All eyes on Basel where England and Spain face off in the Euro 2025 final.

It’s the holders versus the world champions at St Jakob-Park.

Kick off is 5pm, with the action live on RTÉ 2, but we’ll keep you up to date right here.

Team News 

Your #Lionesses for the final! 🌟🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/K5E76kPx7R

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 27, 2025

One England change from their semi-final win over Italy: Jess Carter returns in defence for Esme Morgan.

Lauren James starts, having been an injury doubt.

Super subs Michelle Agyemang and Chloe Kelly are again named on the bench.

Team News

Uefa. Uefa.

Two changes for Spain following their semi-final win over Germany. Laia Aleixandri returns from suspension, while Athenea del Castillo gets the nod ahead of Claudia Pina in the front three.

After three weeks of thrills, spills, marathon matches and dramatic penalties, it all comes down to this.

Euro 2025 will be decided in a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final at St Jakob-Park, Basel. It’s England versus Spain, the European champions versus the world champions.

The decider most people predicted. The one many wanted. A blockbuster awaits.

• You can read our full match preview here.

The prize on offer. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Just over 10 minutes until kick-off in Basel. Time to call it.

Who will be crowned Euro 2025 champions?

After the tournament closing ceremony, the trophy is on the pitch. The teams will be soon. They’re waiting in the tunnel. Nearly showtime.

Time for the anthems. Spain looking relaxed ahead of this, a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final.

Stéphanie Frappart is today’s referee. The final pre-match formalities have been wrapped up, last words being exchanged between the teams . . .

KICK-OFF: Ella Toone gets England underway.

England 0-0 Spain 

2 mins - England with much of the early possession as both sides look to settle in.

England 0-0 Spain 

4 mins - Spain prod and probe, a long ball from defence evading Esther Gonzales.

England go on the hunt at the other end, breaking down the right as Russo is denied by Cata Coll. Lauren James can’t get there for the follow up, and Spain clear their lines.

Lively start.

England 0-0 Spain

6 mins – England have certainly started brightest in Basel, but Spain have come into it. Alexia Putella’s final ball down the left is cut out by Hannah Hampton. Both sides go 4-3-3, as expected.

England 0-0 Spain

8 mins – Mariona Caldentey’s cross is headed away by her Arsenal team-mate, Leah Williamson. Spain opting to go down their left-hand side for the most part early on.

England 0-0 Spain

10 mins – Hampton with her first save of the evening, to stop Gonzales, who is played in by Putellas and does well to hold it up before getting a shot away. Nothing much comes off the first corner of the game.

England 0-0 Spain

12 mins - Another Spain attack, Olga Carmona breaking down their left side once again, her low cross is sent behind by Gonzalez.

England on the charge at the other end, but are pinged for offside.

England 0-0 Spain 

14 mins – Helter-skelter in the England box, but the Lionesses eventually clear their lines. They settle themselves with some possession, before Lauren Hemp launches a long ball at the other end. Russo knocks on to Georgia Stanway, who has a go from range, but Coll gathers with ease.

England 0-0 Spain

18 mins - Williamson clears a Spanish cross, Bronze tidies up and draws a foul to relieve the Spanish pressure. England in possession again here, but Ona Battle has just cut out an Alex Greenwood long ball. The Barcelona right-back cleans up again after they give away the ball.

England 0-0 Spain

20 mins - CLOSE! Hemp is denied by Coll after Spain play with fire at the back and England get joy from their press.

England 0-0 Spain 

20 mins - Caldentey flashes wide at the other end after a superb Spain team move. One-touch football at its finest.

Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

England 0-0 Spain 

23 mins - The English defence looks exposed by a long ball momentarily, but Williamson intervenes. Lauren James, meanwhile, obliges with her defensive duties, seeing the ball over the endline.

GOAL! Spain 1-0 England (Mariona Caldentey 25)

Caldentey with a big header to break the deadlock for Spain! 

