at the 2025 UEFA Women\u2019s EURO (120 in 5 games), the most by a nation at a major tournament (Women\u2019s World Cup\/EURO) since Germany at the 2015 FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup (26 per game), while their average of 621 completed passes per game is the most by a nation at a tournament on record since 2011.<\/p>\n

\u25cf\tEngland have seen a substitute score in each of their last three UEFA Women\u2019s EURO matches, with Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones scoring against Wales, Michelle Agyemang against Sweden and then Agyemang and Chloe Kelly against Italy. With five sub goals overall, the only teams to score more at a single EURO tournament are Germany in 2009 (8) and England themselves in 2022 (7).<\/p>\n

\u25cf\tSpain have received 2,334 high pressures from opponents at the 2025 UEFA Women\u2019s EURO, 476 more than any other team. Despite this, their passing accuracy under high pressure is six per cent better than any other team in the tournament (83 per cent).<\/p>\n

\u25cf\tSpain have won each of their last ten matches in all competitions, scoring 38 goals. They last enjoyed a longer winning run between March 2020 and November 2021, when they won 16 games consecutively.<\/p>\n

\u25cf\tEngland manager Sarina Wiegman is looking to win a third consecutive UEFA Women\u2019s EURO tournament, lifting the trophy in 2017 with the Netherlands and in 2022 with the Lionesses. Two managers have won it three times \u2013 Gero Bisanz (1989, 1991, 1995) and Tina Theune (1997, 2001, 2005). Indeed, if she wins, it’ll mean the last eight EURO tournaments have been won by just three managers, with Silvia Neid winning it in 2009 and 2013.<\/p>\n

\u25cf\tLucy Bronze has made 35 major tournament appearances (Women\u2019s World Cup\/EURO) for England, the joint most of any player along with Jill Scott. She\u2019s started all 35 of those games, with only two players for any European nation playing as many while starting them all \u2013 Germany\u2019s Bettina Wiegmann (39) and Sweden\u2019s Hedvig Lindahl (37).<\/p>\n

\u25cf\tEngland\u2019s Chloe Kelly came off the bench to score the winner in the semi-finals against Italy, while she also did so in the 2022 UEFA Women\u2019s EURO final versus Germany. Since Opta has analysed major women\u2019s tournaments (2011), Kelly at this year\u2019s EURO has the joint-most chances created (eight) and most successful crosses (ten) of any substitute in a single tournament.<\/p>\n

\u25cf\tAthenea del Castillo assisted Spain\u2019s winner by Aitana Bonmat\u00ed in the UEFA Women\u2019s EURO 2025 semi-final against Germany. She\u2019s been involved in six goals in her last seven appearances in all competitions (five goals, one assist), scoring or assisting every 40 minutes across those matches.<\/p>\n

\u25cf\tBoth Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone scored for England in their victorious UEFA Women\u2019s EURO 2022 final against Germany \u2013 only four players have scored in two or more finals: Germany\u2019s Heidi Mohr (1989, 1991), Norway\u2019s Birthe Hegstad (1991, 1993), Germany\u2019s Birgit Prinz (1995, 1997, 2005, 2009) and Germany\u2019s Inka Grings (2005, 2009).<\/p>\n

\u25cf\tSpain\u2019s Patri Guijarro completed 109 passes in the semi-final against Germany, the most by a midfielder in a game at this year\u2019s tournament. Overall, she\u2019s completed 401 passes at the 2025 UEFA Women\u2019s EURO, with only two players completing more on record since 2013 \u2013 England\u2019s Leah Williamson in 2022 (461) and Denmark\u2019s Katrine Pedersen in 2013 (403).<\/p>\n

\u25cf\t19-year-old Michelle Agyemang has netted in each of her last two outings at UEFA Women\u2019s EURO 2025 and would be the youngest player to score in three appearances in a row at major tournaments (19 years, 174 days \u2013 Women\u2019s World Cup\/EURO), breaking Vivianne Miedema\u2019s record (21 years, 22 days). The only teenager to score in three different games in a single tournament is Brazil\u2019s Marta at the 2003 FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n

\u25cf\tSpain\u2019s Al\u00e8xia Putellas has been involved in the most goals (three goals, four assists) and created the most chances (18) of any player at the UEFA Women\u2019s EURO 2025. However, Putellas is yet to score or assist in any of her nine knockout appearances at major tournaments (Women\u2019s World Cup\/EURO).<\/p>\n

\u25cf\tAt the UEFA Women\u2019s EURO 2025, Spain\u2019s Al\u00e8xia Putellas has received the most high pressures from opponents (307) and has the best pass accuracy under high pressure (86.6 per cent) of any player to attempt 100+ passes while under high pressure. She\u2019s also created the most chances under high pressure (13) of any player.<\/p>\n