“History made” as England Women defend European Championship title against World Champions Spain

Local TV Sport

Daniel Wales reports on England Women winning back-to-back European Championship titles, with Head Coach Sarina Wiegman and match-winner Chloe Kelly revealing their elation following the final whistle.

Transcript

00:00History made by the Lionesses as they successfully defended their European

00:04Championship title, winning on foreign soil. Back in England, this was the

00:09reaction to the winning moment.

00:12Well, England had done it again. Following their triumph in 2022 at home, Serena Wiegmann

00:34had once again found the answers to deliver success to the nation.

00:39It was a crazy afternoon in Basel, but England got over the line just about. Let's go back

00:46through it now to see just how England defended their title.

00:53It was all smiles for the Lionesses ahead of kick-off in Basel, but soon enough their focus

01:00set in, knowing the opportunity that was in front of them to become the most successful

01:05England team in history. England started well and created some early openings as they looked

01:11for an advantage, but they were hit with a sucker punch when Mariona Caldente struck for Spain

01:17midway through the first half, undoing the Lionesses' good work up to that point. A setback

01:23it was, but no need to panic just yet. Half-time soon arrived, but England had been here before

01:31in these European championships. They knew their chance would come, and when substitute Chloe

01:37Kelly's inch-perfect cross found Alicia Russo, the Arsenal forward made sure to grasp it,

01:44finding the net with a well-directed header. What more could England muster after a crazy couple

01:49of weeks full of comebacks? Did they have the nerve to take that final step? On the sideline,

01:55Serena Wiegman called for more, and her players pushed to the end, although in extra time it

02:00was Spain who looked more threatening. Penalties it was then, and the chance for Hannah Hampton

02:05to be a hero again. Like Russo earlier, she did not falter, saving two spot kicks and allowing

02:12Chloe Kelly the opportunity to step up and score to win the trophy for England. This she did

02:18without hesitation, almost taking the net off in the process, and writing her name into

02:24the England history books. Wiegman could not contain her emotions following what was her

02:30third Euro's triumph, and was overjoyed following the final whistle.

02:34Well, I'm very happy. I actually can't believe it myself. It's like, yeah, yeah, I was like,

02:43oh, how can this happen? But it happened. So, yeah, very happy. I'm so incredibly proud of the team

02:49and the staff, and yeah, we're just going to party tonight.

02:54And for Chloe Kelly, who has experienced turbulence in her recent career, Wiegman was incredibly proud.

03:00Everyone, every player has her own story. And I think every story is incredible on its own.

03:06But for her, of course, most of the stories are in the open. And I'm so happy for her, too.

03:12And she has been fighting to come back and to be at her highest level. And she loves these moments.

03:18She just really wants to take that penalty, of course, and then celebrate that.

03:23But to be able to score that penalty under that pressure is very impressive, too.

03:28Firstly, incredible game. Incredible game of football. Both sides really going head to head and two incredible teams

03:40fighting for everything and leaving nothing on the pitch. And yeah, I just came onto the pitch

03:48and wanted to make something happen. And I know Les' strengths and tried to put the ball in her head.

03:55And then, of course, taking the penalty. I actually missed three penalties in training yesterday.

04:03But yeah, I think it's the belief in this squad, whole 23 players and the people that you don't see behind the scenes,

04:11the staff members to get us through this tournament.

04:15Yeah, I'm really proud to be English right now. And I'm proud to be part of an amazing group of girls.

04:20Things may never get better for Chloe Kelly. She scored the winner against Germany in the final three years ago

04:26and now has done this. But I'm sure neither she nor the rest of the country will mind.

04:34This England team will never be forgotten, with a celebration set to continue

04:38with an official homecoming in central London on Tuesday lunchtime.

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