La Roja prod and probe down the right, combining brilliantly and Battle’s cross is pinpoint. Caldentey, who has been excellent since joining Arsenal from Barcelona, leading the Gunners to Champions League glory in May, leaps with a superb finish.

Her 31st goal on her 95th cap. 1-0 Spain. Game on.

Spain 1-0 England

27 mins - England respond well, Kiera Walsh dragging just wide at the other end.

Spain 1-0 England 

30 mins - Spain have their tails up and are putting England under the cosh, Greenwood with a big headed clearance. Russo is working hard at the other end as the Lionesses look to pull one back.

Spain 1-0 England

32 mins - Possession is turned over both ways in England’s half, as Spain look to move through the gears again. Putellas’s ball into the box is cleared; she and fellow back to back Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati have been getting on the ball more and more in the central areas, effectively as double number 10s.

Spain 1-0 England 

35 mins - Spain have been well and truly dominating the ball since the goal. Good defensive work from Jess Carter and James, the former cleaning up at the front post and the latter nullifying the lively attacking right-back Battle.

Mariona Caldentey celebrates her goal with Esther Gonzalez. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Spain 1-0 England 

38 mins - Spain are at their fluid, fluent best here, moving the ball around at ease. England sitting in and hoping for a break on the counter. 

Russo with a big defensive header to relieve some pressure, Bronze hoofs clear, but England are on the back foot once again.

Spain 1-0 England 

39 mins - Lauren James is down getting treatment, and her evening looks over. She went off injured at half time of the semi-final. Chloe Kelly is getting ready to go on the bench.

Spain 1-0 England 

40 mins - Super sub Kelly is in, the Euro 2022 final matchwinner for England.

Spain 1-0 England 

42 mins – Spain brush off the change with another attack, Bonmati on the loose down the right, before crossing to Gonzales, who heads wide.

They go down the left next time, Athenea del Castillo prominent but the world champions cough up possession.

Spain 1-0 England 

44 mins - England threaten on the counter, before Kelly looks to make her impact felt in the next attack. She gathers a Williamson cross-field ball on the left, drives at Battle and cuts inside, but her effort is wide.

Spain 1-0 England 

44 mins – The Lionesses try to find Kelly with another diagonal ball, which is cut out by Battle.

One minute added on. Caldentey looks in a bit of bother.

HALF TIME: Spain 1-0 England 

Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

So, Spain lead 1-0 at half time after Mariona Caldentey’s 25th-minute header. It’s the same midpoint scoreline as the 2023 World Cup final, which finished 1-0 after Olga Carmona’s decisive goal in the 29th minute.

England started brightly and looked to make a fast start here, but Spain soon got their passing game going and have been dominant since. Others have gone close for Montse Tomé’s side, and they’ll be disappointed not to be further ahead at the break. 

Sarina Wiegman, meanwhile, has already been forced to use one of her game-changers, with Chloe Kelly replacing the injured Lauren James. Caldentey looked to have picked up a knock just before the whistle, so all eyes will be on whether the goalscorer and Arsenal Champions League winner returns.

Here’s the Caldentey goal that has Spain 1-0 up:

Mariona Caldentey heads it in off the cross from Batlle! SPAIN LEAD! pic.twitter.com/SCIkB5tPKR

— SHE scores bangers (@SHEscoresbanger) July 27, 2025

SECOND HALF: Spain get us underway once again.

Spain 1-0 England 

46 mins - No half-time changes, Caldentey is back on the pitch after that knock.

Spain 1-0 England 

47 mins - Good defending from Williamson to play Gonzales offside, but Spain play on before it’s called, moving the ball from right to left before Caldentey’s effort is smothered.

Spain 1-0 England 

50 mins – Spain look to up the tempo as they go in search of another opening, but del Castillo’s cross from the right is to nobody.

She then gets in down the right on a mazy run, and hands off to Bonmati inside her, who lets fly, but Hampton is equal to the relatively tame effort.

Spain 1-0 England 

51 mins - England look to break, with Russo the focal point up top.

They appeal for handball in the box, but replays show the ball hit off Laia Aleixandri’s stomach.

