Hannah Hampton and Chloe Kelly were the heroes as England retained their Euros title after a tense penalty-shootout win over world champions Spain.
If there was one word to define this team’s journey, it was resilience.
Cool under pressure
Kelly has a reputation for handling the big moments well – she won England the title in 2022 and played her part again in 2025.
It is worth remembering too that Kelly’s season hasn’t been smooth sailing.
After struggling for game time at Manchester City, she made a return to Arsenal.
And despite proving herself there, she was never selected as a starter during the Euros.
But when it mattered most, she showed up.
“I was cool, I was composed. I knew l was going to hit the back of the net. I don’t miss a penalty twice,” she told BBC Sport after the match.
“Thanks to everyone that wrote me off. I’m grateful.”
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‘Mentality monsters’ rise
Chelsea’s Hampton stepped in for Mary Earps and handled the pressure like she’d been waiting for it.
Two penalty saves – against Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey and Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí – turned the shootout in England’s favour and won her the Player of the Match award.
“We’ve got that grit, that English blood in us. We never say die, we keep going and we did that,” Hampton said.
USA head coach Emma Hayes, meanwhile, summed the match up perfectly, saying: “As it was going on, it was nailed on for the Hannah Hampton and Chloe Kelly show.
“Both of them, in the big moments, under the most pressure, mentality monsters.”
Hampton was signed by Hayes before she left Chelsea in the summer of 2024.
Many questioned her decision to trust the young ‘keeper and make her a regular starter over more experienced options, just as many have questioned England head coach Sarina Wiegman recently.
But Hampton continues to show why top managers have put their faith in her as their number one.
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Wiegman silences detractors
Wiegman’s tournament wasn’t without criticism.
From questionable selections to slow substitutions, the doubters were loud, yet still Wiegman’s team delivered.
“From the first game it was chaos; it has been the most chaotic tournament,” Wiegman told BBC Sport.
“Losing your first game and becoming European champions is incredible.”
After all, England’s 2025 Euros win certainly wasn’t flawless.
It was scrappy, chaotic, emotional, and the game against Spain was everything a final should be.
However, from the leadership of Wiegman to Hampton’s saves and Kelly’s composure, this team proved that belief goes further than form.
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Geoffrey H. Latayan 
Vivien Bernardino