It looked as though Spain would repeat their victory over England in Sydney in 2023 as they dominated the game at St Jakob-Park in Basel and led through Mariona Caldentey’s first-half header.
But England did not panic, having already trailed against both Sweden in the quarter-finals and Italy in the semis before finding a way to win.
Alessia Russo headed in their equaliser just before the hour mark, and no further goals meant a shoot-out in which Kelly – who once again had a huge impact off the bench – netted the winner.
“I was cool, I was composed. I knew I was going to hit the back of the net,” Kelly told the BBC of her penalty.
It was an agonising way to lose for Spain, but they failed to score three of their spot-kicks, with reigning Ballon d’Or Aitana Bonmati seeing her effort saved.
Sarina Wiegman’s England are therefore back-to-back European champions, three years after they defeated Germany in extra time at Wembley to win a first women’s major tournament.
“What a team. What a game. What drama. You dug deep when it mattered most and you’ve made the nation proud. History makers,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was at the match, wrote on X.
Defeating Spain helps make up for the pain of losing the World Cup final in 2023, and England’s victory also confirms Wiegman’s place among the coaching greats.
She has now won three consecutive European Championships, having led her native Netherlands to victory in 2017 before doing the same with England three years ago.
“We said we can win by any means and that’s what we have shown again today. I am so proud of the team and the staff. It is incredible,” said Wiegman, whose team lost to France in their first match at the tournament.
“Losing your first game and becoming European champions is incredible,” she added.
Spain fell short in their quest to add a maiden European Championship title to the World Cup they won in Australia.
La Roja dominated possession as expected, but ultimately paid the price for not killing the game against an England side who never know when they are beaten.
“I am in shock,” Bonmati told broadcaster TVE before apologising for failing from the spot.
“Football is cruel. Everything seems bad right now, but I think we played the best football during the tournament.” (AFP)