Spain 1-0 England 

53 mins – Hampton comfortably claims another Caldentey effort, the goalscorer setting herself up brilliantly and shaking off Lucy Bronze but the end product is lacking on this occasion.

Captain Irene Paredes gets a vital touch at the other end to cut out a long ball, England looking to get in behind.

Spain 1-0 England 

55 mins - Putellas makes poor work of Spain’s latest chance. Just right off centre, she looks to wrap her foot around the ball and bend it in, but gets it all wrong. Spain easily unlocked England again in the build-up, Bonmati prominent as ever.

GOAL! England 1-1 Spain (Russo 57)

Alessia Russo draws England level! Kelly with great work down the left before sending in a superb cross, Russo is back-peddling and falling and does well to get the header away. 

Two headers, two Arsenal goalscorers, and it’s 1-1 in Basel.

England 1-1 Spain

59 mins – Two England yellow cards, Russo and Bronze going in the book for over-zealous tackles.

One chance was all the Lionesses needed to get back into this game, and they took it.

England 1-1 Spain 

61 mins – Spain look to hit back quickly, but Hampton comfortably claims Paredes’s header from a Putellas free-kick. Then Jess Carter steps up with two huge blocks, the second on Bonmati.

England 1-1 Spain

64 mins - England, looking more confident since the goal, go down their left again as Kelly’s cross finds Hemp at the back post, but Carmona does enough to disrupt her.

Chants ring out around the ground for Russo.

England 1-1 Spain

66 mins – England enjoying a little more possession, and then they look to go long. Spain look to get their own passing game going again, but Walsh strips the ball from Putellas, and they try to transition quickly. That doesn’t come off, but they’re definitely playing with more belief since the goal.

England 1-1 Spain

68 mins - SAVE! Coll gets a good hand to a Kelly effort, putting the ball out for a corner. Her delivery is drilled in, but Spain clear their lines. 

Del Castillo was off target at the other end not long before that.

England 1-1 Spain

70 mins - England deal with a couple of Spain crosses from the left.

Some changes on the way. . .

Spain sub: Claudia Pina for Alexia Putellas.

England sub: Michelle Agyemang for Alessia Russo.

Huge reception for 19-year-old Agyemang, England’s saviour at this tournament.

34,203 is the attendance at St Jakob-Park.

Confirmation also arrives on the big screens that this has been the highest-attended Women’s Euros ever.

England 1-1 Spain 

74 mins - SAVE! Pina gets in on the act straight away, Hampton with a big stop to deny the super sub. Spain broke down the left, Pina combining with Carmona and Caldentey.

England 1-1 Spain 

75 mins - Agyemang and Bronze with big defensive headers as England clear the corner, but Bronze’s goes out for another. Hampton fists the next once clear, but Spain have a free now after Carter came in the back of Paredes. Pina stands over it – from a good angle on the right.

England 1-1 Spain 

77 mins - Too much on the delivery. England break, Battle steps up with a huge tackle to stop Hemp down the right. The second half has been much more even, who is more likely to get the next goal?

England 1-1 Spain 

78 mins - England carve Spain open, and they really should have done better there. Willamson squares the ball after linking up with Hemp down the right, but no one’s there. Battle hesitates at the back post, but eventually clears Spain’s lines.

Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Lengthy enough break around the 80th minute as Hampton is down receiving treatment. Both sides take the opportunity to exchange a few words as they gear up for a huge finish to proceedings.

England 1-1 Spain

84 mins – Spain work the ball well, with small triangles in defence before moving from left to right but the end product is lacking.

Hampton then spills Bonmati’s cross from the left, but recovers.

She launches it long, Spain doing just enough to keep Agyemang at bay.

England 1-1 Spain 

85 mins – England counter again, but Hemp’s pass goes straight to a red jersey. 

England sub: Beth Mead for Ella Toone.

England 1-1 Spain 

87 mins – It’s Spain’s turn to break now, but the English defence stand firm.

Two Spain subs: Vicky Lopez and Salma Paralluelo for del Castillo and Gonzales. 

“Pace and power,” as Stephanie Zambra puts it on RTÉ co-commentary.

England 1-1 Spain

89 mins – Paralluelo gets on the end of a good ball for her first involvement, but Carter does enough to get a block in. 

England clear their lines from the subsequent corner, Mead blocking Bonmati.

Four minutes added on.

England 1-1 Spain

90 mins + 1 - Paralluelo drags a shot through bodies wide.

England 1-1 Spain 

90 mins +2 - Big challenges going in from both sides as they go in search of a winner, with seconds to go. Bronze not happy after a Paralluelo tackle is waved on.

Vicky Lopez loops over, as we enter the final additional minute.

England 1-1 Spain 

90 mins +4 - Spain try to work something, but Greenwood does well to keep Caldentey at bay.

FULL TIME: England 1-1 Spain 

We head for extra time.

The second half was a more even affair, Alessia Russo getting England back on terms in the 57th minute. The second period has ebbed and flowed, momentum swinging both ways but Spain seemed to pull it back in the closing minutes. 

England are now set for their third extra-time in a row, though they’ve had an extra rest day. Spain have made a few big subs, with Vicky Lopez and Salma Paralluelo looking to make their impact felt. Michelle Agyemang is looking to be England’s super sub once again, with Chloe Kelly also on for longer than usual.

Who will come through? 

EXTRA TIME - Beth Mead gets England up and running again. 1-1. Let’s go!

England 1-1 Spain 

91 mins - Lopez dances down the right, lifting a cross towards the back post but there’s no Spanish bodies there. Bronze heads clear for a corner, of which nothing of note comes off.

England 1-1 Spain 

94 mins – Both sides probe with long balls, play broken up by cheap fouls and sloppy passes.

Lopez runs at the English again, she’s causing them problems since coming on. The Barcelona teenage star then looks to find Pina at the back post, but the delivery evades her clubmate.

England 1-1 Spain 

95 mins - Hemp goes in the book for a late challenge on Bonmati. A sore one, but the back to back Ballon d’Or winner is back on her feet.

England 1-1 Spain 

96 mins – Spain have been on the front foot, turning on the quality after a scrappy few minutes. Lopez glides around the pitch, Bonmati’s latest shot is blocked.

Bronze is down receiving medical treatment, and looks in a degree of discomfort. Niamh Charles is ready to go on the line.

England 1-1 Spain 

99 mins - Spain look to work something, with Bronze off the pitch and given every chance to re-enter the fray.

Hemp does well to keep the ball in play and deny a Spanish corner. England look to break, but they’re sloppy on the ball.

Pina flashes across the face of goal at the other end.

England 1-1 Spain 

104 mins – Agyemang cleverly wins a free-kick for England, who look to settle themselves. Bronze is back on the pitch. Possession goes both ways, England smell blood on the counter but Paredes does well to deny the acrobatic Agyemang in the box.

The England teenager is then protesting after a free-kick is given against her, she looks to have won the ball.

England 1-1 Spain

105 mins -Passing stats flash up on the screen: Spain 565, England 306.

Alexandri holds up Hemp in the box, the English fans booing as play continues. 

Two minutes added on.

HT ET: England 1-1 Spain 

105 +2 mins – CLOSE!!! Parrauello really should have done better there, she tries a back heel after an excellent Battle cross, but doesn’t get the purchase on it. She would have been better turning it home simply. Let off for England, regret for Spain.

The teams break and regroup. That Parrauello chance on the stroke of half time was the best of extra time so far. Are we getting a winner in extra-time, or are we destined for penalties?

Spain sub: Leila Ouahabi for Olga Carmona.

England sub: Niamh Charles for Lucy Bronze.

England 1-1 Spain 

106 mins - Spain start the second half of extra-time, like they finished the first: going close! 

Parrauello pounces, capitalising on a mistake in the English defence and the ball eventually falls to Pina, whose effort is neither a shot or cross and dribbles across the face of goal and wide.

England 1-1 Spain 

107 mins - Spain can’t make a Pina free kick count.

At the other end, Hemp robs the ball and surges down the right but her delivery is poor.

England 1-1 Spain 

110 mins – Charles cuts out a Bonmati cross. The Barcelona midfield maestro is stopped stopped again just after. 

Another chance evades Parrauello, who effectively fresh-airs when she gets an opportunity in the box on the spin.

England 1-1 Spain 

112 mins - Hampton claims a low Bonmati cross from the right. The English goalkeeper then launches it long, but Spain eventually clean up.

Tight and tense. Eight or so minutes to play. . .

England 1-1 Spain 

113 mins - Lopez blazes over again, after good work from Caldentey on the run. Time slows down as the teenager gets on the ball in the box, Bonmati is looking for the drag back but she goes for it. 

Georgia Stanway is down. Grace Clinton could be coming in.

England 1-1 Spain

115 mins – Here comes that change, Clinton for Stanway.

Hemp, who has been brilliant, wins a corner. Kelly sends it in but the whistle had gone, so she will retake.

England 1-1 Spain

116 mins - Coll claims Kelly’s corner, with lots going on in the box. On we go.

England 1-1 Spain

118 mins - Hampton gathers a tame Lopez header from a deep Ouahabi delivery. Spain with another patient build-up.

Agyemang and Paredes come together off the ball, England frustrated as the free is given Spain’s way.

England 1-1 Spain

120 mins - Parrauello’s touch is too heavy, and another potential Spain chance goes abegging. Spain overwork the ball with their next attack, Bonmati potentially should have shot. 

Two minutes added on.

England 1-1 Spain 

120 mins + 1 - Mead is held off in the box after England go long. 

Spain prod and probe again, but Carter does enough against Bonmati and the ball goes dead.

England 1-1 Spain 

120 mins + 2 – England hold firm, and do enough to see it to the very death.

FT ET: England 1-1 Spain 

We go to penalties.

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A fitting end to the tournament with marathon matches so often going the distance, as we go to penalties in the final. 

Williamson and Parades go for the toss.

England, pretty decimated in terms of attacking players, are set for their second penalty shootout in three games after that incredibly dramatic night against Sweden. 

PENALTIES

England 1-0 Spain

Beth Mead scores, having slipped.

OH! Retake?!

PENALTIES

England 0-0 Spain

Cata Coll saves!

PENALTIES

England 0-1 Spain

Patri scores. Straight down the middle, Hampton going right.

PENALTIES

England 1-1 Spain

Greenwood scores.

PENALTIES

England 1-1 Spain

Hampton saves! Caldentey misses.

Two penalties taken each, level terms.

PENALTIES

England 2-1 Spain

Niamh Charles scores.

PENALTIES

England 2-1 Spain

Hampton saves! Bonmati misses. 

Advantage England.

PENALTIES

England 2-1 Spain

Coll saves! Williamson misses. 

Drama!!!

PENALTIES

England 2-1 Spain

Paralluelo misses! Wide.

PENALTIES

England 3-1 Spain

Chloe Kelly scores!

ENGLAND ARE BACK TO BACK EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS!

The English celebrations are in full flow after a hugely-dramatic Euro 2025 final.

Three weeks of madness end with the champions retaining their title.

The decider finished 1-1 after extra-time, and they won a dramatic penalty shootout 3-1.

England, as they have done all tournament, found a way and got the job done. 

What an achievement for the Lionesses, and for their managerial mastermind Sarina Wiegman.

An emotional Chloe Kelly is speaking to the TV cameras:

“I’m so proud of this team, so grateful to wear this badge.”

She talks about being calm and composed taking her penalty, pays tribute to Sarina Wiegman, and hopes for “crazy” celebrations. 

The Euro 2022 final hero does it again, scoring the winning penalty in the shoot-out.

Leah Williamson will lift the Euros title again imminently, but we’ll leave it there for our live coverage. 

The match report is available to read on The 42, more will follow.

Thanks for reading, and for joining me for one last Euro 2025 marathon match. Enjoy your evening!